Iranian twin sisters Taraneh and Romina Rahimi, detained as 19-year-olds over their participation in January protests, have been handed a death sentence after months in custody in which their family says they were tortured, according to the Guardian.
Key facts
- Twin sisters Taraneh and Romina Rahimi were 19 and still in high school when they were detained.
- They were seized from their beds at night by masked men said to have been sent by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.
- The pair were arrested over their participation in January protests against the Iranian regime.
- Their mother, Marzieh Nourmohammadi, spent four months seeking news of their fate before learning what had happened.
- The sisters have reportedly received a death sentence.
Two Iranian twin sisters, Taraneh and Romina Rahimi, have been sentenced to death after being detained over their participation in protests against the country’s regime, according to the Guardian.
The sisters were 19 years old and still in high school when they were taken from their beds in the middle of the night by masked men, who were later identified as having been sent by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, the Guardian reported.
The twins were seized over their decision to join millions of people on the streets of Iranian cities during protests that took place in January against the regime.
Their mother, Marzieh Nourmohammadi, spent four months desperately seeking news from hospitals and state institutions before she finally learned what had happened to her daughters, according to the report.
When Nourmohammadi visited the twins in prison in May, they were unrecognisable to her, the Guardian said. The family has described the sisters as having suffered severe injuries in custody, including broken feet and hair that had been ripped out.
According to the Guardian, Taraneh Rahimi was told by prison guards that her sister, Romina, would be raped if she did not sign a confession.
Why it matters
The case highlights ongoing concerns about the treatment of protesters and detainees in Iran, including allegations of torture and the use of the death penalty against young people. It draws international attention to the human cost of dissent under the Iranian regime.
Frequently asked questions
Why were the Rahimi sisters arrested?
According to the Guardian, the twins were seized over their decision to join millions of people who took to the streets of Iranian cities during the January protests against the regime.
How old were the sisters when they were detained?
Taraneh and Romina Rahimi were 19 years old and still in high school when they were taken from their beds at night, the Guardian reported.
What have the sisters reportedly experienced in custody?
The Guardian reports allegations of torture, including broken feet and hair ripped out, and states that Taraneh was told guards would rape her sister Romina if she did not sign a confession.