Increased Pressure on Female Political Prisoners in Evin; Violation of Rights to Family Contact and Legal Counsel
16-May-2026
Category: Prisoners
16 May 2026
News Category: Freedom of Expression – Prisoners
Breathing in Confinement: Eight female political prisoners have been deprived of the right to contact and meet with their families and lawyers due to their participation in “protest activities.”
According to Breathing in Confinement, the news outlet of the Prisoners’ Rights League in Iran, eight female political prisoners held in the women’s ward of Evin Prison, including Shiva Esmaili, Golrokh Iraee, Sakineh Parvaneh, Forough Taghipour, Zahra Safaei, Marzieh Farsi, Varisheh Moradi, and Elaheh Fouladi, have been deprived of fundamental rights, including telephone contact, family visits, and access to legal counsel, following intensified security measures and disciplinary actions against prisoners participating in collective and protest-related activities.
According to the report, deprivation of communication with family members and lawyers — recognised as fundamental prisoner rights under domestic legal standards and Iran’s international obligations, including the “United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (the Mandela Rules)” — has been used as a tool to exert pressure and punish these prisoners. In addition, a number of newly arrived female political prisoners have reportedly faced threats, intimidation, and pressure from prison authorities and security institutions due to their participation in or presence at these activities.
Reports indicate that, following recent regional developments and tensions, pressure on critics and political opponents — particularly imprisoned women — has intensified, with increasing restrictions imposed on their rights.
Despite growing concern and reactions from international human rights organisations, reports suggest that the authorities of the Islamic Republic have so far disregarded these criticisms, while the pattern of restrictions, threats, and punitive measures against political prisoners continues.