Category: Women

Escalating Crackdown on Women: Five Prison Sentences and One Death Sentence Issued in Recent Days

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Freedom of Expression, News, Women
Arghavan Fallahi, Azadeh Saleki, Elham Zeraatpisheh, Negin Kiani, Parnian Hashempour

HRANA – A review of judicial rulings issued over the past week shows that between June 27 and July 4, 2026, at least five women facing political charges in Iran received court verdicts amounting to one death sentence and a total of 14 years’ imprisonment. Among them, Arghavan Fallahi was sentenced to death, while Elham Zeraatpisheh, Parnian (Fatemeh) Hashempour, Azadeh Saleki, and Negin Kiani were sentenced to prison terms.

According to HRANA, the rulings issued during the period from June 27 to July 4, 2026, indicate a continued judicial crackdown on women involved in political and ideological cases.

The five women come from diverse professional backgrounds, including a lawyer, a teacher, a documentary social photographer, a graduate of archaeology, and political and civil activists. The charges brought against them primarily include “assembly and collusion against national security” and “propaganda against the regime.” In one case, Arghavan Fallahi was sentenced to death on the charge of “baghi” (armed rebellion).

Of the five women, Arghavan Fallahi, Parnian (Fatemeh) Hashempour, and Negin Kiani are currently imprisoned, while Elham Zeraatpisheh and Azadeh Saleki have been temporarily released on bail.

Details of the cases and the sentences are as follows:

1. Arghavan Fallahi

Arghavan Fallahi, 24, was arrested in Tehran in early January 2025 and transferred to Evin Prison by security forces. Following months of interrogation and judicial proceedings, Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Abolghasem Salavati, sentenced her to death on the charge of “baghi” (armed rebellion), one of the harshest rulings issued during the reporting period.

She had previously been arrested during the 2022 nationwide protests and was later released after serving her sentence.

2. Elham Zeraatpisheh

Elham Zeraatpisheh, a lawyer and member of the Fars Bar Association, was arrested in May 4, 2026 near the Shiraz Office for the Enforcement of Judgments.

According to a verdict served on her on July 3, 2026, the Shiraz Revolutionary Court sentenced her to five years in prison for “assembly and collusion against national security” and one additional year for “propaganda against the regime.” The court also imposed a two-year travel ban and ordered the revocation of her passport.

Ms. Zeraatpisheh has previously faced judicial action in connection with her professional activities.

3. Parnian (Fatemeh) Hashempour

Parnian (Fatemeh) Hashempour, who holds a master’s degree in archaeology, was arrested in connection with the January 2026 nationwide protests. After spending several days in solitary confinement, she was transferred to the women’s ward of Evin Prison on December 31, 2025.

On June 27, 2026, the Court of Appeals sentenced her to two years in prison on the charge of assembly and collusion.

She had originally been sentenced to five years in prison by the Revolutionary Court. Ms. Hashempour was also arrested and convicted in 2022 before later being released.

4. Azadeh Saleki

Azadeh Saleki, a teacher in Khaf, was arrested during the January 2026 protests and was temporarily released approximately one month later after posting 30 billion rials (three billion tomans) in bail.

On June 30, 2026, the Khorasan Razavi Province Court of Appeals sentenced her to five years in prison, reducing her original 10-year sentence issued by the lower court.

In 2022, she was suspended from her teaching position for one month because of her statements and civil activities and was subsequently transferred from Torbat-e Heydarieh to Khaf.

5. Negin Kiani

Negin Kiani, aged approximately 37, is a Tehran-based documentary social photographer.

She was arrested by security forces at her family home in Babol on April 8, 2026, and was released on bail the following day.

On June 27, 2026, Branch One of the Babol Revolutionary Court sentenced her to one year in prison on the charge of “propaganda against the regime.”

She has previously been summoned and subjected to judicial action on multiple occasions due to her civil activities.

Woman and Several Others Arrested After Semi-Nude Appearance in Yazd

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Freedom of Expression, News, Women
HRANA, Yazd

HRANA – The Public Relations Office of the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office in Yazd has announced the arrest of a woman who appeared semi-nude in the city, along with several individuals involved in recording and publishing a video of her, accusing them of what it described as “violating social norms.”

According to HRANA, citing IRIB News, several citizens, including a woman, have been arrested in Yazd.

The Public Relations Office of the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office in Yazd claimed that following the circulation of a video showing a semi-nude woman in Yazd’s Ghadir Park, where she allegedly engaged in “norm-breaking” behavior, the prosecutor’s office launched a special investigation into the case.

According to the authorities, following legal procedures and under a judicial order, the woman and several individuals who had recorded and shared the video were identified and arrested.

The report did not provide further details, including the identities of those arrested, the exact number of detainees, or where they are being held.

Nationwide Protests: At least 150 Women and Female Students Transferred to Shiraz Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners, Women
Adelabad Prison, Hakimeh Honarmandi, HRANA, Roya Sabet, Shiraz

HRANA – At least 150 women detained in connection with the nationwide protests, most of whom are female students, have been transferred to the political ward of Adelabad Prison in Shiraz, a ward that lacks the capacity and facilities to accommodate this number of prisoners.

Based on information received by HRANA, the majority of these 150 detained women are female students. They have been transferred to the political ward of Adelabad Prison in Shiraz, a room that does not even have sufficient space for 30 people. Additionally, a number of other detained women have been moved to wards designated for prisoners accused of murder, drug-related crimes, theft, as well as to the juvenile ward.

According to informed sources, over the past two weeks, the women’s ward in this prison has been without telephone access, and limited, booth-style visits were only allowed during the second week. Moreover, food shortages have resulted in a single standard meal, previously allocated to one prisoner, now being shared among four people. In addition, for the past two months, certain food items such as fresh produce have not been supplied to the prison; items available at the prison store are scarce and expensive, and even drinking water is not provided to prisoners. Female prisoners housed in the prayer hall must also queue after 11 a.m. and go to the quarantine ward in order to use restroom and bathing facilities.

At the same time, several female prisoners from wards for financial and political crimes, including Hakimeh Honarmandi, a political prisoner, and Roya Sabet, a Baha’i citizen, have been transferred to the prison’s prayer hall, a space that lacks even basic sanitary facilities.

The identities of those detained, as well as the number of individuals under the age of 18 among them, are still under investigation by HRANA.

It is worth noting that gatherings and strikes by shopkeepers and bazaar merchants began in Tehran on Sunday, December 28, and after two days extended beyond bazaars and commercial centers. With the participation of students, citizens, and various social groups, these protests became one of the most widespread demonstrations in recent years. For more information, readers may refer to HRANA’s detailed report on the twenty-ninth day of the protests, which was published last night.

Two Kish Marathon Organizers Arrested Following Women’s Participation with Optional Hijab

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Cultural, Freedom of Expression, News, Women
Kish, Kish Marathon

HRANA – The Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor of Kish announced the arrest of two main organizers of the Kish Marathon.

According to Mehr News Agency, the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor of Kish stated that two of the main organizers of the event were detained under legal orders in connection with the staging of the two Kish marathons. He added that one of the detainees is an official from the Kish Free Zone Authority, while the second is from the private company responsible for organizing the race. For both individuals, after the charges were formally communicated, bail orders were issued.

The Kish prosecutor continued: in addition to the bail orders, temporary judicial oversight orders were issued for the defendants under Article 247 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. Under these orders, the government official is prohibited from employment in government offices, while the private-sector organizer is barred from involvement in sports management and organizing sports events.

On Friday, the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor of Kish had announced the opening of a judicial case against the officials and organizers of the Kish Marathon, alleging “violations of regulations and law.”

On Friday morning, the Kish Island marathon was held with broad participation from women wearing optional hijab. Following the publication of videos and images from the race, media outlets aligned with security agencies reacted negatively.

Fars News Agency, which is close to security institutions, described the participation of women in the event as “non-compliance with Islamic norms” and “improper dress,” framing the marathon as an example of “immorality.” In its coverage, the agency used threatening language toward participating women and emphasized the need for judicial and administrative action.

Additionally, according to published reports, the Athletics Federation had attempted to prevent the event, citing “failure to observe religious standards,” but ultimately was unsuccessful in canceling it.

The identities of the arrested individuals have not been disclosed in this report.

Masoumeh Shahnavaz Arrested by Intelligence Ministry Agents in Sabzevar

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Freedom of Expression, News, Women
Masoumeh Shahnavaz, Sabzevar, Shahram Sadidi

HRANA News Agency – On Friday, June 13, Masoumeh Shahnavaz, a resident of Sabzevar, was arrested by Intelligence Ministry agents at her home and taken to an undisclosed location. During the arrest, security forces searched her home and confiscated several of her and her family’s personal belongings.

Shahram Sadidi, Ms. Shahnavaz’s son, reported that his mother was violently arrested by Intelligence Ministry agents at her home in Sabzevar. During the arrest, agents searched the house and confiscated personal items belonging to his mother and their family.

He added that the arrest was in response to her reaction to Israeli airstrikes. According to Sadidi, Masoumeh Shahnavaz has undergone open-heart surgery twice and her life is at risk. Her whereabouts remain unknown as of the time of this report. Masoumeh Shahnavaz is a retired schoolteacher living in Sabzevar.

It is worth noting that Shahram Sadidi, who now resides outside Iran, has previously been arrested and faced legal action due to his activism.

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Judicial Case Filed Against Women’s Wrestling Medalist Masoumeh Soleimani

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Freedom of Expression, News, Women
HRANA, irgc, IRGC Intelligence, Khorramabad, Masoumeh Soleimani, معصومه سلیمانی

HRANA News Agency – A judicial case has been opened against Masoumeh Soleimani, a world medalist in women’s wrestling. She has been summoned to the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office in Khorramabad in connection with the case.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, Soleimani announced in a video that she was recently summoned on charges of “encouraging women to defy mandatory hijab laws.”

In August 2023, she had been sentenced by the Khorramabad Criminal Court to one year of imprisonment on the charge of “inciting violent acts on social media.”

In a separate case, she was sentenced to six months of discretionary imprisonment and six months of suspended imprisonment. Following an appeal, the sentence was reduced to a fine of 50 million tomans and six months of suspended imprisonment.

Soleimani was previously arrested on May 10, 2023, by security forces in Khorramabad and released on bail for days later. She had been held in the IRGC Intelligence Detention Facility.

Masoumeh Soleimani, a mother and world medalist in women’s wrestling, has a history of arrest due to her activism.

Maryam Karimi Sentenced to Prison Under Electronic Monitoring

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Freedom of Expression, News, Women
Esmaeil Rostami Tarsari, Maryam Karimi, ran-Aghideh, Rasht

HRANA News Agency – Maryam Karimi, a tour guide and resident of Rasht, has been sentenced by the Gilan Province Appeals Court to two years and seven months of imprisonment under electronic monitoring. She had previously received a one-year suspended prison sentence from the Rasht Revolutionary Court in another part of her case.

In a public post, Ms. Karimi stated that she had been sentenced to two years and seven months of monitored imprisonment within Rasht, under electronic ankle bracelet supervision. She was charged with “promoting immorality and indecency by encouraging others to remove their hijab in public” and “displaying indecent images in public view.” The verdict was issued by Judges Esmaeil Rostami Tarsari and Mohammad Sadegh Iran-Aghideh.

Under Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, the most severe charge—two years of imprisonment under electronic monitoring—will be enforceable.

She was initially tried and convicted in this part of the case by Branch 12 of the Rasht Criminal Court.

In a separate part of her case, she had already been sentenced to a one-year suspended prison term by the Rasht Revolutionary Court on charges of “propaganda against the regime.”

The charges against Ms. Karimi are reportedly based on images she posted on social media.

Maryam Karimi, a tour designer and guide, was arrested in May 2023 and later released.

Leila Pashaei Arrested in Sanandaj

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Freedom of Expression, News, Women
International Women's Day, Leila Pashaei, Pashaei, Sanandaj, لیلا پاشایی

HRANA News Agency – On Monday, March 10, 2025, Leila Pashaei, a resident of Sanandaj, was arrested by security forces and transferred to an undisclosed location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of the Human Rights Activists in Iran, Pashaei was detained at her home by agents of the Intelligence Department on charges of “acting against national security.”

Her brother, who reported the arrest, stated that the reason for her detention was her public remarks on women’s issues during International Women’s Day.

As of now, no information is available regarding her whereabouts.

Pashaei has previously faced security-related arrests and encounters with authorities due to her activism.

Civil Rights Activist Soheila Mataei Arrested in Dehgolan

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Freedom of Expression, News, Women
Dehgolan, Sanandaj, Soheila Mataei

HRANA News Agency – On Monday, March 10, 2025, Soheila Mataei, a resident of Dehgolan, Kurdistan province, was arrested by security forces and transferred to an undisclosed location.

According to HRANA, quoting Kurdpa, Mataei was detained without a court order. Reports suggest that her arrest was linked to her role in organizing an International Women’s Day event in Sanandaj. As of now, no information is available about her whereabouts or the charges against her.

History of Arrests and Legal Proceedings

Mataei has a history of previous arrests related to her activism:

January 22, 2025: She was briefly detained in Dehgolan amid protests against death sentences issued for Varisheh Moradi and Pakhshan Azizi.
October 1, 2022: Arrested during the nationwide protests and later released on bail.
November 12, 2022: Arrested again by security forces and transferred to the Sanandaj Juvenile Correctional Center after interrogation.
December 2022: Branch 2 of the Dehgolan Criminal Court sentenced her to three years and nine months in prison on charges of “disrupting public order, spreading false information to disturb public opinion, defying authorities, and propaganda against the regime through support for opposition groups.”

Mataei’s repeated arrests and prison sentences highlight the continued targeting of civil activists in Iran.

Civil Rights Activist Baran Saedi Arrested in Sanandaj

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News, Women
Baran Saedi, HRANA, Sanandaj, باران ساعدی

HRANA News Agency – Today, Monday, March 10, Baran Saedi, a resident of Sanandaj, was arrested by security forces in the city and taken to an undisclosed location.

According to HRANA, quoting Kurdpa, Saedi’s arrest took place at her home by security forces without a judicial warrant. The report further mentions that the civil rights activist was detained following her participation in an event commemorating International Women’s Day in Sanandaj.

Baran Saedi had previously been arrested during the nationwide protests of 2022 and was released on bail after about two months.

As of the time of this report, there is no information on her whereabouts or the charges against her.