In 2018, four conservationists were arrested in Iran on espionage charges while engaged in efforts to protect the endangered Asiatic cheetah. Among those detained were Niloufar Bayani, an Iranian wildlife researcher and UN Environment Programme consultant, along with environmental activists Houman Jowkar, Taher Ghadirian, and Sepideh Kashani. Their conviction in 2019 drew widespread condemnation from conservationists, scientists, and human rights organizations worldwide.
The group, affiliated with the nonprofit Persian Wildlife Heritage Foundation (PWHF), was accused of espionage for their use of cameras to monitor endangered species in Iran, including the Asiatic cheetah and Persian leopard. Authorities alleged that their scientific and environmental projects were a guise for gathering classified military intelligence.
Despite calls for their release and assertions of their innocence, the conservationists were sentenced to prison terms ranging from six to ten years. In a welcome development, they were among over 2,000 prisoners granted amnesty on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr after spending six years behind bars.
Their release was met with jubilation from environmentalists, ministers, and human rights advocates. The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) welcomed the news, emphasizing the crucial role of environmental conservationists in safeguarding the planet’s health and sustainability.
The arrest and conviction of the conservationists occurred amid protests and unrest in Iran, accompanied by a government-imposed internet shutdown. The case underscored broader concerns about the treatment of activists and dissent in the country.
While some members of the group have been released, including Sam Rajabi in 2023, others, such as Kavous Seyed-Emami, the founder of PWHF, faced tragic fates. Seyed-Emami, an Iranian-Canadian dual citizen, died under disputed circumstances while awaiting trial. Bayani, meanwhile, was handed a 10-year prison sentence, while her colleagues received terms ranging from six to eight years on espionage charges, despite assertions of their innocence and the lack of evidence against them.