Farideh Ketabi held incommunicado in Urmia

Hengaw – Wednesday, April 1, 2026

Farideh Ketabi Miandoab, a resident of Urmia, remains in a state of uncertainty six days after her arrest by Iranian authorities, and no information about her whereabouts or condition is available.

Based on information received by Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, Iranian authorities raided Ketabi’s home in Urmia and arrested her without presenting a judicial warrant on Friday, March 27, 2026.

Ketabi is the mother of Sareh Sedighi (Zahra Sedighi Hamedani), a queer rights activist and former political prisoner. Her arrest took place despite the fact that she suffers from diabetes.

According to informed sources, the family’s repeated attempts to obtain information about her place of detention and the charges against her have so far remained unsuccessful.