On Tuesday, June 18, 2024, agents raided the home of Maryam Mehrabi, the sister of Mahmoud Mehrabi, a political prisoner who has been sentenced to death in Isfahan, central Iran. During the raid, Maryam Mehrabi was detained along with her two minor children, Setareh Bakhtiarvand, 11, and Sogol Bakhtiarvand, 8.
The intelligence agents seized all phones and electronic devices in the house, including mobile phones, computers, and laptops.
Maryam Mehrabi had been actively protesting her brother’s death sentence. She had publicly announced that if her brother’s sentence was not overturned, she would resort to self-immolation in front of the office of the Friday Prayer Leader in Mubarakeh, Isfahan.
In response to reports about Maryam Mehrabi’s arrest, the media organ of the regime’s Judiciary accused her of “trying to incite people to violence and killing.” The regime claimed that her children were “currently being kept by her family.”
The Mizan news agency, affiliated with the Iranian Judiciary, further stated that Maryam Mehrabi was arrested for “trying to incite the people.” She has been imprisoned after being arraigned for her charges and on a temporary detention order.
However, the Mizan news agency rejected the reports regarding the details of Ms. Mehrabi’s arrest, claiming that the arrest of this citizen living in Isfahan along with her children “is not true.”
Maryam Mehrabi’s brother, Mahan Mehrabi, confirmed her arrest on social media, stating that she was taken into custody along with her children. Hajar Mehrabi, another family member, also corroborated this information.
The accusation of “inciting people to violence and killing” is particularly concerning given that Maryam’s activism has been focused on the litigation and follow-up of her brother’s case.
Mahmoud Mehrabi, her brother, was sentenced to death by the Fifth Branch of the Isfahan Revolutionary Court due to his activities on social media.
Maryam Mehrabi had previously been arrested in March 2023 while following her brother’s case. She was detained for three days in Dowlat Abad prison in Isfahan and later released upon deposition of a bail bond. In September 2023, she received a sentence of 74 lashes and three months of imprisonment, which was later changed to a fine.
