Female Prisoners Are Not Safe Even After Release
On Friday, February 1, 2025, Arghavan Fallahi, a former political prisoner who was released from Evin Prison in late 2024, was arrested again.
According to reports, Arghavan Fallahi, 22, was arrested on January 26, 2025, in Parand city and transferred to an unknown location. No information has been provided yet regarding the reason for her arrest, her place of detention, or her condition.
History of Arrest and Trial of the Fallahi Family
Arghavan Fallahi was arrested in November 2022, along with her father Nasrollah Fallahi and her brother Ardalan Fallahi. This family was held for over two months in detention centers in Isfahan, where they were tortured and interrogated before being transferred to solitary confinement in Evin Prison’s Ward 209. They were tried on charges of “Membership in the Mojahedin-e Khalq,” “Conspiracy to commit crimes against internal and external security,” and “Propaganda against the regime” by Judge Iman Afshari.
The sentences handed down to them were as follows:
- Nasrollah Fallahi (66 years old): 4 years in prison
- Arghavan Fallahi (22 years old): 2 years in prison
- Ardalan Fallahi (24 years old): 1 year in prison
After enduring a year and four months of uncertainty, Arghavan Fallahi was released on bail in December 2024.
Repeated Arrest: A Clear Violation of Human Rights
The repeated arrest of Arghavan Fallahi and the lack of information about her condition is one of the most serious examples of human rights violations. This act not only deprives her of her personal freedom but can also lead to significant physical and psychological harm.
According to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights:
- Article 5: No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment.
- Article 9: No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention, or exile.
- Article 10: Everyone is entitled to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal.
Based on these principles, the detention and uncertainty faced by prisoners is a clear violation of their fundamental rights.
Systematic Repression of Female Political Prisoners
In the Islamic Republic’s regime, the repeated arrest of political prisoners, especially women, has become a common phenomenon. These actions reflect a policy of continuous repression against political opponents. Other examples of repeated arrests of female activists include:
- Sepideh Qalian: A civil activist who was arrested again just hours after being released from Evin Prison in December 2022. (Source: BBC)
- Zeinab Hamrang: Arrested in her home five months after her release in December 2022. (Source: Iran HRS)
These repeated arrests reflect the ongoing pressure on female activists and the efforts to silence the voices of political opposition. Such actions, combined with severe social and political restrictions, have created a security environment that increasingly tightens around active women in Iran, severely violating their basic rights.
