On March 7, 2023, women’s rights activist Akram Nasirian was released from Evin Prison.
In August 2022, Nasirian was summoned to Evin Courthouse and jailed to serve her two-year-and-three-month sentence in Evin Prison.
The details of her release are still unknown.
On April 29, 2019, security forces arrested Nasirian in Tehran and detained her in solitary confinement under interrogation in Evin Prison for 20 days. In Late May, she was relocated to double cell solitary in this ward.
On May 26, 2019, she was released on 200-million-toman bail until the end of legal proceedings.
On September 4, 2019, along with Nahid Shaghaghi, Nasirian was summoned to the Evin Courthouse investigation office, presided by Judge Nasiripour.
The Branch 26 of Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided by Judge Iman Afshari, sentenced Nasirian and three other women’s rights activists, Asrin Darkaleh, Maryam Mohammadi and Nahid Shaghaghi, each to four years and two months. These verdicts were reduced to two years and three months after the defendants waived their rights to appeal.
In March 2020, Nasirian and three other women’s rights activists were summoned to Evin Courthouse for sentencing, which was postponed until April 3, 2022, due to the Head of Judiciary’s directive to keep health prisons condition in control during the Covid-19 pandemic. In August 2022, she was jailed in Evin Prison.
Currently, 24 women are being held at the women’s ward of Evin Prison in Tehran for political and alleged national security charges. This report provides an updated list of these prisoners along with their latest conditions, including the multiple health issues some are facing due to enduring long-term sentences or being beaten during detention.
According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, there are 24 women being held for political charges in the women’s ward of Evin Prison in Tehran.
During incarceration, they have experienced solitary confinement, frequent interrogation, being charged with new accusations, lack of adequate medical care, and being denied family visitation and phone calls. They have also been co-housed with prisoners who have committed violent crimes.
Among these prisoners, Mahvash Shahriari Sabet, Fariba Kamalabadi, Niloufar Bayani, Sepideh Kashani, Nahid Taghavi and Zahra Zehtabchi, among others, have spent a significant part of their incarceration in solitary confinement.
Many of these inmates are mothers including Zarha Zehtabchi, Narges Mohammadi, Faezeh Hashemi Rafsanjani, Maliheh Nazari, Samin Ehsani, and Narges Mansouri.
Since prisoners’ conditions are changing constantly, particularly after the recent mass releases under the “pardon and commute” directive, this report provides an updated list of the political prisoners in this ward.
Bahareh Hedayat
Bahareh Hedayat
Bahareh Hedayat, age 41, is serving her four-year and eight-month sentence. She was arrested and detained several times for her civil activities on June 12, 2006, July 9, 2007, July 13, 2008, and March 21, 2009.
On December 30, 2009, she was arrested again. After a few months of detention in Ward 209 of Evin Prison, she was sentenced to seven years and six months in prison. Next year, she received additional six months for writing an open letter.
By the midwinter of 2016, according to Article 134 of the Islamic Penal code, Hedayat had served out her time. Yet, judicial authorities refused to set her free by ordering her two-year suspended sentence, received in 2007, to be served. She was eventually released from jail on September 4, 2016, after serving six years and six months for all accumulated sentences.
On October 3, 2019, security forces arrested Hedayat amid the 2019–2020 Iranian protests. Subsequently, the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced her to four years and eight months, two years banned from membership in political and civil groups, and penal labor in a nursing home for three months.
Lastly, on October 3, 2022, Hedayat was arrested amid 2022 nationwide protests, and on November 6 was jailed in Evin Prison to start her sentence received in 2019.
Currently, Hedayat is serving the second moths of her prison term. She has been held in solitary confinement for seven months.
Akram Nasirian
Akram Nasirian
On April 29, 2019, security forces arrested Nasirian in Tehran and detained her in solitary confinement under interrogation in Evin Prison for 20 days. In Late May, she was relocated to double cell solitary in this ward.
On May 26, 2019, she was released on 200-million-toman bail until the end of legal proceedings.
On September 4, 2019, along with Nahid Shaghaghi, Nasirian was summoned to the Evin Courthouse investigation office, presided by Judge Nasiripour.
The Branch 26 of Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided by Judge Iman Afshari, sentenced Nasirian and three other women’s rights activists, Asrin Darkaleh, Maryam Mohammadi and Nahid Shaghaghi, each to four years and two months. These verdicts were reduced to two years and three months after the defendants waived their rights to appeal.
In March 2020, Nasirian and three other women’s rights activists were summoned to Evin Courthouse for sentencing, which was postponed until April 3, 2022, due to the Head of Judiciary’s directive to keep health prisons condition in control during the Covid-19 pandemic. Eventually, in August 2022, they were jailed in Evin Prison to start serving their sentences.
Nasirian, 60 years old, a resident of Tehran, is a member of The Call of the Iranian Women NGO.
Sepideh Gholian
Sepideh Gholian
On November 18, 2018, Sepideh Gholian was arrested along with at least 19 others, including members of the Assembly of Representatives of Haft-Tappeh (Sugarcane Agro-Industry Company) workers, and several workers’ activists by Public Security Police in Shush city. She was released on bail after one month.
On January 19, 2019, Iran’s state TV aired a report showing some written statements signed by Gholian and others, including Esmail Bakhshi, and Ali Nejati (a member of the managing board of the labor union representing Haft Tappeh workers), confessing their connection with Marxist anti-regime Groups outside the country.
In response, Bakhshi and Gholian announced that these confessions were extracted under torture during their interrogation by the Ministry of Intelligence agents and other security forces. Both Judiciary and the Ministry of Intelligence dismissed their statements and arrested them just a few hours later.
On October 26, 2019, Gholian was released on bail until the end of legal proceedings. On December 14, 2019, the Tehran Court of Appeals sentenced her to five years imprisonment. On June 21, 2020, she was arrested after an appearance at Evin Courthouse and jailed in Evin Prison for sentencing.
On June 21, 2020, Gholian was transferred from Evin to Bushehr Prison in exile, despite her frequent request to be relocated to Sepidar Prison in Ahvaz, where her family lives.
On November 16, 2022, an investigation branch of the Public and Revolutionary prosecutor office in Tehran briefed her on the charges of “spreading falsehood, blasphemy, insulting, slandering, and accusing the government officials.”
Civil rights activist Gholian, age 29, has spent a total of 80 days in solitary confinement. She went three times on a hunger strike while in prison. During her incarceration, many times, she has been denied adequate medical treatment and attacked by prisoners of violent crimes.
Samin Ehsani
Samin Ehsani
On August 17, 2011, Baha’i citizen Samin Ehsani, age 37, a children’s rights activist, was arrested at Evin Courthouse, where she was for resolving some passport issues. After that, security forces raided and searched her house and confiscated some of her belongings, including her computer and materials related to the Baha’i faith.
Ehsani spent her first eleven days of detention in solitary confinement in Ward 2A of Evin Prison and then was relocated to a multiple-occupancy cell in this ward.
She was released on 185-million-toman bail after one month.
On June 9, 2012, Branch 28 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided by Judge Mohammad Moghiseh, sentenced her to five years in prison. On June 15, 2022, she was jailed in Evin prison to begin serving her sentence.
In recent years, Eshani has been engaging in educational activities by holding educational courses for Afghan children who are unable to go to school. On trial, such activities were presented as an example of the charges.
In prison, Ehsani was denied proper medical care after contracting Covid-19. Prison officials refused to dispatch her to the hospital. In total, Ehsani endured 25 days in solitary confinement.
Zahra Zehtabchi
Zahra Zehtabchi
Along with her husband and daughter, Zahra Zehtabchi was arrested on October 16, 2013. She was relocated to the women’s ward of Evin prison after enduring 14 months in solitary confinement in Ward 209. On December 8, 2014, Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided by Judge Salavati, sentenced her to 12 years in prison for “armed insurrection against the regime (Baghi)” and “enmity against God (Moharebeh).” This verdict was reduced to 10 years on appeal by applying Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code.
After her arrest, her husband Javad Khosh-Niyat was arrested and detained for 22 days following an inquiry about his wife’s condition.
Zehtabchi was arrested and detained for a few days in 2009 while she was surveying people’s opinions on presidential election results on behalf of the University of Tehran.
Zehtabchi, age 53, is a mother of two daughters, aged 17 and 24. She has been on furlough only once for three days in the third year of her sentence.
She is currently spending the ninth year of her sentence. She was held for 14 months in solitary confinement in IRGC’s detention facility known as Ward 2A of Evin Prison.
Narges Mohammadi
Narges Mohammadi
Narges Mohammadi was arrested for the first time in 2002 and released after one week. She received one year in this legal case.
In June 2010, Mohammadi was arrested again and held in solitary confinement in Ward 209 of Evin Prison. Next month, she was released on 100-million-toman bail. Next year, she was sentenced to 11 years for “assembly and collusion against national security” and “propaganda against the regime.” The verdict was reduced to 6 years on appeal.
In 2012, Mohammadi was arrested for starting her six-year sentence. After one month in solitary confinement and four months in Zanjan Prison in exile, she was released due to her disease and penal intolerance. In May 2015, she was rearrested and jailed in the women’s ward of Evin Prison to continue serving her six-year sentence. Moreover, she faced more charges in a new legal case.
In this new legal case, she was sentenced to 16 years for “forming an illegal group known as Legam (a campaign planning steps toward abolishing the death penalty)” and “propaganda against the regime.”
Applying article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code made ten years for one charge enforceable.
Mohammadi, age 46 and a mother of two children, is denied any phone call to her husband living abroad. She suffers from pulmonary embolism and muscular paralysis. On September 29, 2018, she was granted a medical furlough for three days.
On January 12, 2019, she and Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe went on a hunger strike in protest against inadequate medical treatment. After two days, they ended their hunger strike following prison officials’ promises.
On May 14, 2019, she was dispatched to a hospital to undergo surgery (hysterectomy- a surgical procedure to remove the uterus). Twelve days later, she was returned to prison although she still needed medical care.
On February 22, 2020, while serving her 16-year sentence, Mohammadi faced two new legal cases. One for “publishing political statements, holding educational classes and sit-down strike in the women’s ward of Evin Prison.” The second case was opened against her following the head of Evin Prison Gholamreza Ziaei’s complaint because he was allegedly accused of “torture and beating” by Mohammadi. In this case, Mohammadi was also accused of “disturbing prison order through singing songs aloud.”
On April 17, 2020, Mohammadi’s lawyer Mahmood Behzadirad informed the public that his client’s request for furlough and release on probation was rejected despite her suffering from mental and physical illness. Moreover, Mohammadi was held in the same with prisoners of violent crimes and had been threatened with death by one of them.
On October 8, 2020, Mohammadi was released from prison after serving five-and-a-half years.
On November 16, 2021, Mohammadi was arrested again during a ceremony honoring Ebrahim Ketabdar, who was killed by security forces in Karaj during the November 2019 protests. Six days later, she was briefed on new charges and then held in solitary confinement in Evil Prison. Thereafter, she was transferred to Qarchak Prison, Varamin.
In January 2022, the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced her to eight years in prison, 74 lashes, two years exile and other social deprivations. Following her refusal not to appeal the conviction, the Revolutionary Court announced this sentence final.
While in prison, she faced a new legal case opened by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court. For this case, she received 15 months for “propaganda against the regime and monthly reporting to the police for two years. She was also banned from leaving the country, membership in civil and political groups for two years and doing cleaning service at penal labour in abandoned urban areas for four hours a day for three months.”
On April 12, 2022, prison officials denied her the medicine she had to use on a daily basis. She could receive these medicine only after 20 days.
Mohammadi, age 50, has been subjected to violence many times by prison guards and prisoners of violent crimes. Despite having heart disease, she has been denied medical care and medicine. She was held for a total of five months in solitary confinement.
Sara Ahmadi
Sara Ahmadi
On June 13, 2020, security forces arrested Sara Ahmadi and her spouse Homayoun Zhaveh at their rental vacation lodge in Amol, Mazandaran Province. She was released on 300-million-toman bail from Evin Prison. Zhaveh was released on a bail of 200 million tomans on August 24, 2020.
On November 11, 2020, the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided by Judge Iman Afshari, sentenced Ahmadi and Zhaveh to 11 and 3 years in prison, respectively.
On October 9, 2020, the Tehran Court of Appeals sentenced Ahmadi to eight years for “running illegal Zionist evangelical Christian groups.” and Zahveh to three years for the same charge. This Christian convert couple was also banned from leaving the country, membership in political parties and civil groups for two years and service work for people with disabilities four hours a day for six months.
On March 19, 2021, they were summoned to Eving courthouse to begin serving their sentences.
Christian convert Sara Ahmadi, age 44, has been held in solitary confinement for 67 days.
Sepideh Kashani
Sepideh Kashani
Environmental activist Speideh (Hamideh) Kashan Doost (Kashani) and seven other activists were arrested by IRGC intelligence agents in January 2018 and taken to Ward 2A of Evin Prison.
In February 2019, Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court postponed the court date to next year. In November 2019, this court, headed by Judge Salavati, sentenced Kashani to six years in prison for “collaboration with the hostile U.S. government.” Next months, after enduring 700 days of detention, she was relocated to the women’s ward of Evin Prison to start serving her sentence.
On February 18, 2020, Branch 36 of the Tehran Court of Appeals, presided by Judge Ahmad Zargar, upheld the verdict.
Kashani, an environmental activist and an expert at the Parsian Wildlife Institute, age 50, was held in solitary confinement for two years. She spent eight months in solitary confinement in Ward 2A of Evin Prison at IRGC’s disposal. So far, she has been granted two times prison furloughs.
During her incarceration, she has been denied proper medical care, phone calls and visitation.
Niloufar Bayani
Niloufar Bayani
In January 2018, IRGC intelligence agents arrested environmental conservationist Niloufar Bayani, along with other activists, and took them to Ward 2A of Evin Prison, Tehran. During detention, she was subjected to pressure and sexual harassment to make coerced confessions against herself and other co-defendants.
After holding a few court sessions, in February 2019, Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court postponed the trial to next year. In November 2019, this court, headed by Judge Salavati, sentenced her to ten years in prison for “collaboration with the hostile U.S. government.”
Next months, after being held in IRGC’s Ward 2A, she was relocated to the women’s ward of Evin Prison to start serving her sentence. The verdict was upheld on appeal.
In the winter of 2020, in an open letter, Bayani revealed that IRGC interrogators tortured her mentally and physically, and sexually harassed her during at least 1200 hours of interrogation. Earlier in April 2019, HRANA had disclosed sexual harassment, torture and threats against the defendants, including Bayani, to extract confessions.
Due to publishing this open letter, she was pressed with new charges on which she was briefed in Evin Courthouse.
Bayani is a former expert at the Parsian Wildlife Institute. Currently, she is serving the fifth year of her sentence in Evin Prison. She has spent two years of her ten-year sentence in Ward 2A, a detention facility at IRGC’s disposal.
Shakila Monfared
Shakila Monfared
On August 31, 2020, security forces arrested Monfared in Tehran while she was leaving her house and took her to an IRGC detention facility.
Nine days later, she was relocated to the women’s ward of Evin Prison after completing interrogation. On September 14, 2020, she was released on bail from Evin Prison.
The branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided by Judge Iman Afshari, sentenced her to six years for “propaganda against the regime and blasphemy.” She was also ordered to do penal labor in the Ministry of Agriculture Jihad for four months. Eventually, Branch 36 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court reduced her sentence to four years and two months.
On May 2, 2021, Monfared was transferred from Evin prison to Qarchak Prison in Varamin in exile. After that, she received additional two years and eight months on the charge of “membership in anti-regime groups” and a 10-million-toman fine for “spreading falsehood.”
Following a complaint filed by the Prisons and Security and Corrective Measures Organization for their refusal to be transferred to the court from prison with handcuff, Monfared and 13 other political prisoners faced a new legal case opened by Branch 3 of Evin Courthouse. She was pressed with “disturbing public order and peace, assembly and collusion against the regime, insulting regime officials and disobeying prison officials.”
Monfared, age 29, a resident of Tehran, endured 72 days of solitary confinement. Despite suffering from digestive disease and severe stomach pain, she has been denied adequate medical care. During her incarceration, she was granted furlough only one time.
During this time, Monfared was deprived of visitation and phone calls for two months. She went on a hunger strike and refusal to take medicine to protest against being cohoused with prisoners of violent crimes and lack of medical care.
Fariba Kamalabadi
Fariba Kamalabadi
On May 14, 2008, Kamalabadi was arrested in Tehran and held in solitary confinement for 27 months in Ward 209 of Evin Prison. On August 8, 2010, she went on trial with six other members of a Baha’i group known as the “Yaran e Iran” or “Friends of Iran,” which addressed the spiritual and social needs of the Baha’i community. Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court, presided by Judge Mohammad Moghiseh, sentenced her to 20 years in prison. The next day after the trial, she and Mahvash Shahriari Sabet were jailed in exile in Rajai Shahr Prison in Karaj.
In May 2011, Kamalabadi was relocated to Qarchak Prison in Varamin and a week later to the women’s ward of Evin Prison. In 2011, by applying the Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, her sentence was reduced to ten years.
Kamalabadi suffers from lumbar disc disease. However, during her incarceration, she has been granted furlough only once. During the leave, she met Faezeh Hashemi Rafsanjani causing outcry among the regime’s authorities and media inside Iran.
On October 31, 2017, she was set free from Evin Prison after serving her ten-year sentence.
On July 31, 2022, security forces arrested Kamalabadi and another member of “Yaran e Iran” Mahvash Shahriari Sabet in Tehran. Subsequently, Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, headed by Judge Iman Afshari, sentenced each of these Baha’is to 10 years for “running a society of the deviant sect (a terminology used by Iran’s regime to refer to the Baha’is) in the purpose of acting against national security.”
Kamalabadi, age 60, is a resident of Tehran.
Faezeh Hashemi Rafsanjani
Faezeh Hashemi Rafsanjani
In the aftermath of the 2009 Iranian election protests, Faezeh Hashemi Rafsanjani was arrested twice for a few hours on June 20, 2009, and February 20, 2011.
The Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided by Judge Salavati, sentenced Hashemi Rafsanjani to six months in prison for “propaganda against the regime.” She was also banned from membership in political parties and groups, presence in media and civil activities on social media. This verdict was upheld on appeal.
On September 22, 2012, security forces arrested and jailed her in the women’s ward of Evin Prison to begin serving her sentence.
While in prison, she faced a new legal case for her protests against the women’s ward issues. Accused of “insulting the Supreme Leader” and “disturbing prison order,” she was sentenced to three weeks of punitive isolation in Ward 209 and deprived of visitation.
On September 27, 2022, security forces arrested this political activist again in Tehran. She received 15 months for “propaganda against the regime” and 37 months for “blasphemy.”
Hashemi Rafsanjani, born on 7 January 1963, is a former member of the Iranian parliament from 1996 to 2000, and a member of the Executives of Construction Party. She was held for 38 days in solitary confinement.
Fatemeh Mosanna
Fatemeh Mosanna
On January 28, 2013, the Ministry of Intelligence agents arrested Fatemeh Mosanna, age 53, along with her husband, Hassan Sadeghi, and her child. She was held in solitary confinement in Ward 209 of Evin prison for 75 days and then relocated to the women’s ward.
On January 13, 2014, she was released on bail. After that, Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court sentenced the couple each to 15 years in prison on the charges of “armed insurrection against the regime (Baghi)” and “enmity against God (Moharebeh),” through advocating People’s Mojahedin Organization (MEK). The court also ordered the seizure of their shop and house. On September 30, 2015, she was arrested and jailed in the women’s ward of Evin Prison to begin serving her sentence.
Mosanna is the mother of two children who are currently living with their grandmother. Mosanna is deprived of having a furlough despite suffering from intestinal colitis and severe migraine. Since February 2019, she could see her husband, imprisoned in Rajai Shahr Prison, only three times. The Their last visitation was in May 2019. While other inmates can have visitation regularly, she is allowed visitation only with Amin Vaziri’s permission, an assistant prosecutor overseeing prisoners. This ban violates the rules governing prison visits, entitling prisoners to have family visitation even if they are housed in separate prisons.
In March 2019, the agents of the Execution of Imam Khomeini seized this couple’s shop and then in May 2020, they seized their house.
Despite suffering from sciatic nerve pain, intestinal colitis and severe migraine, many times, Mosanna was denied proper medical care and treatment in a hospital outside the prison.
When Mosanna was only 13 years old, she spent three years in jail with her mother. During this period, her three brothers Ali, Mostafa and Morteza, as well as the wife of one of her brothers, were executed for the charge of “enmity against God” and “advocating for The People’s Mujahedin Organization of Iran.”
Vida Rabbani
Vida Rabbani
Vida Rabbani, a journalist and member of the Union of Islamic Iran People Party, was arrested several arrests in 2020, 2021 and 2022 over to her participation in protest gatherings regarding some issues in Afghanistan and the crash of Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752, which was shot by IRGC’s missile.
Branch 36 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced Rabbani to five years for “blasphemy,” four years for “assembly and collusion against national security,” eight months for “propaganda against the regime,” and eight months for “disturbing in public order.” Moreover, she was banned from civil activities on social media, gatherings and political activities. The verdict is upheld on appeal. Based on the Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, five years for one charge is enforceable.
Amid the 2022 nationwide protests, Rabbani was arrested again and sentenced to six years and 15 months in prison for “assembly and collusion against national security” and “propaganda against the regime.”
Rabbani, age 34, was held in solitary confinement for 70 days.
Golrokh Ebrahimi Iraee
Golrokh Ebrahimi Iraee
On September 6, 2014, Golrokh Ebrahimi Iraee and her husband Arash Sadeghi were arrested. She was held in an IRGC detention facility A.k.A “Safehouse” and then transferred to IRGC’s Ward 2A, in Evin Prison. After 20 days, she was released on an 800-million-toman bail.
Ebrahimi Iraee and Arash Sadeghi began serving their sentence on October 24, 2016, in Evin Prison. While serving her sentence in prison, she and Atena Daemi faced a new legal case. On April 8, 2019, she was released from prison after serving her sentence. However, she had to provide bail for the second case.
For this new legal case, Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced her and Daemi to three years and seven months. Moreover, both were banned from membership in political groups and parties. These verdicts were upheld on appeal. According to their lawyer, by applying the Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, two years and one month were enforceable to them.
On November 9, 2019, about ten agents raided her house and arrested Iraee without showing any arrest warrant. They took her to the Evin Judgement enforcement unit to begin serving her sentence in Evin Prison. The head of Evin Prison, Gholamreza Ziaei, refused to house Iraee in Evin Prison. After one day, Amin Vaziri, an assistant prosecutor overseeing prisoners, unlawfully ordered the transfer of Ireaee to Qarchak Prison, Varamin.
Since her incarceration in Qarchak Prison, Iraee has not been allowed to call or meet her spouse, Arash Sadeghi, a civil rights activist imprisoned in Rajai Shahr Prison.
On December 7, 2020, Iraee was summoned to an IRGC detention facility for interrogation. As an inmate serving her sentence, Iraee called this summons against the law and refused to go. Following her refusal, the prison guards beat her and took her forcefully to the detention facility, where she was interrogated for 43 days. After a while, she was transferred to Amol prison in exile. Meanwhile, security agents searched her house.
While she was in Amol prison, in a trial in absentia, Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided by Judge Iman Afshari, sentenced her to one year for “propaganda against the regime.” She was also banned from leaving the country for two years and from membership in political groups. Throughout the trial, she was denied access to a lawyer.
On May 9, 2022, Iraee was set free from Amol prison. However, she was rearrested violently at her home in Tehran on September 26, 2022. During the arrest, the agents searched her house.
On November 17, 2022, Iraee was briefed on the charges of “assembly and collusion against national security” and “propaganda against the regime” at Branch 2 of Evin Courthouse, presided by Judge, Mahmood Haj Moradi.
This political prisoner has been transferred from Qarchak Prison to the women’s ward of Evin Prison. The reason for her relocation is still unknown.
Iraee, age 42, had been held in solitary confinement for 79 days.
Malihe Nazari
Malihe Nazari
On June 30, 2020, security forces arrested Christian convert Malihe Nazari at her home in Tehran and took her to Evin Prison. On July 22, 2020, she was transferred to Qarchak Prison, Varamin.
In early September 2020, she was released on 300-million-toman bail.
On June 7, 2021, Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced her to six years in prison for “forming illegal groups to act against national security, disrupting national security through preaching Evangelical Christianity and creating home churches.”
On August 30, 2022, she was jailed in Evin Prison to begin serving her sentence.
Nazari, age 50, is a mother of two sons, aged 22 and 15. She has been held in solitary confinement for 20 days.
Mahvash Shahriari Sabet
Mahvash Shahriari Sabet
On March 5, 2008, Mahvash Shahriari Sabet was arrested in Mashhad. After enduring 13 months of solitary confinement in Mashhad, she was transferred to Evin Prison, where she was held in solitary confinement in Ward 209 for 27 months. In August 2010, Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court, presided by Judge Mohammad Moghiseh, sentenced her to 20 years in prison. The next day, she was relocated into exile in Rajai Shahr Prison, Karaj. In April-May 2011, she was relocated to Qarchak Prison in Varamin and the next week, to the women’s ward of Evin Prison.
During her incarceration, Shahriari Sabet has been granted a furlough only one time. In 2015, her sentence was reduced to 10 years.
On September 18, 2017, Shahriari Sabet was set free from Evin Prison after serving her ten-year sentence. During the first 20 months of her prolonged detention, she had not any access to a lawyer.
On July 31, 2022, security forces arrested her again and searched her house. Subsequently, Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, headed by Judge Iman Afshari, sentenced her to 10 years in prison. Despite suffering from several diseases such as osteoporosis as a result of long-term incarceration, she does not have access to her required medicine. Since November 21, 2022, she has not been allowed to call her family or have visitation.
Nahid Taghavi
Nahid Taghavi
On October 16, 2020, security forces arrested Iranian-German national Nahid Taghavi, age 68, at her home in Tehran and took her to solitary confinement in IRGC’s Ward 2A, in Evin Prison.
After five months, she was relocated to the women’s ward of Evin Prison. Since her arrest, she has undergone about 1000 hours of interrogation during 80 sessions.
Many times, under different pretexts, she was sent from the women’s ward to Ward 2A and held in solitary confinement.
Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided by Judge Iman Afshari, sentenced her to 10 years and 8 months for “running illegal groups and propaganda against the regime.”
Despite the doctor’s order for back surgery and providing bail by her family, she was denied medical leave, until July 19, 2022, when she was finally dispatched to a hospital. However, despite unfinished treatment, she was sent back forcefully to prison on November 13, 2022.
Taghavi spent, in total, 200 out of her 220 days of incarceration in solitary confinement. During her detention and imprisonment, she has been denied to make a phone call and proper medical care.
Nasrin Javadi Khezri
Nasrin Javadi Khezri
On May 1, 2019, at a protest gathering on International Workers’ Day before the parliament, Nasrin (Azam) Javadi Khezri, along with dozens of protestors, were arrested. 28 days later, she was released on 100-million-toman bail from Qarchak Prison.
Afterwards, Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced her to five years for “assembly and collusion against national security,” one year for “propaganda against the regime”, and one year for “disturbing public order.” She was also sentenced to 74 lashes, a ban from using smartphones, and membership in civil/political groups and parties.
The Court of Appeals sentenced her to five years for the first above-mentioned charge. On July 2, 2022, she began serving her sentence in Evin Prison.
Javadi and 13 other political prisoners face a new legal case, following the Prisons Organization’s complaint about these prisoners’ refusal to be handcuffed during the transfer to the court. Branch 3 of Evin Prosecutor’s Office charged them with “disturbing public order, assembly and collusion against the regime, insulting the authorities and contempt of prison officials.”
Javadi, age 65, was held in solitary confinement for 50 days.
Narges Mansouri
Narges Mansouri
On August 12, 2019, security forces arrested Narges Mansouri while she was returning home from work. After 20 days of interrogation and being held in solitary confinement in the Ward 2A of Evin prison, she was transferred to Qarchak Prison in Varamin.
Following a three-day hunger strike, Mansouri was sent back to Evin Prison. On November 13, 2019, she was released on 500-million-toman bail until the end of legal proceedings.
In 2022, she was rearrested by security forces.
Mansouri is a civil rights activist and member of the Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company. She, age 46, is a mother of a 12-year-old child.
Mansouri was held for a total of 72 days in solitary confinement.
Maryam Haji Hosseini
Maryam Haji Hosseini
In September 2019, security forces arrested Maryam Haji Hosseini and held her in a detention facility in Tehran for about six months under interrogation. In March 2020, she was relocated to the women’s ward of Evin Prison.
On April 22, 2020, Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided by Judge Salavati, held the first court session. Facing multiple charges including “spreading corruption on earth and spying for Israel,” Haji Hosseini was sentenced to death. On appeal, this verdict was commuted to ten years in prison and paying the money received for spying.
Haji Hosseini, age 50, has been held in solitary confinement for 412 days.
Tahereh Bajrovani
Tahereh Bajrovani
On December 21, 2022, security forces arrested Tahereh Bajrovani at her workplace in Tehran and took her to Ward 209 of Evin Prison.
After 33 days, she was relocated to the women’s ward of Evin Prison after 33 days of interrogation.
The reason for her arrest and the allegation against her is still unknown.
Bajrovani’s husband, Ali Fotoohi Koohsare, was killed by regime forces during the 2019–2020 Iranian protests.
Masoumeh (Farah) Nasaji
The Revolutionary Court sentenced Masoumeh Nasaji to five years and four months in prison. The details of her legal case and the charges are still unknown.
Nasaji, age 60, has been held for 48 days in solitary confinement.
Negar Zarei
Negar Zarei, age 31, was sentenced to five years and one month in prison by the Revolutionary Court. The details of her legal case and the charges are still unknown.
She has been held for 21 days in solitary confinement.
Four women’s rights activists, Nahid Shaghaghi, Akram Nasirian, Maryam Mohammadi and Asrin Darkaleh were summoned by the Judgement Enforcement Unit of Evin courthouse for sentencing. According to the summons letter, they have to appear at the court within 30 days.
According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Four women’s rights activists, Akram Nasirian, Maryam Mohammadi and Asrin Darkaleh have been summoned for sentencing.
Akram Nasirian on April 29, 2019, Nahid Shaghaghi on May 15, 2019, Maryam Mohammadi on July 8, 2019, and Asrin Darkaleh on July 28, 2019, were arrested by security forces. They all were released on bail from May to August.
Subsequently, Branch 24 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, headed by Judge Iman Afshari, sentenced each of these activists to 3 years in prison on the charge of “assembly and collusion against national security”, 6 months on the charge of “propaganda against the regime” and 8 months on the charge of “removing Hijab in public”. Per Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, the severest punishment of three years sentence on the first count was enforceable for each.
The sentencing was later reduced on appeal to two years and three months each.
These four activists are members of “Voice of Iranian Women”, striving for women’s empowerment and raising the voice of Iranian women.
In many countries, International Women’s Day, celebrated on March 8, is designated to commemorate women’s historical struggle for rights, honor their sacrifices and celebrate their cultural and political achievements. The Islamic Republic of Iran, however, refuses to follow this path. The regime never agreed to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, and its law blatantly violates the most fundamental rights of women, including the right of women to make decisions relating to their bodies and clothing choices, as well as equal opportunities in both social and economic realms.
According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, in the absence of any protective laws and punishments against “honor killings”, both domestic and non-domestic violence against women is widespread. Women’s rights defenders and gender equality advocates are frequently subjected to pressure and arbitrary detention by regime security forces, leading to prosecution, unfair trials and convictions by judicial authorities. Currently, many women’s rights activists await verdicts, and others are serving sentences in prison— often in the same ward as prisoners of violent crimes, jeopardizing their safety.
According to HRANA’s Annual Analytical and Statistical Report on Human Rights in Iran, based on 90 registered reports by the Department of Statistics, at least 43 women reported physical and sexual abuse in the last year. In addition, there were 24 reported cases of honor killings, eight self-immolations, three acid attacks, and four cases where women’s rights activists were summoned to judicial and security organizations. There were 20,187 reported cases of domestic abuse against women and 13 murders. This report also details that seven women were detained for reasons related to women’s rights and at least four women’s rights activists were sentenced to a total of 282 months in prison.
It is worth mentioning that this data is merely collected from media reports. The real figures are likely much higher and more daunting, as many domestic violence cases are never reported to legal authorities.
Women’s Rights Violations
Honor Killings: An honor killing is the murder of an individual, often a girl or woman, by a family member or relative in an attempt to restore the honor of the family. The victim’s act, such as refusing forced marriage, being the victim of a rape, getting a divorce, or adultery, is deemed traditionally or religiously shameful or dishonorable by the family or community.
In Iran’s law system, the punishment for murder is usually decided by the “blood avenger”, most often the father, as he is the first degree male relative. Consequently, the perpetrator in an honor killing is either identical to or related to the blood avenger. Thanks to this legal flaw, many honor killers get away without heavy punishment.
For example, Romina Ashrafi, age 13, was beheaded by her father in an honor killing. His father was sentenced to nine years in prison, which is considered a light sentence compared to the death penalty, normally a routine punishment for homicide in Iran.
Violence Against Girls and Women- Iran is one of the four countries in the world that has not recognized the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. Through the efforts of a number of women’s rights activists, a bill known as the Protection, Dignity, and Security of Women Against Violence was approved by the government on January 3, 2021. However, when the bill was drafted in Hassan Rouhani’s first cabinet, 40 of the 90 articles of the bill were removed. Former Vice President for Women and Family Affairs, Masoumeh Ebtekar, announced that the bill was not presented Parliament for approcal five months after the approval of the cabinet. Recently, Shiva Ghasemipour of the Women’s Faction in Parliament announced that the bill was handed over to the Judiciary for further review.
Bodily Autonomy- In February of 2022, the Medical Equipment Department imposed a regulation whereby pharmacies all over the country were prohibited to provide contraceptives pills without a prescription. The regulation addresses department deputies at medical universities, prohibiting them from distributing free or subsidized birth control or contraceptive implantation. It also prohibits the promotion of contraceptive pills and treatments. In an effort to implement the Rejuvenation of The Population And Support of Family bill such regulations aim to make birth control and abortion harder for women to access. These restrictions on providing contraceptive pills, contraceptive-related services and strict rules against abortion blatantly violate the inalienable rights of women to make decisions relating to their bodies and increase the risk of sexually transmitted diseases and vaginal cancer.
Forced Veiling- Among other restrictions, forcing women to wear a veil is one of the most flagrant violations of women’s rights. As UN Human Rights Council asserts, any coercion pertaining to women’s clothes signifies the blatant violation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights by the government. Nonetheless, Iran’s regime, both in law and practice, not only forces women to wear a veil but also prosecutes and suppress women who oppose the compulsory veil. While Iran’s law cites punishments ranging from a fine of 50,000 tomans to two months imprisonment, citizens are in practice faced with more serious and groundless accusations such as “spreading corruption on earth” which can be punishable up to 10 years in prison. All these penalties stand in violation of Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Right to Education- According to the Society for Protecting the Rights of the Child’s CEO, in Iran, about one million children in poor areas are deprived of school. From them, 49,000 children are barred from education due to either lacking birth certificates or being forced to work. These numbers vary wildly each year. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of children out of school tripled.
Besides poverty, lack of birth certificates and child labour, some girls are barred from school by families who are adhere to traditional norms and prejudices. In 2020, 4142 girls left school because of child marriage or family disallowance.
Cultural Rights- Iran’s regime prohibits women from dancing and singing in the public, which violates Article 15 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which asserts the right of everyone to take part in cultural activities. Despite women being legally allowed to be in sports stadiums, they face many obstructions by authorities in practice.
Marriage and Family Rights- In violation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which asserts the abolition of any gender discrimination in the law system, Iranian women are legally subjected to discrimination in many aspects of their family life, such as divorce and child custody. Married women require their husband’s permission to receive passports and leave the country.. Additionally, they do not have the right to choose where they live. The law allows the man to bar his wife from working outside the home if he considers the work in conflict with “family values”. In addition, as a duty of marriage, women are obliged to satisfy their husband’s sexual desires, arguably denying the right to consent during marital intercourse.
The UN Human Rights Council has stated that these discriminative laws violate Article 23.4 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
Women’s Rights Activists
Convicted (But Not Imprisoned) Women’s Rights Activists
Tahmineh Mofidi
On January 2, 2021, women’s rights activist Tahmineh Mofidi was arrested by IRGCS intelligence agents at her house and transferred to Ward 2-A of Evin Prison On February 2, 2021, she was released on bail of 1.5 billion tomans until the end of legal proceedings. Thereafter, Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran sentenced her to three years and seven months in prison and a fine of 15 million tomans on charges of “acting against national security through assembly and collusion” and “promotion of sexual perversion on social media”. Based on her refusal to appeal, as well as Article 34 of the Islamic Penal Code where only the severest punishment from multiple counts is enforceable, the verdict was reduced to a fine of 37 million tomans.
During the trial, actions such as writing the stories of women who have been the victim of sexual assault, advocating for a symbolic protest against the compulsory veil known as “Girls of Enghelab Street”, and coaching without a veil were invoked to support these charges. Initially, she was also accused of “promoting impurity and indecency ” which later was changed to “promotion of sexual perversion on social media”.
Imprisoned Women’s Rights Activists
Yasaman Aryani and Monireh Arabshahi
Yasaman Aryani and her mother Monireh Arabshahi, both civil activists and outspoken opponents of the forced veil, are currently serving sentences in Kachooie Prison in Karaj City. On April 10, 2019, one day after the arrest of her mother, Aryani was arrested and transferred to Qarchak Prison in Varamin City. They both were relocated to Evin Prison on August 13, 2019, and transferred again on October 21, 2021 to Kachooie Prison in Karaj.
On August 7, 2021, each was sentenced to 16 years in prison on the charge of “propaganda against the regime” and “provoking impurity and indecency”. These verdicts were reduced for each to nine years and seven months in prison. Per 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, the severest punishment of five years and six months is enforceable. Arabshahi is still imprisoned and denied adequate medical treatment, despite being certified intolerant of punishment, and both an endocrinologist and neurologist asserting her need for lumbar disc and thyroid surgery.
On February 23, Aryani, who is co-housed with prisoners of violent crimes, was beaten by some fellow prisoners.
Saba Kord Afshari and Raheleh Ahmadi
Civil activists Saba Kord Afshari and her mother Raheleh Ahmadi were arrested on June 1 and July 10 2019, respectively. On August 27, 2019, Afshari was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment on the charge of “promoting corruption and obscenity by appearing without a headscarf in public”, one year and six months on the charge of “propaganda against the regime” and seven years and six months on the charge of “assembly and collusion to act against national security”, totaling 24 years imprisonment.
This verdict was increased two and half times more due to a previous record, before finally being corrected in March of last year and reduced from 15 years to 7 years and 6 months. Per Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, the severest punishment of seven years and six months is enforceable.
On January 26, 2021, she was violently relocated from Ward 8 to Ward 6 of Qarchak Prison. Currently, she is held in the same ward as prisoners of violent crimes, which violates Iran prison rules.
On December 10, 2019, Ahmadi was sentenced to three years and six months in prison on charges of “assembly and collusion against national security through collaboration with anti-regime media” and eight months on the charge of “propaganda against the regime”. Ahmadi was granted medical furlough after contracting COVID-19 on February 16. Afshari was also granted short term furlough one day after she was beaten by a prisoner of violent crime on February 20, and was therefore able to meet her mother on furlough.
Aliye Motallebzadeh
On November 26, 2016, Aliye Motallebzadeh, photographer and women’s rights defender, was arrested during her appearance at the Ministry of Intelligence office after phone summons. She was detained in Ward 209 at the Ministry of Intelligence’s disposal until December 19 2016, when she was released on bail of 300 million tomans until the end of legal proceedings.
The Revolutionary Court of Tehran sentenced her to three years imprisonment for the charges of “assembly and collusion against national security” and “propaganda against the regime.” This verdict was upheld by Branch 36 of the Court of Appeals.
On October 11, 2020, Motallebzadeh was sent to Evin Prison to serve her sentence after appearing at Evin Courthouse. On January 10, she was transferred to Qarchak Prison in Varamin City to serve the rest of her sentence in exile. On February 23, she was granted medical furlough after contracting COVID-19.
Women’s Rights Activists Who Are Awaiting Imprisonment
Nahid Shaghaghi, Akram Nasirian, Maryam Mohammadi and Asrin Darkaleh
All four activists were arrested by security forces; Akram Nasirian on April 29, 2019, Nahid Shaghaghi on May 15, 2019, Maryam Mohammadi on July 8, 2019 and Asrin Darkaleh on July 28, 2019. They all were released on bail from May to August. Branch 24 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, headed by Judge Iman Afshari, sentenced the activists to a total of 16 years and 8 months imprisonment. Per Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, the severest punishment of three years sentence on one count was enforceable for each. This was later reduced on appeal to two years and three months each. Recently, they were summoned by the Executive Unit of Evin Courthouse to serve their sentences.
Raha (Raheleh) Askarizadeh
On November 28, 2019, journalist, photographer and women’s rights activist Raha (Raheleh) Askarizadeh was arrested at Imam Khomeini International Airport while leaving the country. On December 31 of that year, she was released on bail until the end of legal proceedings. Initially, the Revolutionary Court of Tehran sentenced her to two years imprisonment, a two year ban from leaving the country and a two year prohibition from political activities in media, political groups and social media. The verdict was upheld on appeal. In April of 2021, she was summoned by the Executive Unit of Evin Courthouse to serveher sentence.
Najmeh Vahedi and Hoda Amidi
On September 1, 2018, women’s rights activists, Najmeh Vahedi and Hoda Amidi were arrested by IRGC intelligence agents and then released on bail in November of that year. For the charge of “collaboration with the hostile country (U.S.) against the regime regarding women and family issues”, the Revolutionary Court of Tehran sentenced Hoda Amidi to eight years imprisonment, two years prohibiti
on of membership in political groups and parties, prohibition of political activities in media and on the internet, two years ban from leaving the country, two years prohibition of the exercise of the profession as a la
wyer. For the same charge, Najmeh Vahedi was sentenced to seven years imprisonment, two years prohibition of membership in political groups and parties, prohibition of political activities in media and on the internet, two years ban from leaving the country.
These verdicts were upheld on appeal. Running the educational workshops for women on setting out preconditions in marriage such as having the right to divorce (in order to restore the denied rights on divorce for women), was invoked during the trial as examples of the above-mentioned charges.
Atsa Ahmadai Rafsanjani
On January 20, 2019, the Baha’i resident of Tehran was arrested by security forces at her house and transferred to a solitary confinement cell in Ward 241 of Evin Prison at the disposal of the Judiciary’s counterintelligence. On March 6, 2019, she was released on bail of 200 million tomans until the end of legal proceedings. In May 2021, Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran sentenced her to four years imprisonment on the charge of “formation of a group to act against national security through registering an NGO on women empowerment”, three years in prison on the charge of “assembly and collusion to act against national security”, and one year in prison on the charge of “propaganda against the regime”.
She was condemned for the first charge despite the Ministry of Interior had already rejecting her request to form an NGO due to being Baha’i. If the verdict is upheld on appeal, four years imprisonment for the first count is enforceable per Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code.
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For further inquiries please contact Skylar Thompson, Senior Advocacy Coordinator Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) at skylar@hramail.com
women’s rights activist Tahmineh Mofidi was arrested by IRGCS intelligence agents at her house and transferred to Ward 2-A of Evin Prison On February 2, 2021, she was released on bail of 1.5 billion tomans until the end of legal proceedings. Thereafter, Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran sentenced her to three years and seven months in prison and a fine of 15 million tomans on charges of “acting against national security through assembly and collusion” and “promotion of sexual perversion on social media”. Based on her refusal to appeal, as well as Article 34 of the Islamic Penal Code where only the severest punishment from multiple counts is enforceable, the verdict was reduced to a fine of 37 million tomans.
rabshahi, both civil activists and outspoken opponents of the forced veil, are currently serving sentences in Kachooie Prison in Karaj City. On April 10, 2019, one day after the arrest of her mother, Aryani was arrested and transferred to Qarchak Prison in Varamin City. They both were relocated to Evin Prison on August 13, 2019, and transferred again on October 21, 2021 to Kachooie Prison in Karaj.
2019, respectively. On August 27, 2019, Afshari was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment on the charge of “promoting corruption and obscenity by appearing without a headscarf in public”, one year and six months on the charge of “propaganda against the regime” and seven years and six months on the charge of “assembly and collusion to act against national security”, totaling 24 years imprisonment.
during her appearance at the Ministry of Intelligence office after phone summons. She was detained in Ward 209 at the Ministry of Intelligence’s disposal until December 19 2016, when she was released on bail of 300 million tomans until the end of legal proceedings.
May 15, 2019, Maryam Mohammadi on July 8, 2019 and Asrin Darkaleh on July 28, 2019. They all were released on bail from May to August. Branch 24 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, headed by Judge Iman Afshari, sentenced the activists to a total of 16 years and 8 months imprisonment. Per Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, the severest punishment of three years sentence on one count was enforceable for each. This was later reduced on appeal to two years and three months each. Recently, they were summoned by the Executive Unit of Evin Courthouse to serve their sentences.
intelligence agents and then released on bail in November of that year. For the charge of “collaboration with the hostile country (U.S.) against the regime regarding women and family issues”, the Revolutionary Court of Tehran sentenced Hoda Amidi to eight years imprisonment, two years prohibiti
transferred to a solitary confinement cell in Ward 241 of Evin Prison at the disposal of the Judiciary’s counterintelligence. On March 6, 2019, she was released on bail of 200 million tomans until the end of legal proceedings. In May 2021, Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran sentenced her to four years imprisonment on the charge of “formation of a group to act against national security through registering an NGO on women empowerment”, three years in prison on the charge of “assembly and collusion to act against national security”, and one year in prison on the charge of “propaganda against the regime”.