Women’s rights activist Sohaila Motaei sentenced to prison
Hengaw – Wednesday, December 24, 2025
An Iranian court has sentenced Sohaila Motaei, a women’s rights activist and one of those detained in connection with International Women’s Day (March 8) and the Woman, Life, Freedom (Jin, Jiyan, Azadi) movement in Dehgolan (Dewlan), to six months of imprisonment and three years of suspended prison time.
According to information received by Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, the Dehgolan Criminal Court sentenced Motaei on charges of “propaganda against the state” and “publishing content in media outlets outside Iran.” The verdict was issued on Saturday, December 19, 2025. She has been detained multiple times in recent years.
The ruling concerns a case related to her arrest following International Women’s Day events (March 8) and was issued without providing her with the opportunity for an effective legal defense.
According to an informed source, during the judicial process Motaei was not allowed to formally register an objection or request an appeal. Judicial authorities stated that if no action is taken, the case will be referred to the sentence enforcement office for implementation.
Motaei had previously been sentenced in a separate case on Sunday, June 15, 2025, by Branch 102 of Criminal Court Two in Dehgolan to three months of imprisonment and three years of suspended prison time on charges of “propaganda in favor of groups or organizations opposed to the Islamic Republic.”
She was also arrested on a Monday evening in March 2025 in connection with her activities and participation in International Women’s Day events in Sanandaj and was released on bail after one week.
The activist has previously been arrested twice during the Woman, Life, Freedom movement and was later sentenced by the Dehgolan Revolutionary Court to a total of 60 months in prison. After serving several months of that sentence, she was granted amnesty and released.
