Expression & assembly
Peaceful protest, online speech and even chants at a football stadium can lead to arrest. Internet shutdowns cut the region off at the moments it most needs to be heard.
In South Azerbaijan, as across Iran, the authorities restrict peaceful assembly and punish online expression. During nationwide protests, mobile internet has been shut down or severely throttled, hiding abuses and isolating communities.
We record arrests linked to peaceful expression, monitor digital repression, and help journalists and activists communicate securely.
The law is on their side
- International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, articles 19, 21 and 22
- Universal Declaration of Human Rights, articles 19 and 20
What we document
- Arrests for peaceful protest and online posts
- Internet shutdowns, throttling and censorship
- Harassment of journalists and bloggers
- Surveillance of activists and their families
- Excessive force against peaceful demonstrators
What we do
- Verify and publish arrest data during protests
- Provide digital security guidance in Azerbaijani
- Document the use of force with open-source investigation
- Advocate for accountability at the UN Human Rights Council
One signature, one message, one shared report can be the difference between a name that is forgotten and a person who is freed.