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In Iran, the process of suppressing the voices raised against women’s rights and government policies is not stopping. In the latest case, the Revolutionary Court of Tehran has given a heart-wrenching verdict against two real sisters, who are being known as ‘Rahimi Sisters’ in international human rights circles. One of these two sisters, who participated in peaceful protests and demanded human rights, has been sentenced to death, while the other sister has been sentenced to twenty-five years of rigorous imprisonment.
According to reports released by human rights organizations, these two sisters faced inhuman torture since their arrest. One sister suffered a broken elbow during violent interrogation by security forces during detention, but she was denied any basic medical care for a long time. In the narrow and dark cells of the jail, he has had to undergo not only mental but also unbearable physical torture, which has made his life a living hell.
International human rights monitoring groups and legal experts have expressed serious concern over this harsh and unilateral action by the Iranian judiciary. The Rahimi Sisters have been charged with serious and non-bailable charges of ‘waging war against God’ (Mohrebeh), endangering national security and spreading anti-regime propaganda. In Iran, such charges have often been used to silence political opponents and civil society activists.
During the court hearing, both the sisters were not even allowed to choose their legal representative i.e. lawyer. This cruel verdict was given after a brief hearing held behind closed doors. Human rights activists say that this entire legal process was completely biased and its purpose was only to create an atmosphere of fear among the public so that in future no citizen could muster the courage to take to the streets against the autocratic policies of the regime.
Public anger over hijab laws and civil liberties has been on the rise in Iran for the past few years. The ‘Woman, Life, Freedom’ movement, which started after the custodial death of Mahsa Amini, gave courage to women in every corner of the country to stand up for their rights. Rahimi sisters also became a part of this social and political consciousness, who openly expressed their views in support of freedom of expression and physical autonomy of women.
From the beginning, the Iranian regime termed these demonstrations as ‘riots’ sponsored by Western powers and used large-scale force to suppress them. Thousands of protesters have been thrown into jails, dozens have been hanged and hundreds have become victims of bullets and batons by security forces. The case of Rahimi Sisters has become another painful and hair-raising example of this oppressive system.
The conditions for political prisoners in Iran’s notorious prisons, such as Evin Prison, remain deplorable. According to the information coming from the relatives of Rahimi sisters, the sister suffering from broken elbow and serious injuries was not even given painkillers. Medical neglect is used by the prison administration as a weapon to break the confidence of prisoners and force them to confess to crimes.
Family members were not allowed to meet him for weeks, nor was any official information shared about his health. Keeping prisoners in solitary confinement, depriving them of sleep and subjecting them to constant mental torture have become part of the modus operandi of Iranian investigative agencies. The International Red Cross and UN human rights agencies are not being allowed to visit these prisons independently.
After this harsh and inhuman punishment given to Rahimi Sisters came to light, there is a sharp reaction from human rights organizations, European Union and United Nations bodies around the world. Amnesty International and other global organizations have appealed to the Tehran authorities to immediately rescind this decision and unconditionally release the two sisters.
Global leaders are being urged not to limit themselves to mere statements against Iran, but to impose strong targeted sanctions on Iranian judges and security officials responsible for gross human rights abuses. However, despite international pressure, the Iranian government seems to be firm on its stand, due to which the lives and future of the Rahimi sisters are in deep danger. This case is enough to remind the world what price one has to pay for demanding basic human rights in an autocratic system.