Leila Afarin and Maryam Afarin, two political prisoner sisters held in Evin Prison, while serving their one-year sentence, reports indicate increased restrictions against women political prisoners, deprivation of contact and meeting and growing concerns about their medical status.
Iran Human Rights Society, Tuesday June 2, 2026 – Leila Afarin and Maryam Afarin, two political prisoners held in Evin Prison, are serving their imprisonment sentence in the women’s ward of this prison. These two sisters were previously each sentenced to one year of imprisonment by the Tehran Revolutionary Court and have been held in Evin Prison since December 2025. At the same time, reports received from the women’s ward of Evin indicate the intensification of restrictions and pressures against political prisoners.
How were Leila and Maryam Afarin arrested and sentenced?
An informed source close to the family of these prisoners by confirming their status announced that Leila Afarin, approximately 30 years old, and her sister Maryam Afarin were previously sentenced by the Tehran Revolutionary Court with political charges each to serve one year of imprisonment.
Based on this report, these two sisters were transferred to the women’s ward of Evin Prison on December 9, 2025 and since then they have been serving their sentence period. Also received information shows that they were arrested by security forces in December 2025.
What is the status of the women’s ward of Evin Prison?
Based on information received from Evin Prison, women political prisoners in recent weeks have faced more restrictions. Informed sources say prison officials almost every day deprive one of the prisoners of the right to telephone contact or meeting with family for various reasons.
These restrictions are applied in conditions where many women political prisoners had previously also faced similar deprivations. Human rights activists believe that depriving prisoners of communication with family is one of the methods of applying mental and psychological pressure on political prisoners; a method that is used extensively especially in the case of women prisoners.
What is the role of Hossein Yousefi in the applied restrictions?
Based on reports received from Evin Prison, a significant part of the recent strict policies in the women’s ward is implemented under the supervision and management of Hossein Yousefi, deputy of health of Evin Prison.
Aware sources say Hossein Yousefi was appointed to this position after the killing of Rouhollah Toussi in the course of the bombing of Evin Prison. According to these sources, since his appointment, pressure on political prisoners, especially in the field of meeting, telephone contact, access to welfare facilities and medical services has increased.
Families and political prisoners also say that many of the new restrictions are applied without providing a specific explanation and without going through a clear administrative process and prisoners do not have the possibility of effective protest against these decisions.
What is the medical status of women prisoners in Evin?
One of the most important concerns raised about the women’s ward of Evin Prison is the status of medical services. Human rights sources have reported that some political prisoners despite suffering from various diseases face restrictions in receiving medication, referral to specialist doctors and transfer to medical centers outside the prison.
Human rights activists have warned that delay in medical care and deprivation of appropriate treatment, along with psychological pressures resulting from communication restrictions, have made living conditions more difficult for women prisoners.
According to these activists, many women political prisoners while facing these pressures are in prison only because of political activities or opposition to the death penalty and defense of the right to life. In such conditions, the status of Leila Afarin and Maryam Afarin is also considered part of broader concerns about the detention conditions of women political prisoners in Evin Prison.
Human rights violation; Pressure on political prisoners and deprivation of communication and treatment
Reports related to the status of Leila Afarin and Maryam Afarin as well as the conditions of the women’s ward of Evin Prison have increased serious concerns about the violation of the rights of political prisoners. Deprivation of contact and meeting with family, restriction in access to medical services and application of psychological pressures on prisoners are among the cases that are inconsistent with international human rights standards and prisoners’ rights.
Violated articles:
- The right to enjoy humane treatment with prisoners – Nelson Mandela Rules-Prisoners must enjoy human dignity and be treated humanely and free from unnecessary pressures.
- The right to communication with family – Nelson Mandela Rules-Depriving prisoners of telephone contact and meeting with family is considered one of the tools of psychological pressure and violates the fundamental rights of prisoners.
- The right to access to medical services – Nelson Mandela Rules and Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights-Restriction in receiving medication, referral to specialist doctors and transfer to medical centers can put the health of prisoners in serious danger.
- Prohibition of degrading behaviors and psychological pressures – Article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights-Applying continuous restrictions and psychological pressures with the aim of punishing or putting pressure on prisoners can be an example of inhuman and degrading behaviors.
- The right to trial and execution of punishment within the framework of law – Article 10 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights- Applying disciplinary restrictions without a transparent process and without the possibility of effective protest is in conflict with the fundamental principles of fair trial and prisoners’ rights.
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