More than 100 days into detention, Zahra Mousavi faces exile and loss of citizenship

Hengaw – Monday, May 11, 2026

Zahra Mousavi, a 21-year-old woman detained during protests earlier this year, remains imprisoned in legal limbo more than 100 days after her arrest as Iranian authorities have stripped her of her citizenship and threatened her with exile.

According to information received by Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, Mousavi is currently being held in the “Aramesh Ward” of Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad. She was arrested in February 2026 during the wave of protests that swept across Iran.

Authorities have accused her of “participation in protests,” “forming a group,” “teaching, manufacturing, and using Molotov cocktails,” and “encouraging others to disrupt public order and national security.”

Before her arrest, Mousavi worked as a cashier at a restaurant in Fariman and was the sole provider for her family. Although she was born in Iran and holds dual Iranian-Afghan citizenship, informed sources stated that Iranian authorities revoked her Iranian birth certificate after opening a case against her and have since threatened to deport her.

The continued detention of Zahra Mousavi in legal limbo, combined with the reported revocation of her identity documents and threats of exile, has intensified concerns over the possibility of severe and unjust judicial measures against her.