Following an intensified crackdown amid the recent war, multiple reports indicate a sharp rise in arrests across Iran, with women and minors disproportionately affected. Authorities are detaining large numbers of individuals daily, frequently on charges such as “collaboration with hostile states” or “actions against national security,” and transferring them to detention facilities and prisons.
Azar Yahoo: Arrest Linked to Social Media Activity
Azar Yahoo, 38, has been held in Ward 6 of Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad since her arrest on Wednesday, March 5, 2026, by intelligence forces affiliated with the Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Tharallah unit.
She faces accusations of “collaboration with Israel,” reportedly tied to her social media activity. Authorities have also cited “dancing in the street following the death of Ali Khamenei” as evidence of “actions against national security.”
Baran Omidian and Dorsa Ayazi: Transfer to Prison and Juvenile Facility
On March 19, 2026, Baran Omidian, a PhD student, and her 17-year-old niece, Dorsa Ayazi, were arrested.
Omidian was transferred to Qarchak Prison in Varamin following interrogation, while Ayazi, due to her age, was sent to a juvenile correction and rehabilitation center.
Zeinab Azizi: Denial of Legal Counsel and Family Visits
Zeinab Azizi and her husband, arrested in early March in Sanandaj, have recently been transferred from a security detention center to Hamedan Central Prison.
Sources close to the family report that the couple has been allowed only three brief, monitored phone calls since their arrest and have been denied in-person visits and access to legal counsel. The status of their case remains unclear.
Mahboubeh Shaabani: Risk of Execution
Mahboubeh Shaabani, born in 1993 and arrested during the January 2026 protests in Mashhad, is currently held in Vakilabad Prison on charges of “moharebeh” (enmity against God), an offense that carries the death penalty under Iranian law.
She was violently detained by Ministry of Intelligence forces on February 2, 2026. The charge stems from her alleged role in assisting injured protesters by transporting them to medical facilities. Shaabani remains in the women’s ward under significant psychological pressure and without adequate family support.
Farideh Ketabi: Arrest as a Tool of Pressure
Farideh Ketabi, mother of exiled political activist Zahra Sedighi-Hamadani, was arrested on March 27, 2026. The detention is widely viewed as an attempt to pressure her daughter into ceasing political activities abroad.
Ketabi, a rural woman with no known political involvement, suffers from a medical condition requiring insulin. Concerns have been raised regarding her health in detention.
Sima Anbaei Farimani: Legal Limbo in Vakilabad Prison
Sima Anbaei Farimani, 34, a theater actor and poet, was arrested on March 16, 2026, by the State Security forces and remains in legal limbo in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad.
Charges against her include “links with Israel,” “assembly and collusion against national security,” and “insulting the Supreme Leader.” Her family has been denied access to case information and the right to appoint legal representation.
Mandana Sotoudeh: Home Raid and Arrest Without Warrant
On April 1, security forces conducted a search of Mandana Sotoudeh’s home, confiscating electronic devices. Her husband was initially detained, followed by her arrest at her mother’s residence.
The operation was carried out without a judicial warrant, and no official information has been provided for the reasons of their detention or their current location.
Mahsa Sotoudeh: Arrested in Shiraz and Transferred to an Undisclosed Location
On Sunday, March 29, 2026, intelligence forces of the Revolutionary Guard Corps raided the residence of Mahsa Sotoudeh, a 25-year-old citizen in Shiraz, arresting and transferring her to an undisclosed location.
During the operation, agents conducted a full search of the home and confiscated all electronic devices belonging to family members.
Several days after her arrest, no clear information has been released regarding the reasons for her detention, the charges brought against her, or her place of custody.
Taken together, these cases point to an escalating pattern of arrests and imprisonment on broadly defined national security charges. The reported denial of fundamental rights, including access to legal counsel, family contact, and transparent judicial proceedings, raises serious concerns about the state of human rights in Iran, particularly regarding the treatment of women and minors.
