Couple arrested during January protests remain in legal limbo after nearly four months

Hengaw – Monday, May 11, 2026

Mahdieh Afaqhi and her husband, Abolqasem Alimoradi, remain detained without trial or temporary release at Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad nearly four months after their arrest during the January 2026 protests.

According to information received by Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, the couple were arrested by government forces in Mashhad during the protests earlier this year. Despite repeated follow-ups by their families, judicial authorities have yet to clarify their legal status, approve temporary release on bail, or schedule court hearings in their cases.

No documented information has been made available regarding the specific charges brought against the two detainees.