Afarin Bashash remains in legal limbo in Vakilabad Prison, Mashhad

Hengaw – Friday, February 20, 2026

Afarin Bashash, a 45-year-old Baha’i resident of Mashhad in Razavi Khorasan Province, has remained in detention since January following her arrest by Iranian authorities. She is currently being held in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad, with no clarity regarding her legal status.

According to information received by Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, Bashash has spent the past 40 days in custody under harsh conditions.

Informed sources report that her detention order has been extended for an additional month. She was allowed to meet with a relative only after more than a month in detention.

Prison authorities initially placed Bashash in quarantine before transferring her to an unsanitary ward. During the early days of her detention, officials reportedly refused to provide her with adequate clothing and blankets, contributing to her illness.

Iranian authorities arrested Afarin Bashash on Sunday, January 11, 2026. After several days in detention, they transferred her to Mashhad Central Prison, where she remains held.