In yet another wave of arbitrary arrests targeting women in Iran, two political prisoners, Manijeh Hassani-Fard and Fariba Khorramabadi, remain in detention under unclear circumstances and without due legal process at Fardis Prison (Kachouii) in Karaj.
Manijeh Hassani-Fard, a 62-year-old resident of Karaj originally from Tabriz, has been held in custody since August 2025. The mother of two was arrested by security forces in Karaj without the presentation of any judicial warrant and transferred directly to Fardis Prison.
More than two months after her arrest, no judicial or security institution has taken responsibility for her detention. There is still no information regarding the reasons for her arrest, the authority overseeing her case, or her current health condition.
Her family reports that, despite repeated visits to the Karaj Prosecutor’s Office and other security agencies, they have been denied any updates or clarification regarding her situation.
Meanwhile, in the same facility, Fariba Khorramabadi, a professor of theology from Khorramabad, has also been held in complete legal limbo since early August 2025. She was arrested at her home in Karaj by security agents and taken to Fardis Prison without a formal arrest warrant. During the raid, officers confiscated her personal belongings, including her laptop and mobile phone.
Mrs. Khorramabadi, a respected academic and mother of one, is reportedly facing the vague accusation of “online activities.” However, she has not been formally charged and has been denied access to legal counsel. She is being held in the women’s ward of Fardis Prison without access to a lawyer, regular family contact, or adequate medical care.
The physical and psychological condition of both women has raised growing concern due to their prolonged detention, lack of transparency in judicial proceedings, and denial of basic rights.
Such warrantless detentions are a clear violation of international law and all those arrested under such circumstances must immediately be released.
