The Campaign for Human Rights Inc. (also called the Center for Human Rights in Iran) is a nonprofit organization which advocates for the defense of human rights in Iran. The organization has called on the United States government to do more to recognize the abuses of the Iranian government and defend human rights in Iran. ¹

After the death of Iranian human rights activist Mahsa Amini in 2022, the organization said she was “another victim of the Islamic Republic’s war on women” and her death was “a preventable tragedy that should be strongly condemned worldwide to prevent further violence against women in Iran.” ² In 2020, the executive director of the organization criticized the Trump administration for maintaining sanctions on Iran during the COVID-19 pandemic. ³

Agenda

U.S. Human Rights Policy

The Campaign for Human Rights in Iran has criticized the U.S. government for allegedly ignoring human rights issues and focusing solely on nuclear issues in its negotiations with Iran. The organization has said that the U.S. could “more effectively address all of its key strategic interests regarding Iran […] by affording human rights a central place in its foreign policy.” ⁴ The organization also said that American alliances with countries with poor human rights records like Saudi Arabia and Egypt damage American credibility on human rights issues. ⁵

Death of Mahsa Amini

The Campaign for Human Rights in Iran condemned the death of Mahsa Amini, an Iranian human rights activist who called for ending the country’s laws restricting women’s dress. Executive director Hadi Ghaemi said Amini was “one among countless victims of the Islamic Republic’s war on women.” ⁶

In a public letter to President Joe Biden signed by 20 other human rights groups, the organization said the Biden administration should work with the United Nations to condemn Amini’s death and Iran’s record on human rights. ⁷ The organization also said the U.S. government should work with private companies to promote Internet access and open communication among the Iranian people. ⁸

Criticism of the Trump Administration

Hadi Ghaemi, the executive director of the organization, criticized the Trump administration for maintaining sanctions on Iran during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite exemptions for humanitarian supplies, Ghaemi said U.S. sanctions deterred companies from sending humanitarian aid to Iran. ⁹ He stated that “the U.S. government should immediately suspend all sanctions that affect the delivery of humanitarian goods to Iran, including banking sanctions on Iran.” ¹⁰ Ghaemi also called on the U.S. government to vote for Iran’s request for $5 billion in emergency funding from the International Monetary Fund. ¹¹

People

The Campaign for Human Rights in Iran has seven staff listed on its website along with several members of its board of directors. ¹²

Its founder and executive director is Hadi Ghaemi, who previously worked as a researcher for Human Rights Watch and was a member of a United Nations fact-finding mission after the American invasion of Afghanistan in 2001. ¹³ Ghaemi has said that the United States should make human rights a bigger priority in its dealings with Iran, and he also criticized the Trump administration for maintaining sanctions on Iran during the COVID-19 pandemic. ^{14 15}

Funding

According to ProPublica, in 2020 the Campaign for Human Rights in Iran had $1,201,922 in revenue and $929,418 in expenses. The organization’s total assets were valued at $1,028,432. ¹⁶ In 2019, the organization had $1,571,650 in revenue and $1,559,985 in expenses. ¹⁷

1. Campaign for Human Rights in Iran. “Prioritizing Human Rights in Iran: A New U.S. Foreign Policy Approach.” https://iranhumanrights.org/wp-content/uploads/US-Iran-Human-Rights-Foreign-Policy-QA-for-Policy-Briefing.pdf. Accessed October 9, 2022.
2. Campaign for Human Rights in Iran. “Mahsa Amini is Another Victim of the Islamic Republic’s War on Women.” September 16, 2022. https://iranhumanrights.org/2022/09/mahsa-amini-is-another-victim-of-islamic-republics-war-on-women/.
3. Ghaemi, Hadi. “Trump’s refusal to relax Iran sanctions during the coronavirus threatens everyone.” NBC, March 26, 2020. https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/trump-s-refusal-relax-iran-sanctions-during-coronavirus-threatens-everyone-ncna1169136.
4. Kramer, Karen. “Iran Isn’t Just a Nuclear File.” Foreign Affairs, February 2, 2021. https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/united-states/2021-02-02/iran-isnt-just-nuclear-file?check_logged_in=1.
5. Campaign for Human Rights in Iran. “Prioritizing Human Rights in Iran: A New U.S. Foreign Policy Approach.” https://iranhumanrights.org/wp-content/uploads/US-Iran-Human-Rights-Foreign-Policy-QA-for-Policy-Briefing.pdf. Accessed October 9, 2022.
6. Campaign for Human Rights in Iran. “Mahsa Amini is Another Victim of the Islamic Republic’s War on Women.” September 16, 2022. https://iranhumanrights.org/2022/09/mahsa-amini-is-another-victim-of-islamic-republics-war-on-women/.
7. Campaign for Human Rights in Iran. “Joint Letter: Human Rights Groups Urge Biden to Help Protect Iran’s Protesters.” October 6, 2022. https://iranhumanrights.org/2022/10/joint-letter-human-rights-groups-urge-biden-to-help-protect-irans-protesters/.
8. Campaign for Human Rights in Iran. “Joint Letter: Human Rights Groups Urge Biden to Help Protect Iran’s Protesters.” October 6, 2022. https://iranhumanrights.org/2022/10/joint-letter-human-rights-groups-urge-biden-to-help-protect-irans-protesters/.
9. Ghaemi, Hadi. “Trump’s refusal to relax Iran sanctions during the coronavirus threatens everyone.” NBC, March 26, 2020. https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/trump-s-refusal-relax-iran-sanctions-during-coronavirus-threatens-everyone-ncna1169136.
10. Ghaemi, Hadi. “Trump’s refusal to relax Iran sanctions during the coronavirus threatens everyone.” NBC, March 26, 2020. https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/trump-s-refusal-relax-iran-sanctions-during-coronavirus-threatens-everyone-ncna1169136.
11. Ghaemi, Hadi. “Trump’s refusal to relax Iran sanctions during the coronavirus threatens everyone.” NBC, March 26, 2020. https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/trump-s-refusal-relax-iran-sanctions-during-coronavirus-threatens-everyone-ncna1169136.
12. ^[1] Campaign for Human Rights in Iran. “Who We Are.” https://iranhumanrights.org/who_we_are/. Accessed October 10, 2022.
13. “Bio: Hadi Ghaemi.” Center for Human Rights in Iran. Accessed October 20, 2022. https://iranhumanrights.org/bio-hadi-ghaemi/.
14. Ghaemi, Hadi. “Biden Must Not Ignore Iran’s Human Rights Record.” Foreign Policy, February 10, 2021. https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/02/10/biden-must-not-ignore-irans-human-rights-record/.
15. Ghaemi, Hadi. “Trump’s refusal to relax Iran sanctions during the coronavirus threatens everyone.” NBC, March 26, 2020. https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/trump-s-refusal-relax-iran-sanctions-during-coronavirus-threatens-everyone-ncna1169136.
16. ProPublica. “Campaign for Human Rights Inc.” https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/275305580. Accessed October 9, 2022.
17. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Campaign for Human Rights Inc. Part I. https://apps.irs.gov/pub/epostcard/cor/275305580_201912_990_2021020917699134.pdf. Accessed October 9, 2022.