Iranian women are exposed to a variety of discriminations with charges ranging from gender-related and ethnic issues over religious and political beliefs to the defense of underprivileged groups within the Islamic Republic of Iran. In addition female creative artists get targeted for their cultural activities.
On the occasion of the 100th International Women’s Day we publish a list of imprisoned Iranian women to expose the extent of this discrimination. As to the prisoners of conscience the two most vulnerable groups are the religious minorities of Baha’i and Christians, both persecuted relentlessly as they pose a serious challenge to the autocratic Islamist system. With regards to ethnic discriminations members of the Kurd and Baluchi minorities are most endangered.
On the other hand the Islamist establishment targets journalists, lawyers, human rights activists and students, all representing key groups of a modern civil society, but inconsistent with the misogynous concept of a backward religious guardianship, which defies controversy and insists on the absolute control of all aspects of its citizens lives.
The misogynous concept of the Islamic Republic is also the main cause for flagrant legal violations as exemplified by the case of Sakineh Ashtiani, initially sentenced to death by stoning. The long list of female prisoners on death row attests to the disastrous effects of a purely male dominated judiciary system.
We call upon all international human rights organisations to urge the Islamic Republic of Iran to observe the International Charter of Human Rights. We also demand your support for fair trials, against death penalty and for the unconditional release of all female Iranian political prisoners and prisoners of conscience.
Amnesty Report to the Commission on the Status of Women regarding concerns about the harassment and imprisonment of women, including rights defenders and members of minorities, in Iran (PDF)
Tehran Bureau has just published an incisive interview with women’s rights activist Mahboubeh Abbasgholizadeh on „Iran’s Women Two Years after the Uprising“
This list will be updated on a regular base. Last update: October 7, 2011
Political Prisoners
1. Zahra Rahnavard, artist and writer, political activist, professor, wife of Iranian opposition political leader Mir Hossein Mousavi, put under house arrest on February 14, 2011, abducted with her husband on or around February 24, 2011
2. Fatemeh Karroubi, politician and activist, wife of Iranian opposition political leader Mehdi Karroubi, put under house arrest on February 14, 2011, abducted with her husband on or around February 24, 2011, temporarily released for medical care on April 23, 2011
3. Fakhrossadat Mohtashamipour, member of the Islamic Iran Participation Front (IIPF) and wife of imprisoned senior reformist Mostafa Tajzadeh, arrested on March 1, 2011, on furlough for 3 days from April 14, 2011, transferred to the Intelligence Ministry’s ward 209 at Evin on May 16, 2011
4. Fatemeh Khoramjoo, 53, political activist, arrested January 7, 2010 during raid on her home, charged with “insulting the president, insulting the Supreme Leader“, transferred to Evin Methadone Ward on 12 January 2011
5. Leyla Tavassoli, arrested 28 December 2009 as witness of a woman being ran over by a police car on Ashura, niece of Ebrahim Yazdi, released on 23 February 2010, sentenced to 2 years imprisonment, returned to Evin prison on 5 December 2010, on temporary leave since 15 July 2011
6. Mina Farrokh-Rezaei, presidential election protester, arrested on February 2010, released on bail, sentenced to 1 year suspended imprisonment, sentence reduced to 105 days on appeal, summoned to prison in January 2011
7. Motahareh Bahrami Haghighi, 61, arrested on 27 December 2009 (Ashura), sentenced to death, sentence commuted to 10 years in prison and exile to Rajai Shahr prison in June 2010, transferred from Evin to Rajai Shahr on 10 November 2010
8. Reyhaneh Haj Ebrahim Dabagh, arrested on 27 December 2009 (Ashura), sentenced to death, sentence commuted to 15 years in prison and exile to Rajai Shahr prison, transferred from Evin to Rajai Shahr on November 10, 2010
9. Nazila Dashti, political activist, first arrested in April 2007, charged with „supporting the Mujahedin“ in October 2008, sentenced to 3 years in prison on May 24, 2009, transferred to Methadone Ward in Evin on November 7, 2010
10. Zahra Jabbari, arrested on September 18, 2009 (Qods Day), has a brother and sister who reside at the Ashraf base in Iraq, sentenced to 4 years in prison on May 19, 2010 for “acting against the national security of the country”, critical health condition, requested medical leave of absence from prison denied on June 7, 2010, transferred to the Methadone ward at Evin along with all other female political prisoners on November 7, 2010, transferred to a hospital outside Evin prison on March 15, 2011, transferred to the Amin-Abad Mental Hospital on June 19, 2011
11. Zahra Hatami, teacher, arrested in November 2010, transferred to solitary confinement at Evin prison, currently in solitary confinement at Evin’s ward 209 and under severe interrogation pressure, last time contacted her family on January 7, 2011
Journalists and Bloggers
1. Jamileh Darolshafaie, journalist to Etemad daily, arrested February 5, 2010
2. Hengameh Shahidi, journalist and women’s rights activist, second arrest February 25, 2010, sentenced to 6.25 years in prison
Hengameh Shahidi
3. Maryam Zolfeghar, IRNA reporter, arrested June 22, 2009, current status unknown
4. Zeynab Kazemkhah, ISNA, arrested February 7, 2010, released on bail March 7, 2010, sentenced to 5 years in prison November 22, 2010
5. Sousan Mohammadkhani Ghiasvand, Kurd blogger, human rights activist, arrested March 11, 2010, released three weeks later, rearrested in Karaj on February 14, 2011
6. Haniyeh Farshi-Shotorban, not politically active, apparently arrested for Facebook membership and activities in July 2010 in Tabriz, transferred to Evin prison, Ward 209, in Tehran, transferred to Methadone ward of Evin prison on 1 March 2011
7. Parvin Javadzadeh, blogger, citizen journalist, arrested on December 27, 2009 (Ashura), sentenced to 8 years in prison for „moharebeh“, sentence reduced to 26 months on appeal in August 2010, critical health condition, leave on furlough on October 9, 2010, transferred to Methadone ward of Evin prison
8. Nahid Malek-Mohammadi, arrested along with her husband Ali Asghar Mahmoudian at her home in December 2009, sentenced to 5.5 years in prison
Creative artists
1. Maryam Majd, sports photojournalist and women’s rights activist, scheduled to arrive in Düsseldorf, Germany on 17 June 2011 to photograph the FIFA Women’s World Cup, arrested at her home on 16 June 2011
2. Mahnaz Mohammadi, documentary filmmaker and women’s rights activist, arrested on 26 June 2011 by „unidentified security forces“
3. Simin Chaichi, Kurdish poet, arrested in Sanandaj during raids following protest at planned execution of Habibollah Latifi on 26 December 2010, assumed to be in Sanandaj prison or local detention center (photo below)
4. Pegah Ahangarani, actress and outspoken supporter of the Green movement, was scheduled to travel to Germany from July 4-12 to observe the events at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in order to write an editorial for Deutsche Welle, arrested on 10 July 2011, in custody of Revolutionary Guards Intelligence Agency
5. Marzieh Vafamehr, actress, arrested two weeks prior to 18 July 2011, assumed to be held in Evin prison
Lawyers, Women’s Rights, Students‘ Rights and Human Rights Activists
1. Nasrin Sotoudeh, children and human rights lawyer, arrested 2 September 2010, starts dry hunger strike on 5 December 2010, sentenced to 11 years prison and a 20 year ban on practising law and 20 year ban on leaving the country on 9 January 2011, trial for absence of hijab postponed, refused to attend in protest 2 February 2011, denied visits and phone calls since 20 February 2011, sentence reduced to 11 years prison and a 10 year ban on practising law on 14 September 2011
2. Alieh Eghdam Doost, over 60 years old, women’s rights activist, first arrest in 2005, rearrested 29 January 2009, transferred to Evin prison to serve her 3 year sentence, furlough denied, solitary confinement for one week, starting on 10 November 2010
3. Bahareh Hedayat, students rights activist, arrested 31 December 2009, sentenced to 9.5 years in prison, on hunger strike from 19 to 28 December 2010, moved to general ward 19 January 2011, on temporary leave since 16 July 2011
4. Ronak Safarzadeh, Kurdish women’s rights activist, member of the One Million Signatures Campaign, arrested October 2007, sentenced to 5 years in prison for membership of the Free Life Party of Kurdistan (PJAK) in April 2009, charges denied
5. Mahdieh Golroo, students rights activist, arrested 2 December 2010, sentenced to 3 years in prison, on hunger strike in December 2010, moved to Evin general ward on 19 January 2011, on temporary leave since 16 July 2011
6. Hakimeh Shokri, human rights activist, arrested at Beheshte Zahra at Tajmir memorial on 7 December 2010, visitors report on clear marks of physical abuse on her face, released on bail on 2 March 2011 (news from 10 March 2011)
Supporters of Hakimeh Shokri with her photo
7. Neda Mostaghimi, Mourning Mother, human rights activist, arrested at Beheshte Zahra at Tajmir memorial on 7 December 2010
8. Fatemeh Masjedi, women’s rights activist, transferred to Qom Prison 6 February 2011
9. Zeynab Bayazidi, Kurdish activist and member of the One Million Signatures Campaign, arrested on July 9, 2008, sentenced to 4 years in prison and exile to Central Prison in the city of Zanjan on bogus charges, appeal court upheld sentence, transferred to Zanjan prison on November 15, 2008, went on hunger strike for a few days in July 2010
10. Maedeh Ghaderi, Kurdish lawyer, arrested on 3 March 2011 in Mashhad
11. Sara Haj Bahrami, children’s rights activist, arrested in Kerman for „cooperation with Baha’is“ in the third week of March 2011
12. Laleh Hassanpour, human rights activist and blogger, sentenced to 5 years in prison by appeals court, summoned to prison on April 9, 2011, transferred to Evin for serving sentence of 1 year in prison on April 23, 2011
13. Maryam Bahreman, member of the One Million Signatures Campaign, and founding member and General Secretary of Anjomane Zanane Pars (Pars Women’s Association), arrested on 11 May 2011, held incommunicado
14. Mahboubeh Karami, prominent women’s rights activist and signatory of the One Million Signatures Campaign, arrested on 15 May 2011, began serving her 3 year prison sentence on 16 May 2011
15. Jila Karamzadeh, supporter of the Laleh Park Mothers of Mourning, sentenced to four years in prison on 9 April 2011
16. Laila Saifollahi, supporter of the Laleh Park Mothers of Mourning, sentenced to four years in prison on 9 April 2011
17. Mansooreh Behkish, human rights activist, supporter of „Mourning Mothers“, arrested on 12 June 2011, released on bail on 9 June 2011
Mansooreh Behkish
Students and Student Activists
1. Marjan Alizadeh, student, arrested after a staged hunger strike in Yasuj University of Medical Sciences on 5 December 2010, accused of burning the Quran, whereabouts still unknown, no data since arrest, 6 January 2011
2. Maryam Baziah, student, arrested after a staged hunger strike in Yasuj University of Medical Sciences on 5 December 2010, accused of burning the Quran, whereabouts still unknown on 6 January 2011
3. Pegah Zeidavani, student, arrested after a staged hunger strike in Yasuj University of Medical Sciences on 5 December 2010, accused of burning the Quran, whereabouts still unknown on 6 January 2011
4. Sarah Rahimi, student, arrested after a staged hunger strike in Yasuj University of Medical Sciences on 5 December 2010, accused of burning the Quran, whereabouts still unknown, on 6 January 2011
5. Marjan Fayazi, student at Mazandaran University, arrested on June 22, 2009, no recent data available
6. Farzaneh Najjarnejad, social science student, civic activist, Ferdowsi University (Mashhad), suspended from university for 2 semesters, arrested 14 February 2011
7. Shaghayegh Heirani, student at Sharif Technological University in Tehran, arrested 14 February 2011
8. Farzaneh Karami, student at Sharif Technological University in Tehran, arrested 14 February 2011
9. Shima Vozarai, student at Sharif Technological University in Tehran, arrested 14 February 2011
10. Delaram Ghahreman, student, Tehran Arts Academy, arrested during Sanee Jaleh funerals 16 February 2011
11. Fataneh Rahghi, student, Tehran Arts Academy, arrested during Sanee Jaleh funerals 16 February 2011
12. Sarah Bagheri, student activist, Noshirvani University in Babol, arrested 22 February 2011
13. Fatemeh Karamad, student activist, Free University in Kerman, arrested 5 May 2011
Prisoners of Conscience
1. Anisa Matahar, Baha’i, Isfahan, arrested by security officers following raids on her home 14 February 2011, transferred to Dastgerd prison 16 February 2011
2. Arezou Teimuri, Christian, arrested in Hamedan on 19 September 2010, charged as “Zionist Christian”, no news on whereabouts 10 December 2010
3. Fariba Kamalabadi, Baha’i, developmental psychologist, arrested in Tehran on 14 May 2008, sentenced to 20 years in prison on 14 June 2010, sentence reduced to 10 years on appeal, concern for state of health, moved to common ward 200 among criminals on 13 February 2011, sentence of 20 years prison finalised by court of appeal 18 March 2011
4. Mahvash Sabet, Baha’i, director of the Baha’i Institute for Higher Education, which provides alternative higher education for Baha’i, arrested in Mashhad on 5 March 2008, sentenced to 20 years on 14 June 2010, sentence reduced to 10 years on appeal, concern for state of health, moved to general ward with dangerous criminals 12 February 2011, sentence of 20 years prison finalised by court of appeal 18 March 2011
Fariba Kamalabadi, Mahvash Sabet (r.)
5. Fataneh Nouri, wife of Omid Ghanbari, Baha’i, arrested in Sari 23 December 2010
6. Romina Ahrari, Baha’i, arrested in Isfahan on 4 March 2011
7. Homeyra Parvizi, Baha’i, arrested in Urumiyeh on 28 December 2010
8. Mahin Taj Rouhani, Baha’i, arrested in Sari on 1 January 2011
9. Manijeh Manzavian (Nasralahi), Baha’i, arrested 17 June 2009 during raid on her house, taken to Semnan prison, released on bail 30 June 2009, sentenced to 3.5 in prison, returned 27 February 2010 to Semnan prison, transfered to Evin 11 March 2010
10. Maryam Ehsan Jafari, Baha’i, whereabouts unknown, arrested 10 February 2010
11. Mona Hoveydaei Misaghi, Baha’i, whereabouts unknown, arrested 3 January 2010, released on bail 4 January 2010, rearrested 10 February 2010
12. Nahid Ghadiri, Baha’i resident of Mashhad, arrested on March 15, 2010, sentenced to 5 years in prison, transferred to Vakil Abad prison on June 28, 2010
13. Naghmeh Ghanouni, Baha’i, whereabouts unknown, arrested in Tehran on 11 February 2010
14. Romina Zabihian, Baha’i, no further data available, arrested 10 February 2010
15. Roya Ghanbari, Baha’i, sister of Omid Ghanbari, arrested in Sari 20 December 2010
16. Rozita Vaseghi, Baha’i, arrested 2005, held for one month, sentenced to 5 years prison, banned from leaving Iran for 10 years in January 2010, detained in Mashhad Intel center after raid on her home on 15 March 2010, moved to Mashhad central prison on 13 April 2010, tried on new additional charges 3 October 2010, tried on new charges 29 January 2011
17. Sahar Beyram-Abadi, Baha’i, children’s rights activist, arrested in Kerman for „propaganda for Baha’ism on pretext of human rights activities“ in February 2011, transferred to Bam province
18. Sahba Khademi, Baha’i, first arrested on April 4, 2009, transferred to Hamedan prison and released on bail a few days later, sentenced to 1 year in prison for “promoting the Baha’i faith” in January 2010, rearrested on May 23, 2010 and serving her sentence in Hamedan prison since May 24, 2010
19. Sahba Rezvani, Baha’i, arrested on December 15, 2009, first incarcerated at Semnan prison but later transferred to Evin, sentenced to 3 years and 8 months in prison on February 14, 2010 for „propaganda against the regime, forming an illegal group and membership in an illegal group “, transferred to the infirmary at Evin prison due to deteriorating physical condition in early June 2010
20. Sima Eshraghi, Baha’i resident of Mashhad, arrested in 2008, spent three months in solitary confinement, temporarily released, sentenced to 5 years in prison on October 30, 2009 for “propaganda against the regime, acting against the national security of the country and blasphemy”, began serving her sentence one year prior to October 24, 2010 in Vakil Abad prison in Mashhad
21. Sima Rajabian, Baha’i, arrested on July 15, 2010 and sentenced to 2 years in prison on July 23, 2010, reports of increased pressure and further restrictions at Mashhad prison on September 29, 2010, further reports of pressure and illegal punishments against her on October 27, 2010
22. Soroor Soroorian, Baha’i residing in Hamedan, arrested at her residence on April 11, 2009 and taken to Hamedan prison for interrogations, released on bail a few days later. sentenced to 1 year in prison for “promoting the Baha’i faith” in January 2010, rearrested on May 23, 2010 to serve her sentence in Hamedan prison, transferred from Hamedan prison to Nahavand prison on August 31, 2010
23. Sousan Tabyanian, Baha’i resident of Semnan, arrested at her home on April 27, 2009, released on bail on May 1, 2009, sentenced to 1.5 years for “propaganda against the regime and membership in Baha’i groups”, rearrested on June 7, 2010 in order to begin serving her sentence, transferred to the Methadone ward at Evin on November 7, 2010
24. Toreh Taghizadeh, Baha’i, arrested 15 February 2009 during a raid on her home in Sari, temporarily released on bail on 28 February 2009, sentenced to 22 months imprisonment, started serving sentence on 8 January 2011
25. Leila Akhavan, Christian, no further data available, arrested 10 February 2011
26. Parya Razavi Derakhshi, 61, Christian, arrested 27 December 2010, concern for state of health, held in Vakilabad prison, Mashhad
Hassan and Parya Razavi Derakhshi
27. Sonia (Keshish) Avanessian, Armenian-Iranian Christian, arrested in Hamedan 19 September 2010, no news since arrest 3 months ago (10 December 2010)
28. Yasmin Ghaderi, Sufi, arrested in Baneh 3 December 2010, no news and whereabouts still unknown, 6 January 2011
29. Simin Ghaffari, Baha’i, arrested on 10 February 2010
30. Zohreh Tabyanian, Baha’i, arrested in Semnan after raid on home on 12 March 2011
31. Taraneh Ehsani, Baha’i, arrested in Semnan after raid on home on 12 March 2011
32. Zhinous Sobhani, Baha’i, arrested in Semnan on 15 March 2011
33. Mahzar Najafi, Christian citizen from Karaj, arrested with her husband Saleh Jahangir Zadehon the road from Salmas on 23 March 2011
34. Sarah Mahboubi, Baha’i student from Sari, banned from university, sentenced to 10 months in prison for „membership in the anti-revolutionary Facebook site“, rearrested on 9 April 2011
35. Anisa Dehghani, Baha’i citizen from Isfahan, arrested on a trip to Mashhad, transferred to Mashhad Intelligence prison on 2 June 2011
36. Mona Rezaie, Baha’i student from Mashhad, dismissed from the University due to her faith, arrested after raid of security forces on her home on 26 June 2011
37. Nora Nabilzadeh, Baha’i citizen from Mashhad, sentenced to 5 years in prison on October 1, 2011
Imprisoned Members of Ethnic Minorities
1. Elahe Latifi, Kurd, arrested in Sanandaj at protest to prevent her brother Habibollah execution 26 December 2010
2. Simin Chaichi, Kurdish poet, arrested in Sanandaj during raids following protest at planned execution of Habibollah Latifi on 26 December 2010, assumed to be in Sanandaj prison or local detention center
Kurdish poet Simin Chaichi
Facing Execution for Gender Related or Political Charges
1. Sakineh Ashtiani, imprisoned and under a death sentence in Tabriz since 2006, accused of inciting her cousin’s husband to murdering him, stoning sentence suspended on September 8, 2010, commuted to 10 years‘ imprisonment, remains in danger of capital punishment by hanging
2. Mohabat Mahmoudi, detained in Urumiyeh Central prison since 2001, accused of murdering the man who attempted her rape, death sentence confirmed 11 July 2010
3. Zeynab Jalalian, arrested in Kermanshah July 2007, tranfered to Sanandaj prison, charged with alleged membership in the outlawed Free Life Party of Kurdistan, or PJAK which she denies, sentenced to death without presence of a lawyer, maintained by appeals, suffering from eyes illness because of torture. Medical treatment denied since she is on death row, sentence maintained by Supreme Court 27 November 2009, transfered to Evin on 18 March 2010, back to Kermanshah prison (date unknown), verbally informed of reduction in her sentence from execution to imprisonment, situation unclear at this time
Names of 31 Female Death Row Prisoners
According to reports, there are a large number of female prisoners in the Female Cellblock in Evin Prison who are awaiting their execution. Most of these death row prisoners are from poor backgrounds; prisoners who were subjected to domestic or social violence without any kind of defense which led them to take revenge in a country ruled by misogynous laws. Women who did whatever they could because of poverty and hunger to keep from going hungry.
A number of death row female prisoners who can be executed at any moment are:
1. Soraya Zakaria Nejad, homemaker, has been in prison for 4 years, charged with possessing narcotics, is in cellblock 3 in Evin Prison
2. Ashraf Amrayi, 38, homemaker, has been in prison for two years, possessing narcotics, husband executed before, cellblock 3
3. Soheila Pour-Hosseini, 19, homemaker, has been jailed for one year, murder, cellblock 3
4. Ashraf Kalhour, 45, homemaker, sentenced to death by stoning on charges of murder and adultery and has been detained for 9 years, cellblock 2
5. Kobra Rahmanpour, 29, homemaker, detained for nine years, murder, cellblock 2, Judge Aziz Mohammadi
6. Sougand Jahani, 28, homemaker, murder, has been in prison for 2.5 years, cellblock 2, Judge Aziz Mohammadi
7. Reihaneh Jabari, 25, murder, has been in prison for 3.5 years, cellblock 1, Judge Tordast
8. Sadat Safavi, 45, homemaker, narcotics, cellblock 1
9. Sahar Pari Khani, 23, homemaker, murder, has been in prison for 3 years, cellblock 2
10. Fatemeh Hadad, 34, homemaker, murder, has been in prison for 1.5 years, cellblock 2
11. Akram Ali Mohammadi, 29, murder, has been in prison for five years, cellblock 2
12. Fereshteh Bigvand 45, homemaker, narcotics, has been in prison for five years, cellblock 1
13. Leila Khajeh Vandi, 32, narcotics, 2.5 years in prison, cellblock 1
14. Noqreh Khazayi, 47, homemaker, murder and narcotics, has been in prison for 4 years, cellblock 2
15. Leila Tavakoli Mahalati, 28, murder, has been in prison for five years, Judge Kouh Kamareyi, cellblock 2
16. Fatemeh Moti, 40, has been in prison for 1.5 years, Judge Aziz Mohammadi
17. Mahboubeh Sheikh Lar, 18, murder, has been in prison for one year, Judge Aziz Mohammadi
18. Mina Cheraghi, 25, narcotics, has been in prison for 2 years
19. Sherafat Bigvand, narcotics, 5 years in prison
20. Azita Molla-Hashemi, six year in prison, Judge Aziz Mohammadi
21. Farahnaz Nik-Khah, murder, seven years in prison, Judge Aziz Mohammadi
22. Razieh Julideh, 35 and Marzieh Tavakoli, 20 are mother and daughter, murder
23. Zarin Taj Gharib, four years in prison, Judge Hemat Yar
24. Zahra Adi Gozari Moqadam, murder, 7 years in prison, Judge Aziz Mohammadi
25. Massoumeh Aqayi, murder, two years in prison, Judge Aziz Mohammadi
26. Saiedeh Khodayi Del, complicity in murder, 8.5 years in prison, Judge Tabatabayi
27. Soheila Pour Hosseini, murder, 10 months in prison
28. Marzieh Rahmani, complicity in murder, five years in prison, Judge Aziz Mohammadi and Judge Tordast
29. Zahra Rahimi, murder, one year in prison
30. Nasrin Najafi, murder, one year in prison
31. Azam Ahmad-Vand, 27, six years in prison, Judge Aziz Mohammadi
To the memory of Shirin Alam Houli, Shahla Jahed and Zahra Bahrami, executed in 2010 and 2011, and Haleh Sahabi, killed at the funeral of her father Ezatollah Sahabi on June 1, 2011
Shirin Alamhouli
Sources: RAHANA, Iran Students Committee, Iran Prisoner List, 8 March Poster by Lissnup
Disclaimer: This list is by no means exhaustive. Some of the above-mentioned women may also have been released in the meantime.
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