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.
