More than 50 days have passed since the arrest of Somayeh Rashidi in Tehran, and she remains in legal limbo in the women’s ward of Evin Prison.
The 41-year-old woman faces charges of “propaganda against the regime,” yet no court hearing has been held, and her legal status remains unresolved.
Somayeh Rashidi was transferred to the women’s ward of Evin Prison on April 26, 2025, after spending two days in custody at Tehran’s 15th of Khordad Intelligence Detention Center. She was arrested while writing protest slogans on walls in the Javadiyeh district in South Tehran.
During her arrest, security forces reportedly subjected her to severe physical violence. She was beaten on the head, face, legs, and abdomen, and in a particularly violent act, her head was slammed against a wall. One officer was seen kneeling on her chest.
Somayeh Rashidi has formally filed a complaint against the officers involved in the assault.
Somayeh Rashidi suffers from periodic psychological disorders, which are documented in her medical records and predate her arrest. These episodes manifest as loss of concentration, inability to move, and complete unresponsiveness. During such periods, she stares blankly, cannot perform daily tasks, and relies on other inmates for basic personal care.
Despite these serious conditions, there has been no sign of legal action being taken on her case, nor any indication that the authorities are providing necessary medical or psychological care.
The neglect of Somayeh Rashidi’s case is yet another example of the growing pattern of arbitrary detentions and violent treatment of dissidents in Iran — a pattern that disproportionately affects women through added physical and psychological pressure.
