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April 10, 2025 – Iran –
On April 9, 2025, Iranian journalist and human rights defender Vida Rabbani was conditionally released from Tehran’s Evin Prison after serving 32 months of a five-year sentence. Her release was granted under a provisional suspension of two years of her sentence by Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court.
Rabbani was initially detained in January 2020 while reporting on protests following the downing of a Ukrainian passenger plane by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Although her sentence was later suspended, she was rearrested during the 2022 protests over the death of Mahsa Amini while in the custody of the morality police. At that point, her original prison sentence was reinstated.
In June 2022, Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced Rabbani to five years imprisonment on the charge of “insulting the sacred,” four years for “gathering and colluding to act against national security,” and one year for “propaganda activities against the state.” Under Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, only the most severe single sentence of five years was executable.
Rabbani’s imprisonment drew international condemnation, particularly after reports emerged of her being sexually assaulted during a body search at Evin Prison in October 2024. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) strongly condemned the incident and called for her immediate release.
Her husband announced her release by posting a photo of Rabbani outside the prison, stating, “After 32 months, Vida has finally been released on parole.” He added, “While I’m happy about Vida’s freedom, true freedom is a collective concept that won’t be complete until it’s fully realized. I hope for the release of all political prisoners.”
Rabbani’s case highlights the ongoing challenges faced by journalists and human rights defenders in Iran, where reporting on sensitive issues can lead to severe legal repercussions.
Reference –
https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/en/case/vida-rabbani-released-conditionally-prison
https://iranwire.com/en/women/140232-journalist-vida-rabbani-released-from-evin-prison-on-parole/
