Two prominent Iranian political prisoners, Massoumeh Senobari and Massoumeh Yavari, are currently subjected to severe and inhumane conditions while in custody.
Their stories reveal the grim reality of the Iranian judicial system’s attitude towards political dissent. Massoumeh Senobari, detained in the notorious Fardis Prison of Karaj, also called Kachouii, has been held in solitary confinement, isolated from other prisoners, for over 10 relentless months.
Every day in detention introduces her to a new form of torture. Recent reports suggest that her calls to her family have been curtailed to just three minutes, always under the watchful eyes and ears of an intelligence agent. The agent, controlling even the simple act of dialing, cuts the call if any conversation in Azeri takes place. Born in 1988 in Tabriz, Senobari is a mother to a young daughter.
Her second arrest took place during the nationwide protests in Karaj on December 13, 2022. Initially confined at the detention center of the Intelligence Department, she was later transferred to the women’s ward of Fardis Prison. Senobari, accused of leading the protests, was dealt a heavy-handed sentence of seven years and six months by the Revolutionary Court of Karaj for various allegations, including association with the People’s Mojahedin of Iran (PMOI/MEK) and spreading propaganda against the state.
Massoumeh Senobari
In a similar account of repression, Massoumeh Yavari has been under arrest without a trial since September 4, 2023. Initially housed at Isfahan’s Dowlatabad Prison, she was recently transferred to the detention center of the IRGC Intelligence on October 5, 2023. Yavari’s health is a concern; she battles multiple ailments such as diabetes, thyroid disorders, and heart issues. Despite her fragile health, she has been consistently denied medication since her arrest.
Adding to the family’s ordeal, Yavari’s son, 21-year-old Mohammad Mehdi Vossoughian, was arrested on September 20, 2023. Following his mother’s detention, Vossoughian had persistently sought updates on her well-being and tried to deliver her essential medications, only to return home empty-handed. Yavari, born in 1979 and a resident of Golpayegan in the Isfahan Province, has previously faced the harshness of the Iranian judicial system. Arrested in Tehran in 2009, she was sentenced to seven years for alleged contacts with the PMOI.
Massoumeh Yavari
The continuing struggles of Senobari and Yavari highlight the dire state of human rights and freedom in Iran, with political prisoners bearing the brunt of the oppressive regime. Their resilience and fight against tyranny serve as a beacon of hope and resistance.
MEK Iran (follow us on Twitter and Facebook), Maryam Rajavi’s on her site, Twitter & Facebook, NCRI (Twitter & Facebook), and People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran – MEK IRAN – YouTu