Iran

Faranak Farid, an environmental activist and journalist from Iran’s marginalized Azeri minority, was arrested for partaking in demonstrations over the destruction of Lake Orumieh, the largest body of inland water in the Middle East. She was tortured and beaten severely while in custody. She is one of several hundred environmental campaigners who have been arrested since the intensification of the campaign against the shrinking of Lake Orumieh in August 2011. Photo credit: Green Prophet