Zeinab Hezbapour, the wife of Massoud Jame’i—a political prisoner sentenced to two death penalties—has been transferred to the women’s ward of Sepidar Prison in Ahvaz to begin serving a 15-year sentence.
Her transfer comes as her daughter, Nahid Jame’i, has also received a 12-year prison sentence, both issued through proceedings that fell far short of internationally recognized standards of due process.
This escalation represents a growing pattern of security-driven repression targeting the family of Massoud Jame’i, who has been held in Sheiban Prison, Ahvaz, in severely deteriorating health after two years of imprisonment without access to medical care. His condition has become so critical that concerns are mounting he may die even before his execution is carried out.
Harsh Sentences for Wife and Daughter
In a security-related case, Zeinab Hezbapour was sentenced to 15 years in prison on charges of “membership in insurgent groups.” Her 24-year-old daughter, Nahid Jame’i, was sentenced by Branch 1 of the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court to 12 years in prison after a process marked by the absence of independent legal counsel and pervasive security pressure.
In addition to these two, the family’s other daughters, Dalal and Roghieh Jame’i, have also faced interrogations and security prosecution in recent months, raising alarm about collective punitive actions targeting the entire family.
Widespread Arrests of Family Members: Coercive Interrogations and Denial of Legal Representation
Massoud Jame’i was arrested in August 2023, followed by the arrest of his wife and their three daughters. Reports indicate that family members were subjected to coercion, threats, and pressure during interrogations and were denied access to legal counsel throughout the investigative phase.
Following his interrogation period, Massoud Jame’i was transferred to Sheiban Prison in Ahvaz, where substandard detention conditions and the complete lack of medical care significantly worsened his illnesses. He is 48 years old, married, and was employed at the National Iranian Oil Company prior to his arrest.
The cases of Massoud Jame’i, Zeinab Hezbapour, and their daughter Nahid exemplify the expanding pattern of collective punishment used against the families of political prisoners in Iran.
