Baloch Woman Imprisoned in Evin Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison
Baloch Woman Imprisoned in Evin Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison
According to the Balochistan Human Rights Group, today, Friday, September 11, 2026, Nasimeh Eslam-Zehi, a Sunni Baloch security prisoner held in Evin Prison, was sentenced to 25 years in prison by Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Abolqasem Salavati.
According to the verdict delivered to Ms. Eslam-Zehi earlier this week, she was sentenced to 25 years in prison on the charge of “assisting in the crime of baghi” (armed rebellion). Her husband, Arslan Sheikhi, and Amanj Karvanchi, the other defendants in the case, had previously been sentenced to death on charges of “baghi through membership in ISIS,” and their executions were subsequently carried out.
According to an informed source, Nasimeh Eslam-Zehi appeared at three court hearings before Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court during the proceedings. She denied all charges against her, emphasizing that she had never been a member of any group and had not cooperated with any group. The source also stated that during this period, several lawyers approached the court to represent her, but Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court refused to accept them, and the case was handled with the presence of a court-appointed lawyer.
Previously, some official Iranian media outlets had reported that Nasimeh Eslam-Zehi and two other defendants in the case had been sentenced to death. However, according to the recent verdict, she has been sentenced to 25 years in prison on the charge of “assisting in the crime of baghi.” Ms. Eslam-Zehi had previously been sentenced to three years and six months in prison by the Criminal Court in another part of her case.
Nasimeh Eslam-Zehi was arrested in September 2023 along with her husband, Arslan Sheikhi. During the preliminary investigation stage, the couple were charged on suspicion of membership in the militant group ISIS. According to an informed source, Nasimeh Eslam-Zehi was merely the wife of Arslan Sheikhi and was present at their home when security forces arrived to arrest her husband. She was also arrested at that time.
Nasimeh Eslam-Zehi, approximately 42 years old, is the mother of two daughters. Aisha, the couple’s daughter, was approximately two years old when her parents were arrested. She was separated from her mother at the time of the arrest, and the family was informed that the child had been transferred to the State Welfare Organization. After following up on the matter, Nasimeh’s family succeeded in obtaining custody of Aisha.
In early May 2024, Nasimeh Eslam-Zehi gave birth to her second child, Tasnim, in Evin Prison. Following the birth, the mother and newborn were held for 40 days in a solitary confinement cell under unsuitable conditions, without adequate ventilation or sufficient natural light. They were subsequently transferred to the quarantine ward of Evin Prison.
asimeh Eslam-Zehi gave birth to her second child, Tasnim, in Evin Prison. Following the birth, the mother and newborn were held for 40 days in a solitary confinement cell under unsuitable conditions, without adequate ventilation or sufficient natural light. They were subsequently transferred to the quarantine ward of Evin Prison.