Human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran for apostasy and other charges. Late November, 2018 prison warden Qarchak women prison in Varamin, near the capital Tehran attacked and bit three Dervish religious minority prisoners when they demanded their confiscated belongings back. In a 2008 report, the organization Human Rights Watch complained that "broadly worded `security laws`" in Iran are used "to arbitrarily suppress and punish individuals for peaceful political expression, association, and assembly, in breach of international human rights treaties to which Iran is party." For example, "connections to foreign institutions, persons, or sources of funding" are enough to bring criminal charges such as "undermining national security"
Human capital flight from Iran been topping this list for some time. According to the Iranian Ministry of Culture and Higher Education, there are approximately 50,000 Iranian students currently studying abroad. In recent years several measures have been taken to slow down the brain drain by providing work and research facilities for academics and highly skilled workers. In February 2003, the Iran National Science Foundation, was established to promote science and technology in Iran and benefit the welfare of those engaged in research. Another institution founded to deal with the welfare of Iranians in Iran working in the sciences and technology is Iran National Geniuses