Family members of Omid Ali Shenas, a children's rights activist who is currently serving a 10-year prison sentence, have been threatened with arrest if they speak to the media or give any interviews about Ali Shenas's situation and conditions.

Omid Ali Shenas, 32, was arrested in September last year, and on May 13, 2015 sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment.

Iranian authorities subsequently threatened his family with arrest if they speak to the media about his case.

In an interview with IranWire on July 9, 2015, Ali Shenas's mother said: “They told us it’s better to stay in silence. They threatened us that if we speak to any media, other family members will be arrested too.”

“We stayed in silence and did what we could do. For instance, we wrote a letter to president Rouhani because of his promises on human rights before the election. We wrote letters to others authorities, but nothing changed," she explained. "My son has been sentenced to 10 years in prison. That is why I decided to break my silence and speak out. Human rights activists outside Iran might hear me.” 

Read the full interview in Farsi.