Five female political prisoners in Vakilabad Prison, Mashhad, are facing severe security charges and life-threatening conditions. Among them are Sima Anbaei Farimani and Mahboubeh Shabani, who face charges like “Moharebeh,” which carries the risk of the death penalty.
At least 20 more women are being held in the “Aramesh” ward under opaque legal circumstances. Most of these detainees were arrested during or after the January 2026 protests.Their lives are at risk; we must be their voice.
Sima Anbaei Farimani, a poet, theater actress, and civil activist from Fariman, was arrested on March 2026 ,16. She faces serious charges including “links to Israel” and “assembly and collusion against national security.” Security agencies have described her as one of the “leaders of the January protests” in Fariman.
Mahboubeh Shabani, one of the detainees of the January 2026 protests in Mashhad, was reportedly accused mainly of transporting wounded protesters by motorcycle. She was arrested on February 2026 ,2, and charged with “moharebeh”- an accusation that can lead to the death penalty.
Azar Yahoo, 38, a resident of Mashhad, was arrested by IRGC Intelligence on March 2026,4.She faces the charge of “collaboration with a hostile state / Israel,” reportedly based on activities such as online posts, using heart stickers, and dancing in the street.
Zeynab / Aban Mousavi, along with her brother Hassan Mousavi, is among those detained during the January 2026 protests in Mashhad. They face charges including “moharebeh”. Government authorities have accused them of “throwing Molotov cocktails,” raising concerns that they could receive severe sentences.
Zahra Mousavi, a 21-year-old Iranian-Afghan citizen, was arrested during the protests in late January 2026. She faces charges including “forming a group” and “training, making, and using Molotov cocktails.” Her Iranian birth certificate has reportedly been revoked, and she is facing the threat of deportation.
In addition to these five women, at least 20 other women, arrested during the January 2026 protests and around the time the war began, are being held in the “Aramesh” Ward and the quarantine section of Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad. Complete judicial information is not available for all of them.
Names of women held in the “Aramesh” Ward of Mashhad Prison:
1- Maryam Nouri
2- Arezoo Dehghan
3- Nadia Sedgh-Ali
4- Soheila Hosseini
5- Najmeh Amini
6- Mahdieh Afghahi
7- Hadiseh Morvaridi
8- Shahrzad Zamiri
9- Tahereh Dehghan
10- Asieh Naeimi
11- Adeleh Naeimi
12- Mahsa Behdari
13- Marzieh Mashhadi
14- Faereh Salehabadi
Names of women held in the “Quarantine” Ward of Mashhad Prison:
1- Masoumeh / Azadeh Yaghoubi
2- Fatemeh / Samira Rezvanifar
3- Melika Khavari Khorasani
4- Mina Zarei
5- Reyhaneh Kafshkonan
6- Hadiseh Babazadeh
