Shiva Esmaili and Elahe Fouladi were each sentenced to an additional six months in prison due to their protest against the death of Somayeh Rashidi in Qarchak Prison; a ruling issued in continuation of the increasing pressures on political prisoners protesting prison conditions.
Iran Human Rights Society, Monday, May 4, 2026 – Shiva Esmaili and Elahe Fouladi, two imprisoned political prisoners, have recently faced a new ruling according to which each has been sentenced to an additional six months in prison. The new conviction of Shiva Esmaili and Elahe Fouladi relates to a case that was opened after these two prisoners protested the death of Somayeh Rashidi in Qarchak Prison; a death that reports consider the result of lack of medical care and delay in transfer to the hospital.
Why was the new conviction of Shiva Esmaili and Elahe Fouladi issued?
According to published information, Shiva Esmaili and Elahe Fouladi have recently been notified that each has been sentenced to another six months in prison.
This ruling was issued in connection with a case that was formed last year after Shiva Esmaili and Elahe Fouladi protested the death of Somayeh Rashidi. The charge raised in this case has been titled “insulting the leader.”
The issuance of this new ruling means an increase in the sentence length of both political prisoners and the intensification of judicial pressure against them.
How did Somayeh Rashidi’s death lead to the formation of a case for Shiva Esmaili and Elahe Fouladi?
Somayeh Rashidi, a 42-year-old political prisoner held in Qarchak Varamin Prison, died on September 24, 2025, after ten days in a coma in Moftah Varamin Hospital.
Her death occurred after she had repeatedly suffered seizures in prison, but the infirmary officials described her condition as “malingering” and refused immediate transfer to the hospital.
One informed source says: “Somayeh repeatedly fell and had seizures in front of her cellmates’ eyes. The prison doctor said you are malingering. When her condition became critical, only then, with delay, was she transferred to the hospital. That same day, the doctors said her level of consciousness was 5 and there was no hope for her improvement.”
Repeated seizures and late transfer
On September 15, 2025, the intensity of Somayeh Rashidi’s epileptic attacks increased and she suffered seizures several times. Her cellmates tried to control her condition, but her deterioration was such that the officials were forced to transfer her to the hospital; a transfer that was carried out with hours of delay. Rashidi’s family, after being informed, went to the hospital, but throughout the entire period faced severe restrictions in access to the treatment process and visits.
Shiva Esmaili and Elahe Fouladi protested this situation after Somayeh Rashidi’s death; a protest that, instead of investigating the cause of death, led to the formation of a judicial case against Shiva Esmaili and Elahe Fouladi.
Shiva Esmaili and Elahe Fouladi’s protest against Somayeh Rashidi’s death
According to published reports, Shiva Esmaili and Elahe Fouladi were among the prisoners who protested the manner of dealing with Somayeh Rashidi’s medical condition.
Shiva Esmaili and Elahe Fouladi’s protest against the lack of medical care and the death of this political prisoner was met with disciplinary and judicial reaction from the officials. Now, instead of their protest being addressed, Shiva Esmaili and Elahe Fouladi are facing an additional prison sentence.
Shiva Esmaili; Political Prisoner with a 10-Year Sentence
Shiva Esmaili, born in 1965 and a retired agricultural engineer, has been in detention since November 2020. She was sentenced to 10 years in prison in May 2023 by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court presided over by Iman Afshari.
In the course of proceedings on Shiva Esmaili’s case, the judge of the case had announced that the maximum punishment had been considered for her due to “repetition of political crime.” Shiva Esmaili has been repeatedly deprived of basic rights including phone contact, visits, and medical services during her imprisonment.
Elahe Fouladi; From Arrest at the Airport to Successive Convictions
Elahe Fouladi, born in 1978, married and mother of one child, was arrested along with her husband in February 2020. Elahe Fouladi was transferred to Evin Prison after arrest and was ultimately sentenced to 8 years in prison.
Elahe Fouladi’s family and lawyers have repeatedly protested the trial process and the charges raised against Elahe Fouladi. Now, with the new ruling, Elahe Fouladi’s sentence length has once again been increased.
History of Pressure and Torture Against Elahe Fouladi
Reports indicate that Elahe Fouladi had been subjected to severe security pressures during her initial detention. Informed sources have announced that unknown injections were administered to Elahe Fouladi during detention.
These reports have increased concerns about Elahe Fouladi’s physical and mental health. Also, threats of transfer to a psychiatric hospital have been mentioned among the pressures applied against Elahe Fouladi.
Elahe Fouladi and the Intensification of Pressure on Protesting Prisoners
Elahe Fouladi’s new case alongside the new conviction of Shiva Esmaili shows that prisoners’ protests against prison conditions are answered with judicial punishment. Elahe Fouladi and Shiva Esmaili have now faced compounded convictions; solely because of protesting the death of a cellmate.
Elahe Fouladi’s case in recent months has become one of the prominent examples of increased pressure on female political prisoners.
Shiva Esmaili and Elahe Fouladi; Punishment Instead of Accountability Regarding Prisoners’ Deaths
The new conviction of Shiva Esmaili and Elahe Fouladi shows that instead of independent investigation into Somayeh Rashidi’s death, the prisoners who protested this event have been targeted for prosecution. This trend is an example of punishment for protest in prison and the use of judicial pressure to silence the voices of political prisoners.
Violated Provisions:
Violation of the right to freedom of expression and protest – Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Punishing prisoners for protesting the death of a cellmate violates freedom of expression and the right to protest.
Violation of the right to fair trial – Article 10 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Issuing supplementary rulings against political prisoners in cases related to protest violates impartial proceedings.
Violation of the right to health and treatment of prisoners – Nelson Mandela Rules: Failure to provide effective medical care to Somayeh Rashidi violates the right to health of prisoners.
Violation of the prohibition of torture and inhuman treatment – Article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Applying psychological pressure, threats, and injection of unknown drugs to Elahe Fouladi is an instance of inhuman treatment.
See also the below articles:
- Execution of Three Political Prisoners in Mashhad
- Deprivation of Female Political Prisoners in Evin Prison from Visits
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