The clerical regime has intensified its crackdown on women’s rights activists and political prisoners, targeting individuals with arrests, prolonged detentions, and harsh sentences. Among the cases highlighting this repression are the violent arrest of Aida Amouei, a women’s rights activist, and Taekwondo coach in Sanandaj; the prolonged uncertainty faced by physicist Elnaz Ahmadi, detained for nearly three months in Evin Prison; and the denial of a retrial for political prisoner Mahnaz Tarah, who remains incarcerated under severe conditions. These cases underscore the regime’s continued efforts to silence dissent and stifle advocacy for freedom and justice.
Aida Amouei, 40, Mother of Two, Arrested in Sanandaj
On the evening of Friday, January 17, 2025, Aida Amouei, a women’s rights activist in the city of Sanandaj, was arrested by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence and transferred to an undisclosed location. At the time of reporting, no information has been made available about the reasons for her arrest or her whereabouts.
Aida Amouei, 40 years old, married, and a mother of two, was taken into custody at her workplace, a Taekwondo club, without any judicial warrant. The arrest was carried out with the use of force.
Aida Amouei is a Taekwondo coach who ceased her online activities under pressure and threats from the Ministry of Intelligence. Over the past month, she had been repeatedly threatened by intelligence agents through phone calls.
Three Months of Uncertainty for Detained Physicist Elnaz Ahmadi
Nearly three months have passed since the arrest and continued uncertainty surrounding Elnaz Ahmadi. She was initially detained by intelligence agents and transferred to Ward 209 of Evin Prison, where she spent almost two months. On December 29, 2024, she was moved to the women’s ward of Evin Prison. However, she continues to be taken daily to Ward 209 for several hours of interrogation before being returned to her ward.
Elnaz Ahmadi is 40 years old and holds a Ph.D. in physics.
The charges brought against Elnaz Ahmadi include “assembly and collusion” and “propaganda against the regime.” Despite these accusations, judicial and prison authorities have not scheduled a trial or set a date for her hearing. Nearly three months after her arrest, she remains in a state of limbo.
Supreme Court Rejects Retrial Request for Political Prisoner Mahnaz Tarrah
The Supreme Court’s Branch 9 has rejected a retrial request for Mahnaz Tarrah, a political prisoner currently held in Evin Prison. Earlier, in November 2024, her request for conditional release was denied following opposition from the Intelligence Organization of the Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Mahnaz Tarrah was violently arrested by security forces on November 13, 2023, while walking on a street in Tehran. She was subsequently transferred from the Ministry of Intelligence’s detention center, known as Ward 209 of Evin Prison, to the prison’s women’s ward on November 24, 2023.
In January 2024, Branch 26 of Tehran’s Revolutionary Court sentenced her to three years and eight months in prison for “assembly and collusion to commit crimes” and an additional eight months for “propaganda against the regime.” Her sentence was later reduced to two years and nine months following her submission to the court’s ruling.
Mahnaz Tarrah has previously faced legal and security-related actions against her.
