Arrest of Mahtab Salehi, Student at Tabriz University
5-February-2026
Category: Arrests
4 February 2026
News Category: Arrest –
Breathing in Confinement – Mahtab Salehi, a student of French language at Tabriz University, has been arrested in connection with the protests of January 2026 in Tabriz.
According to Breathing in Confinement, the news outlet of the Prisoners’ Rights League in Iran, Mahtab Salehi, 23 years old and a student at Tabriz University, was arrested by security forces in Tabriz during the nationwide protests in January 2026 and transferred to an undisclosed location.
Based on the information received, a bail order in the amount of 1.3 billion tomans has been issued for her temporary release. However, no clear information has so far been made available regarding the charges against her, the judicial authority handling the case, the course of legal proceedings, her place of detention, or her physical and psychological condition.
According to individuals close to Mahtab Salehi, at the time of her arrest her laptop and mobile phone were confiscated by security forces. As of the time of publication, no direct or official contact has been established by her with her family. This situation has caused serious concern among her family and acquaintances regarding her health and legal status.
The denial of detainees’ access to contact with family members and chosen legal counsel, as well as the lack of transparent information about the status of their cases, is contrary to the principles of a fair trial and the legal obligations of the Iranian authorities.