Based in Tehran, the organization was founded in 2001 and has been active in defending rights of women, political prisoners and minorities in Iran.
The DHRC had planned to hold on 21 December 2008 a ceremony in honor of the sixtieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Several members of DHRC, the committee to Defend Free, Healthy and Fair Elections and the National Council of Peace have been summoned for interrogation and 'encouraged' to end their cooperation with those organizations and efforts.
[3] Security officials have threatened people scheduled to attend DHRC meetings, which were obstructed and prevented from taking place.
Sobhani was arrested on 14 January 2009 and held in Tehran's Evin Prison for 55 days before being released on 70 million toman [about $70,000 US] bail.
"[6] Jinous Sobhani was also secretary for the Mine-Clearing Collaboration (MCCC) Campaign and worked for the Organization for Defending Mine Victims.
[8][failed verification] IRNA accused the Deputy Chair of DHRC of "spreading propaganda against the state", although no official such charge has ever been made.