The health condition of Taraneh Rahimi, a 20-year-old political prisoner sentenced to death, has reportedly deteriorated severely at Dowlatabad Prison in Isfahan, with the risk of her losing the ability to walk increasing.
A prison doctor has confirmed that Taraneh Rahimi needs to be transferred to a hospital and undergo surgery. However, a prison medical official identified as Yaghoubí has prevented her from being transferred to the hospital.
To help reduce her pain and prevent further physical deterioration, Rahimi’s family purchased medical supports, including an ankle brace and a knee brace, and delivered them to the prison. Prison authorities, however, have refused to give the medical equipment to Taraneh Rahimi.
Taraneh Rahimi had previously undergone surgery on her leg before her arrest. During interrogations, pressure was applied to her knees with a baton, after which the condition of her legs and knees deteriorated severely.
In addition to serious injuries to her legs and knees, she is also suffering from a serious lung condition and has been denied access to specialized medical treatment. A source familiar with the case previously said that, in response to a request for medical care for Taraneh Rahimi, one of the prison’s medical officials told her: “You are going to be executed anyway; you can either die from the pain in your leg or die completely paralyzed.”
Taraneh Rahimi and her twin sister, Romina, both 20, are among 16 defendants in a case linked to the January 2026 protests, known as the “Shohada Square” case in Isfahan.
Ten of the defendants in the case, including Taraneh Rahimi, have been sentenced to death and 11 years in prison. Romina Rahimi has also been sentenced to 25 years in prison in the same case.
The defendants in the case were subjected to torture and forced to make confessions. They face serious charges including moharebeh (“waging war against God”), aiding and abetting moharebeh, destruction of public property deemed to constitute moharebeh, assembly and collusion, and propaganda against the regime.
Another young woman, Setayesh Saedi, was also arrested in connection with the same case on February 2, 2026, while she was still under the age of 18.
The three women are currently being held in Dowlatabad Prison in Isfahan.
