Tag: Vakilabad prison

Female Prisoner Dies in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad Following Lack of Medical Care

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News, Prisoners
HRANA, Mashhad, Taktam Ramezani, Vakilabad prison, تکتم رمضانی

HRANA – Taktam Ramezani, a prisoner convicted of non-political offenses and held in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad, died in the prison following a ruptured gallbladder and delays in receiving medical care and being transferred to a hospital.

According to HRANA, a prisoner held in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad died due to a lack of timely medical care.

The prisoner, identified by HRANA as 37-year-old Taktam Ramezani, had been convicted of non-political offenses.

According to reports received by HRANA, Ms. Ramezani died in Ward 2 of Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, following a ruptured gallbladder and delays in her transfer to a hospital. During the four days preceding her death, she suffered from severe pain in the gallbladder area. Despite repeated requests for medical attention, she was denied transfer to a hospital and access to appropriate medical treatment.

Ms. Ramezani had been arrested some time earlier on drug-related charges and was serving her sentence in Ward 2 of Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad. She also worked in the prison collecting garbage.

Under the regulations of Iran’s Prisons Organization, all prisoners are entitled to healthcare and medical services. The regulations stipulate that prisoners must undergo regular medical examinations and, when urgent treatment is required, be transferred to specialized hospitals. In practice, however, numerous reports indicate that prisoners are frequently denied this fundamental right.

Leila Moallemi Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners
HRANA, Leila Moallemi, Mashhad, Vakilabad prison, لیلا معلمی

HRANA – Leila Moallemi, a resident of Mashhad who is currently incarcerated in Vakilabad Prison, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison by the Revolutionary Court of Mashhad.

According to HRANA, Leila Moallemi has been sentenced to imprisonment.

Based on information received by HRANA, the Revolutionary Court of Mashhad sentenced Moallemi to 10 years in prison. A source close to her family, confirming the news to HRANA, said: “The sentence was communicated to Leila in prison some time ago. The sentence was issued in connection with her sending a voice message and providing information to a media outlet based outside Iran during the war.”

Ms. Moallemi was arrested by security forces in Mashhad on May 28, 2026, and subsequently transferred to Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad.

HRANA’s investigation into further details of the case, including the charges brought against her and the judicial authority that issued the sentence, remains ongoing.

Leila Moallemi is originally from Bandar Abbas and resides in Mashhad.

January 2026 Protests: Azadeh Yaghoubi Sentenced to Over Three Years in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Aramesh ward, Azadeh Yaghoubi, January 2026 Protests, Masoumeh Yaghoubi, Vakilabad prison, آزاده یعقوبی

HRANA – Azadeh (Masoumeh) Yaghoubi, arrested during the 2026 nationwide protests and currently held in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad, has been sentenced to three years and six months’ imprisonment by the Revolutionary Court of Mashhad.

According to HRANA, Azadeh (Masoumeh) Yaghoubi has been sentenced to prison.

According to a ruling issued by the Revolutionary Court of Mashhad and recently served on Ms. Yaghoubi, she was sentenced to three years and six months’ imprisonment on the charge of assembly and collusion to act against national security.

Yaghoubi suffers from Crohn’s disease, a chronic inflammatory bowel disease. Due to inadequate access to medication, poor detention conditions, and the low quality of prison food, her physical health has deteriorated. She also requires specialized medical care, including a colonoscopy.

Masoumeh Yaghoubi, who is also known by the name Azadeh, was arrested by security forces in Mashhad on January 24, 2026.

She spent a period in solitary confinement at The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility before being transferred to Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad.

HRANA previously reported on the conditions of women held in the Aramesh and Quarantine wards of Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad. These wards suffer from severe shortages of basic facilities, including adequate ventilation, standard toilets and bathing facilities, beds, and appropriate access to medical care.

Najmeh Amini Remains in Legal Limbo More Than Six Months After Arrest

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News, Prisoners
Mashhad, Najmeh Amini, Vakilabad prison, نجمه امینی

HRANA – Najmeh Amini, one of those arrested during the January 2026 protests, has remained in legal limbo at Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad for more than six months since her arrest. Her trial on the charges against her was recently held at the Revolutionary Court in Mashhad.

According to HRANA News Agency, Najmeh Amini continues to be held without a final judicial decision in Vakilabad Prison, Mashhad.

Based on information received by HRANA, Najmeh Amini has been detained in Vakilabad Prison for more than six months. A source close to her family, who confirmed the information to HRANA, said that she was recently tried at the Revolutionary Court in Mashhad on charges of “assembly and collusion against national security” and “insulting religious sanctities and the Imams.” However, the court branch has not yet issued a verdict in her case.

On January 31, 2026, during the January protests, Najmeh Amini was arrested by security forces at Ferdowsi Shopping Center in Mashhad after being beaten. She was later transferred to Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad.

Najmeh Amini, 22, is an accounting student and a resident of Mashhad.

Background on the January 2026 Protests

It should be noted that protests and strikes by shopkeepers and bazaar merchants began in Tehran on Sunday, December 28, 2025, and within two days spread beyond markets and commercial centers. With the participation of students, citizens, and various social groups, these protests became one of the largest protest movements of recent years. Following the crackdown by security and law enforcement forces, thousands were killed or injured, and tens of thousands were arrested or summoned by security agencies. For more information, readers may refer to HRANA’s comprehensive report titled “Crimson Winter,” documenting the first fifty days following the outbreak of Iran’s nationwide protests.

Fatemeh Sepehri Denied Adequate Medical Care in Vakilabad Prison, Mashhad

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News, Prisoners
Asghar Sepehri, Fatemeh Sepehri, HRANA, Mashhad, Mohammad Hossein Sepehri, Vakilabad prison, فاطمه سپهری

HRANA – Fatemeh Sepehri, a political prisoner held in Vakilabad Prison, has been denied adequate medical care and transfer to medical facilities outside the prison despite suffering from a heart condition and deteriorating health.

According to HRANA, Fatemeh Sepehri continues to be deprived of proper medical treatment.

According to his brother, Asghar Sepehri, despite a prison doctor’s recommendation in March 2026 that Fatemeh Sepehri be examined by a cardiologist, prison authorities failed to arrange the transfer. She was only taken to a heart specialist after her condition significantly worsened on April 22, 2026. He added that the specialist had scheduled a follow-up appointment for May 23, 2026, but that visit has yet to take place. In addition, most of her essential medications have run out, and continuing her treatment depends on another specialist examination and the renewal of her prescriptions.

In March 2025, in a joint case with her brother, Mohammad Hossein Sepehri, Branch 5 of the Revolutionary Court in Mashhad sentenced each of them to three years and nine months in prison. The case stemmed from a letter the two political prisoners published from Vakilabad Prison on December 26, 2024.

Previously, in June 2024, Fatemeh Sepehri was sentenced to 18 years and six months in prison in another joint case alongside her brothers, Mohammad Hossein Sepehri and Hossein Sepehri.

Earlier, in January 2023, the Criminal Court of Mashhad sentenced Fatemeh Sepehri to one year of discretionary imprisonment and a fine of 200 million rials on charges of spreading false information and disturbing public opinion.

In a separate case, Fatemeh Sepehri was sentenced to 10 years in prison on charges of cooperation with hostile states. She also received five years for “assembly and collusion against national security,” two years for “insulting the Supreme Leader,” and one year for propaganda against the state. These sentences were upheld on appeal. Under Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, 10 years of the combined sentence are enforceable.

Fatemeh Sepehri is also one of the signatories of the letter calling for the resignation of Ali Khamenei. In connection with that letter, Branch 4 of the Revolutionary Court in Mashhad initially sentenced her to five years of discretionary imprisonment. The sentence was later reduced on appeal to three years and six months. She was subsequently released in early 2020 under a five-year suspended sentence.

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Denial of Phone Calls and Family Visits; Azar Yahu’s Detention Continues at Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad

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Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners
Azar Yahu, Mashhad, Vakilabad prison, آذر یاهو

HRANA – Azar Yahu remains in detention at Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad without a clear legal status, despite 125 days having passed since her arrest. Since Sunday, July 5, she has been subjected to a disciplinary ban on phone calls and family visits.

According to HRANA News Agency, Azar Yahu remains in detention at Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad without any judicial resolution to her case.

A source familiar with the matter and close to Yahu’s family confirmed the news to HRANA, stating: “Since Sunday, July 5, Azar Yahu has been deprived of phone calls and family visits as a disciplinary measure and has been transferred to Ward 6 of Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad. Prison officials have claimed that the disciplinary action was taken because she had published a statement about her conditions in prison. However, she has not published any such statement.”

The source added that although 125 days have passed since Ms. Yahu’s arrest, no verdict has yet been issued in her case, which remains under judicial review.

Azar Yahu, aged approximately 39, has been charged with “collaboration with Israel.” According to reports received by HRANA, the charge is based on her online activities, including the use of stickers on social media. Authorities have also cited her presence in the streets and dancing on the day of Ali Khamenei’s death as additional reasons for her arrest.

She was arrested in Mashhad by the IRGC Intelligence Organization on March 5, 2026.

January 2026 Protests: Mahboubeh Shabani Remains Detained Without Charge Resolution in Mashhad Prison

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News, Prisoners
Mahboubeh Shabani, Vakilabad prison, محبوبه شعبانی

HRANA – Mahboubeh Shabani, arrested during the January 2026 protests, has remained in legal limbo in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad for more than five months since her arrest.

Based on information received by HRANA, despite the passage of 160 days since her arrest, Mahboubeh Shabani continues to be held without charge resolution in the Aramesh Ward of Vakilabad Prison.

She is facing charges of operational action in support of Israel, the United States, and individuals affiliated with opposition groups. Her case is currently under review by Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Mashhad.

Mahboubeh Shabani was arrested by security forces on February 2, 2026, in connection with the nationwide protests in Mashhad.

It should be noted that protests and strikes by shopkeepers and bazaar merchants began in Tehran on Sunday, December 28, 2025, and within two days spread beyond markets and commercial centers. With the participation of students, citizens, and various social groups, these protests became one of the largest protest movements of recent years. Following the crackdown by security and law enforcement forces, thousands were killed or injured, and tens of thousands were arrested or summoned by security agencies. For more information, readers may refer to HRANA’s comprehensive report titled “Crimson Winter,” documenting the first fifty days following the outbreak of Iran’s nationwide protests.

Saba Talebi Held in Limbo for Over a Month at Vakilabad Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
HRANA, Mashhad, Saba Talebi, Vakilabad prison, صبا طالبی

HRANA – Saba Talebi, a blogger from Mashhad, was arrested by security forces on May 26, 2026, and remains in detention without clarification of her legal status at Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad.

According to HRANA News Agency, the news outlet of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA), Saba Talebi, a blogger from Mashhad, remains in custody.

A source close to Talebi’s family confirmed the information to HRANA, stating: “Ms. Talebi has been held for 34 days without clarification of her legal status in the Aramesh ward of Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad. She is facing charges of insulting the Supreme Leader, insulting Islamic sanctities, and propaganda against the regime. Additionally, the investigating judge has so far refused to issue a bail order for her temporary release.”

Talebi was arrested by security forces at her home in Mashhad on May 26, 2026, and was later transferred to Vakilabad Prison in the city.

Saba Talebi, 23, is a blogger and resident of Mashhad.

It is worth noting that HRANA previously published a report examining the conditions of women held in the Aramesh ward and the quarantine section of Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad. According to the report, at least 30 women arrested during the January protests, amid heightened security measures following the recent military conflict, are being held in these wards under difficult conditions, facing numerous challenges, including a lack of basic necessities and adequate facilities.

Faezeh Salehabadi Sentenced to Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Faezeh Salehabadi, HRANA, Mashhad, Vakilabad prison, فائزه صالح آبادی

HRANA – Faezeh Salehabadi, a prisoner currently held in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad, has been sentenced by the Revolutionary Court of Mashhad to one year and three months in prison.

Based on information received by HRANA, Branch 2 of the Mashhad Revolutionary Court sentenced Faezeh Salehabadi to one year and three months in prison on the charge of “insulting the Supreme Leader.”

The court also acquitted Ms. Salehabadi of the charges of “insulting Islamic sanctities” and “propaganda against the regime.”

HRANA had previously reported that bail had been set at 4 billion tomans for Ms. Salehabadi’s release. However, her family has so far been unable to secure the required amount.

During the investigation phase, Ms. Salehabadi’s defense hearing was held on April 7, 2026. On May 25, 2026, an indictment was issued, and her case was referred to the Revolutionary Court. The case was opened in connection with an Instagram Story she had posted.

Ms. Salehabadi was arrested by security forces at her home on February 9, 2026. She was initially transferred to the Mosalla Women’s Police Station, then to the Revolutionary Court, and subsequently to Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad.

HRANA had previously reported, in an article published on May 12, 2026, on the situation of 30 women arrested during the January 2026 protests and the concurrent security developments during the war, who were being held in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad. That report also addressed the situation of Ms. Salehabadi.

Political Prisoner Fatemeh Sepehri Has Been on Hunger Strike for Seven Days

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Ali Sepehri, Fatemeh Sepehri, HRANA, Vakilabad prison, فاطمه سپهری

HRANA – Fatemeh Sepehri, a political prisoner held in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad, has been on strike since Wednesday, June 17, in protest against the authorities’ disregard for her demands. Following a visit with the political prisoner today, her family expressed concern over her physical condition.

According to HRANA, political prisoner Fatemeh Sepehri is in the seventh day of her hunger strike.

Ali Sepehri, her brother, stated that Ms. Sepehri began a hunger strike and medication strike on Wednesday, June 17, in protest against what she described as insults, harassment, and mistreatment by Fariba Hatampour, the internal manager of the women’s ward at Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad. He added that during this period, the prison authorities’ only action has been to transfer her daily to the infirmary and administer glucose IV fluids. During today’s visit, her family described Fatemeh Sepehri’s physical condition as alarming.

According to Mr. Sepehri, despite the family’s repeated efforts to secure a suspension of her sentence or medical leave, none of the authorities have responded to the situation.

In March 2025, Fatemeh Sepehri was sentenced to prison in a joint case with her brother, Mohammad Hossein Sepehri, by Branch Five of the Revolutionary Court of Mashhad. Each of them received a sentence of three years and nine months in prison. The case relates to a letter the two political prisoners published from Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad on December 26, 2024.

In June 2024, Fatemeh Sepehri, in another joint case with her brothers Mohammad Hossein and Hossein Sepehri, was sentenced to 18 years and six months in prison.

Previously, in March  2023, the Criminal Court of Mashhad sentenced Fatemeh Sepehri to one year of discretionary imprisonment and a fine of 20 million tomans on charges of spreading falsehoods and disturbing public opinion.

In another case, Fatemeh Sepehri was sentenced to 10 years in prison on charges of cooperating with hostile states. She was also sentenced to five years for assembly and collusion, two years for insulting the Supreme Leader, and one year for propaganda against the state. These sentences were upheld on appeal. Under Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, 10 years of these sentences are enforceable.

Ms. Sepehri is one of the signatories of the letter calling for the resignation of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. For this reason, she was initially sentenced by Branch Four of the Revolutionary Court of Mashhad to five years of discretionary imprisonment. The sentence was later reduced on appeal to three years and six months. She was subsequently released from prison in 2020 under a five-year suspended sentence arrangement.