In a profile of British-Iranian activist Ghoncheh Ghavami yesterday, The New York Times quoted an Iranian women’s rights activist who said,  “One of our friends was told by a security official, ‘We are arresting you to make clear that there won’t be any change in this country.’ ”

While the article noted that some outward forms of intimidation that existed under the previous president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, have been removed overall the “limits of personal expression and rights” under President Hassan Rouhani haven’t been loosened any meaningful way.

Ms. Ghavami, a law student in London, had come home to make a difference, inspired by the election victory of Mr. Rouhani and the promises he made during the campaign about expanding personal freedoms.

At the time that Ms. Ghavami returned, she found a city in confusion, relieved that a new political wind had started blowing but aware of the hard-liners who continued to hold the main levers of power. …

“Around that time, people, including myself, were enthusiastic and hopeful about the improvement of social and civil activities,” said Mojghan Faraji, a journalist. “We all thought there would be change. Now, we are no longer hopeful.”

Last week Ghavami began a hunger strike protesting one hundred days in jail for watching a volleyball game.

Last month Canadian human rights activist, Irwin Cotler wrote that the Rouhani “has presided over a regime that continues to engage in massive repression.”

[Photo: Manuchehr Lenziran / YouTube ]