The Identities of 30 Women Detained in Vakilabad Prison Established
Amid the continuing wave of arbitrary arrests carried out by the Iranian regime, families of those killed during the nationwide protests of January 2026, along with women protesters who participated in the protests across cities in Razavi Khorasan Province, including Mashhad and Sabzevar, have been detained and imprisoned by security forces.
The intensifying crackdown on protesters and justice-seeking families is a sign of the authorities’ growing concern over the possible resurgence of anti-government demonstrations and the reemergence of organized public dissent.
Arrest of Abolfazl Paydar’s Family Members in Sabzevar
On Tuesday, May 5, 2026, at least nine citizens were arrested in the city of Sabzevar. Those detained are relatives of Abolfazl Paydar, one of the victims killed during the nationwide protests of January 2026.
Among those arrested are Farzaneh Parvaneh, his mother, and Elham Parvaneh, his maternal aunt, Amirhossein Paydar, Abolfazl’s brother; Saeed Parvaneh, his maternal uncle.
The arrests reportedly took place after the family attempted to hold a birthday memorial ceremony for Abolfazl Paydar. Security agents intervened before the ceremony began and prevented the gathering from taking place. Following their arrests, the detainees were transferred to Torbat-e Heydarieh Prison.
Uncertain Status of Mahdieh Afqahi
Mahdieh Afqahi and her husband, Abolghasem Ali-Moradi, were also arrested during the January 2026 protests in Mashhad. Despite repeated efforts by their family, judicial authorities have so far refused to clarify their legal status, issue temporary release orders, or schedule court hearings.
No precise information has been released regarding the charges against the couple, and they continue to be held in legal limbo at Vakilabad Prison.
Tahereh Dehghan Sentenced to One Year in Prison
Tahereh Dehghan, who was arrested during the January 2026 protests in the city of Chenaran, has been sentenced by the Iranian judiciary to one year of imprisonment.
She is currently serving the fourth month of her sentence in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad. The charge brought against her has been described as “participation in protests.” Ms. Dehghan has also been denied prison leave.
Ongoing Legal Limbo of Zahra Mousavi
Zahra Mousavi, a 21-year-old head of household, has been detained in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad for more than three months. She is being held in a ward known as “Aramesh,” and no meaningful legal proceedings have been carried out in her case.
Ms. Mousavi was arrested in mid-January 2026 during nationwide protests. The charges against her include “participation in protests” and “encouraging individuals to disrupt public order and national security.”
Before her arrest, Zahra Mousavi worked as a cashier at a restaurant in the city of Fariman. She holds both Iranian and Afghan citizenship. Although she was born in Iran, her Iranian identification documents were revoked after a judicial case was opened against her, and she has also been threatened with deportation.
Identification of 30 Detained Women in Vakilabad Prison
At least 30 women have been arrested in Razavi Khorasan Province during the January 2026 nationwide protests and subsequent security crackdown. They were transferred to the “Aramesh” ward and quarantine section of Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad.
According to published reports, 25 of these women remain in detention, while only five have been released on bail.
The identities of the detained women that have been confirmed include Maryam Nouri, Arezou Dehghan, Nadia Sedgh-Ali, Soheila Hosseini, Najmeh Amini, Mahdieh Afqahi, Hadiseh Morvaridi, Faezeh Salehabadi, Shahrzad Zamiri, Tahereh Dehghan, Azar Yahoo, Asieh Naeimi, Adeleh Naeimi, Mahsa Behdari, Mahboubeh Shabani, Marzieh Mashhadi, Sima Anbaei, Zahra Mousavi, Masoumeh Yaghoubi, Fatemeh Rezvani-Far, Seyedeh Zeinab Mousavi, Hadiseh Babazadeh, Melika Khavari Khorasani, Mina Zarei, and Reyhaneh Kafshkanan.
Samira Bayat, Negar Farahmand, Fatemeh Aram, Najmeh Ruhandeh, and Elnaz Eghbali are among those released from the prison in recent weeks.
According to the report, these women were primarily arrested for participating in protests, engaging in social media activities, communicating with foreign-based media outlets, assisting injured protesters, or taking part in symbolic acts of dissent.
Some detainees are facing severe charges, including “enmity against God,” “insulting the Prophet,” and “assembly and collusion against national security.” Reports further indicate that several of these prisoners have been held for months without legal resolution and have been denied basic rights, including phone calls, family visits, and access to fair judicial proceedings.
