Woman detained in Mashhad faces espionage-related charges over social media activity

Hengaw – Thursday, April 9, 2026

Iranian authorities have charged a woman in Mashhad with cooperating with a hostile state over her social media activity, including the use of stickers, according to information ontained by the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights.

The woman, identified as Azar Yahoo, 38, has been held in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad since her arrest on March 4, 2026, by intelligence forces affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Sources said authorities have accused her of “cooperation with Israel,” citing her online activity, including using heart emojis on images of foreign political figures such as Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu.

Authorities have also cited “dancing in the street following the death of Ali Khamenei” as part of the charges, which they have classified as actions against national security.

Yahoo has been denied in-person visits and phone contact with her family since her arrest and has not been granted access to a lawyer. The status of her case remains unclear amid pressure from security agencies.