13 May 2026 :
May 12, 2026 - IRAN. Identification of 30 Women Arrested During Protests and Security Developments Concurrent with the War
At least 30 women were arrested in Razavi Khorasan Province during the January 2026 protests and the security developments concurrent with the war, and were transferred to the so-called “Aramesh” ward and the quarantine section of Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad.
Based on information received by HRANA, these citizens were arrested during the January 2026 protests as well as the security developments concurrent with the war, and 25 of them remain imprisoned. HRANA has also confirmed the identities of five detainees who were recently released from the prison.
According to information received by HRANA, these women were primarily arrested in connection with participation in the January 2026 protests, activity on social media, communication with foreign media outlets, providing aid to injured protesters, or involvement in symbolic protest actions. Some of these women were arrested over recent months by security bodies including the IRGC Intelligence Organization, the Ministry of Intelligence, and the Law Enforcement Command (FARAJA). Several are facing serious charges such as “enmity against God” (moharebeh), “collaboration with Israel,” “insulting the Prophet,” and “assembly and collusion against national security.”
Among these women, 18 are being held in the so-called “Aramesh” ward and seven others in the quarantine section of Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad. A number of them have remained in legal limbo for months, with no court sessions held to address the charges against them. Some of these prisoners have also been denied telephone calls and family visits, while their families have faced extensive restrictions and uncertainty in attempts to follow up on their cases or seek temporary release.
The report goes on to separately examine the situation of the detained women in the Aramesh ward and the quarantine section of Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad, followed by details regarding those who have been released. According to received information by HRANA the Aramesh ward suffers from poor detention conditions and inadequate basic facilities. Poor ventilation, lack of sanitary facilities, malfunctioning heating and cooling systems, and limited access to medical services are among the problems faced by women held in this ward. According to one former prisoner, the physical conditions and confined environment of the ward were such that she compared it to an “ant nest.”
The identities of 18 women imprisoned in the Aramesh ward of Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad are as follows:
1- Maryam Nouri
Maryam Nouri was arrested five days after her husband, Ashkan Torabzadeh, was killed during the nationwide protests of January 2026. So far, no information is available regarding the reasons for her arrest or the charges brought against her.
2- Arezou Dehghan
Arezou Dehghan, 18 years old, is among the detainees currently held in the Aramesh ward of the prison. She was arrested for participating in the nationwide protests of January 2026.
3- Nadia Sedgh-Ali
She was arrested for placing flowers on the graves of those killed during the protests at Behesht Reza Cemetery in Mashhad and for sending images to foreign media outlets, including Iran International. Bail was set at 5 billion tomans. Due to her family’s inability to provide the bail amount, her temporary release has not been possible.
4- Soheila Hosseini
Along with her husband Dr. Ahmad Rahimi, she was arrested at their home in Mashhad on March 18, 2026. According to information received by HRANA, they were identified due to possessing and using a Starlink device and are accused of helping those injured during the January 2026 protests.
5- Najmeh Amini
The 22-year-old accounting student has been detained for approximately 89 days. Charges against her include moharebeh (“enmity against God”), collaboration with Israel, insulting the Supreme Leader, insulting the Prophet, and clashing with officers. She was arrested with violence by security forces on January 31, 2026, at Ferdowsi Shopping Center in Mashhad.
6- Mahdieh Afghahi
Mahdieh Afghahi, along with her husband Abolghasem Ali-Moradi, was arrested for communicating with foreign media outlets. Bail orders have been issued for them, but they remain detained due to inability to pay the bail amount.
7- Hadiseh Morvaridi
Morvaridi, 24 years old, was arrested in Fariman on January 8, 2026, and remains in legal limbo. According to informed sources, she faces the risk of being charged with insulting the Prophet of Islam.
8- Shahrzad Zamiri
Following her arrest, Shahrzad Zamiri spent 43 days in solitary confinement in the Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility and is now being held in the Aramesh ward of Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad. No information is available regarding the charges against her.
9- Tahereh Dehghan
She was arrested in Chenaran for participating in the January 2026 protests and sentenced by the Revolutionary Court to one year in prison. She has been imprisoned for approximately 110 days.
10- Asieh Naeimi
Asieh Naeimi was arrested for communicating with Persian-language media outlets abroad.
11- Adeleh Naeimi
Adeleh Naeimi, the sister of Asieh Naeimi, was also arrested in connection with this case.
12- Mahsa Behdari
Mahsa Behdari was arrested on March 20 for lighting candles during a mourning ceremony for those killed in the protests at Behesht Reza Cemetery. The charges against her include assembly and collusion and propaganda against the regime.
13- Zahra Mousavi
Zahra Mousavi, 21 years old, has been imprisoned for approximately 98 days. She was the head of her household and worked as a cashier at a restaurant in Fariman. Charges against her include participation in protests, forming groups, training in and manufacturing and using Molotov cocktails, and encouraging others to disrupt public order and national security. She holds both Iranian and Afghan citizenship, and according to informed sources, she has lost her Iranian birth certificate as a result of this case and faces the threat of exile.
14- Azar Yahoo
Azar Yahoo, aged approximately 38, was arrested in Mashhad on March 4, 2026, by IRGC intelligence forces and is currently held in the Aramesh ward of Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad. The charge against her is “collaboration with Israel,” an accusation reportedly linked to her online activities, including the use of stickers. Her presence in the streets and dancing on the day of Ali Khamenei’s death were also cited as reasons for her arrest.
15- Mahboubeh Shabani
She was arrested in Mashhad on February 2, 2026, and is currently held in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad. A hearing regarding her charges has been held at the Revolutionary Court of Mashhad. No information is available about the charges against her.
16- Marzieh Mashhadi
She was arrested for participating in the January 2026 protests and communicating with Persian-language media outlets abroad. She remains detained in an uncertain legal status.
17- Sima Anbaei Farimani
Sima Anbaei Farimani, originally from Fariman and born in 1992, was arrested by FARAJA forces on March 16, 2026, and is currently held in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad. Charges against her include “links with Israel,” “assembly and collusion against national security,” and “insulting the former and current leaders.” According to HRANA’s reports, Ms. Anbaei Farimani is currently denied visitation and phone contact with her family, and her case is subject to severe restrictions on information disclosure.
18- Faezeh Salehabadi
Faezeh Salehabadi has been held in legal limbo in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad for approximately 78 days. According to informed sources, her arrest was related to posting a story on social media.
Further details regarding the detained women held in the quarantine section of Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad are provided below.
HRANA had previously received reports indicating that the quarantine unit of this prison suffers from poor conditions in terms of facilities and sanitation, and that prisoners lack adequate access to basic necessities and standard accommodation conditions. According to an informed source, the constant smell of sewage in this section continuously causes distress to prisoners, while the lack of proper ventilation has made detention conditions even more difficult.
19- Masoumeh Yaghoubi
Masoumeh Yaghoubi, known by the alias “Azadeh,” was arrested by security forces in Mashhad on January 24, 2026. So far, no information has been obtained regarding the charges brought against her.
20- Fatemeh Rezvanifar
Fatemeh Rezvanifar, known by the alias “Samira,” was arrested on January 17, 2026. No court hearing has yet been held to address the charges against her, and no information is available regarding the details of her case or the accusations against her. According to an informed source, her family’s efforts to secure her temporary release have so far been unsuccessful.
21- Seyedeh Zeinab Mousavi
Seyedeh Zeinab Mousavi, known by the alias “Aban,” was arrested on February 24, 2026. The court hearing regarding the charges against her and her brother, Seyed Hassan Mousavi, was held on April 26, 2026, and they are facing charges of moharebeh (“enmity against God”).
22- Melika Khavari Khorasani
She, 21 years old, was arrested on March 1, 2026, and is currently being held in legal limbo in the quarantine section of Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad.
23- Mina Zarei
According to informed sources, she was transferred to prison in poor physical condition. She was arrested on March 1, 2026, and the reason for her arrest was stated to be “dancing for Khamenei’s death.”
24- Reyhaneh Kafsh-Kanan
Reyhaneh Kafsh-Kanan has been detained for 48 days and has been denied visitation and phone contact. She appeared in an interrogation session on April 26, and according to informed sources, she was threatened with torture and execution.
25- Hadiseh Babazadeh
Hadiseh Babazadeh is among the detained women being held in the quarantine section of this prison. Investigations into the details of her case are ongoing.
In recent days, five inmates of Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad were released on bail. The names of these individuals and the status of their cases are as follows:
26- Samira Bayat
She, 35 years old, was arrested by security forces on January 24, 2026. She was the head of her household and worked as a cashier at a restaurant in Mashhad. Her arrest was related to participation in the January protests. She was recently released from the prison after posting bail.
27- Elnaz Eghbali
Ms. Eghbali, along with her husband Saeed Samiei, was arrested in late February 2026 for participating in the protests. They were released in recent days after posting bail.
28- Negar Farahmand
She was arrested at her home in Mashhad on March 29, 2026, by IRGC intelligence agents. The charge brought against her was sending videos and images to foreign media outlets. She was eventually released from Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad after posting bail.
29- Najmeh Ruhand
Najmeh Ruhand was arrested on the evening of March 20 during the Persian New Year celebration ceremony at Ferdowsi’s tomb in Mashhad by security agents. She was initially transferred to the quarantine ward of Vakilabad Prison and, after interrogation, moved to the Aramesh ward of the prison. She faced charges of acting against national security. She was ultimately released from prison after posting bail.
30- Fatemeh Eram
Fatemeh Eram, 28 years old and from Fariman, was arrested by security forces in connection with participation in the January 2026 protests. She faced charges of leading protests. She was recently released after posting bail.
