Human Rights Watch Reports Escalating Repression in Iran

Human Rights Watch's World Report 2025 highlights a troubling trend of repression in both Pakistan and Iran. In Pakistan, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's government has intensified its crackdown on free expression, leading to increased violence against religious minorities and the harassment of journalists and activists. Meanwhile, in Iran, despite promises of reform from President Masoud Pezeshkian, the government continues to target women, ethnic and religious minorities, and human rights defenders, exemplifying ongoing repression following the protests sparked by Mahsa Amini's death. Both countries are witnessing a deterioration of civil liberties, with authorities employing discriminatory laws and violent tactics to silence dissent. The reports emphasize a shrinking space for free expression, with authoritarianism gaining ground globally, particularly through political intimidation and violence against vulnerable groups. HRW calls for increased international accountability for these human rights abuses.