Iranian authorities have intensified pressure and punitive measures against women political prisoners, mainly those supporting the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK), amid a broader escalation in repression and executions across the country.
In recent weeks, several female prisoners have reportedly faced new legal cases, additional prison sentences, denial of medical treatment, and restrictions on family visits.
According to reports from Evin Prison, Shiva Esmaili and Elaheh Fooladi, two prisoners arrested for supporting the PMOI, were sentenced to an additional six months in prison on charges of “insulting the leadership” after protesting the death of fellow prisoner Somayeh Rashidi.
Rashidi, 42, died on September 25, 2025, in Qarchak Prison, south of Tehran. Opposition sources described her death as occurring under torture and abusive prison conditions.
In a separate measure, prison authorities reportedly banned seven women political prisoners from family visits after they participated in the “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign inside prison. The prisoners include Zahra Safaei, Forough Taghipour, Marzieh Farsi, Elaheh Fooladi, Arghavan Fallahi, Shiva Esmaili, and Golrokh Iraee.
The women had reportedly sung protest songs and chanted slogans opposing executions.
Meanwhile, in Yazd Prison, authorities are accused of denying medication and medical treatment to Parisa Kamali, a 40-year-old prisoner accused of supporting the PMOI. Reports indicate prison officials have refused to transfer her to hospital care despite concerns over her health.
Kamali, who is reportedly facing transfer to Khash Prison in southeastern Iran, issued a message marking the fortieth day after those killed during the January 2026 uprising. In the message, she wrote: “We will never allow this flag to fall to the ground, and we believe this blood-soaked path will end in victory.”
The growing pressure on women political prisoners comes amid an intensified wave of executions in Iran.
Since July 2025, at least 10 PMOI members have been executed. Eight of those executions have taken place since March 30, 2026, including multiple prisoners held in Ghezel Hesar Prison.
Human rights groups and opposition organizations have warned that additional political prisoners, mainly PMOI prisoners remain at risk of execution as the crackdown continues.