🔶 Is mediation in the case of political prisoners in their interest?
Report by Atfe Chaharmahalian
At the same time as the increasing number of death sentences in Iran, several human rights organizations demanded the publication of the names and pictures of political prisoners; But how can information services help support prisoners and what are the risks for them and their families? Can silence save the life of a political prisoner or does it put him in greater danger? Can media coverage of the case become a tool to intensify the pressure on him and his family?
These questions have been raised in Iranian society for years. According to their findings, the security forces tried more than once to prevent information about the prisoners' condition through threats to the families or promises such as reducing the sentence and settling the case; On the other hand, human rights activists believe that the silence and anonymity of prisoners can put them at greater risk, and public information, by increasing the political cost of repression, can help support them. But in a situation where publishing information about the cases of political prisoners can have different consequences for them and their families, how can the necessity of the information be measured in addition to its possible risks?