More than four months have passed since the arrest and enforced disappearance of Yalda Emamdoost, a well-known long-distance runner and former political prisoner. Yet no security or judicial institution has provided any information about her place of detention, medical condition, or legal status. This prolonged lack of information has caused deep concern among her family, the sports community, and human rights advocates.
Arrest in Mid-August and Total Cut-Off from All Forms of Communication
Emamdoost, born in 1975 in Ilam and residing in Isfahan, was detained by security forces in mid-August 2025 without a judicial warrant or summons and was transferred to an undisclosed location. Over the past four months, her family has repeatedly approached detention centers, provincial prisons, judicial authorities, and official institutions, but no agency has accepted responsibility or provided any answers. They have not been granted visitation, phone contact, or access to her case file.
A family member stated: “No one knows where Yalda is, or even if she is alive.”
An Athlete Whose Path Became Entangled with Detention and Pressure
Yalda Emamdoost is a familiar name within women’s athletics in Iran. Over the past two decades, she participated in provincial long-distance races in Isfahan, earned several titles, and worked as a coach. Alongside her sports career, her outspoken stance against injustice and repression led to repeated arrests in recent years.
For many women athletes and young girls, she was a symbol of resilience—a self-made woman, a mother, an athlete, and a determined voice against discrimination.
Previous Arrests: From Writing Protest Slogans to a Ten-Year Sentence
Her first arrest took place in 2019, due to writing protest slogans on city walls. She was released after a few months. On 31 May 2020, she was detained again and held for two months in solitary confinement in Doulataabad Prison in Isfahan for intense interrogations.
After being transferred to the women’s ward of Dastgerd Prison, the Revolutionary Court sentenced her to 10 years in prison on charges of “assembly and collusion” and “propaganda against the state”—charges that, according to family members and human rights sources, carried no legal basis and were issued solely because of her peaceful dissent.
Reports of Torture, Psychological Abuse, and Severe Mistreatment
Documents show that Emamdoost suffered severe physical and psychological abuse during the 2020 detention period. She was denied visits and phone calls for months and subjected to repeated interrogations. Multiple sources also reported that her intelligence-affiliated husband played a direct role in identifying and handing her over to security forces, a detail that sparked widespread outrage and discussions about state-linked domestic coercion.
The Recent Arrest: Total Disappearance and Fears for Her Health
Despite more than four months having passed since her August arrest, there is still no indication of where she is being held or what condition she is in. This complete blackout raises concerns that she may be held in solitary confinement, in security-run facilities, or under pressure to force coerced confessions.
She also has a documented history of health problems caused by her previous imprisonment—conditions aggravated by torture, lack of medical care, and prolonged psychological pressure. The absence of medical oversight and communication with her family increases the risk of serious harm.
Human Rights Dimensions: Multiple Fundamental Rights Violated
According to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, these actions simultaneously violate several fundamental rights:
- Right to liberty and security (Article 3)
- Absolute prohibition of torture (Article 5)
- Prohibition of arbitrary arrest (Article 9)
- Right to a fair and public hearing (Article 10)
- Protection of family life and privacy (Article 12)
Furthermore, the refusal to disclose her whereabouts clearly constitutes enforced disappearance, one of the gravest violations recognized under international law.
What the Family Wants: A Single, Clear Answer
The family of Yalda Emamdoost, now in a state of prolonged distress and uncertainty, has only one demand:
“Her place of detention, physical condition, and fate must be immediately disclosed.”
The continued silence of security and judicial bodies has turned her case into one of the most opaque and concerning security-related disappearances in recent years.
