A reformist-leaning Iranian Telegram channel on Wednesday published the names of 64 women it said are jailed for political reasons, challenging Iran's judiciary chief who said no more than five such detainees exist.
“This list concerns female political prisoners in Gharchak prison and a handful of other known cases. It does not cover other cities or prisons across the country,” Tahkim Mellat said in its statement, adding that the document was presented solely for civic and legal follow-up.
Qarchak Prison is a women’s facility southeast of Tehran, known for holding political prisoners in poor and overcrowded conditions, according to rights groups.
The announcement came after judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei said he had asked political groups to provide names of detainees.
Ejei argued that reformist figures had admitted identifying “no more than three to five” prisoners, calling on them to announce this publicly.
Yet Tahkim Mellat countered that in Gharchak prison alone more than 60 women are held for political activity.
'No transparency'
The names include Raheleh Rahimi Pour, a 75-year-old suffering from a brain tumor, and Kobra Beigi, 70, who was excluded from a 2023 amnesty.
Several other political prisoners who face death sentences were also named including, Sharifeh Mohammadi, Pakhshan Azizi, and Varisheh Moradi.
“The demand for the release of political prisoners had previously been raised by individuals and groups within civil society as a political necessity; however, until now, the government and political parties have taken no action to recognize or pursue the rights of more than just a few political prisoners,” reads the statement by the outlet.
“This silence and lack of transparency by political officials has resulted in a large number of political prisoners remaining in detention without adequate support or attention.”
Calls for accountability
Responding last week to Ejei’s remarks, veteran reformist commentator Emadeddin Baghi said the judiciary “certainly does not need to request a list from others if it wishes to prepare a more complete and accurate one.”
Independent civic associations, if not restricted, could provide more reliable data, Baghi added.
“What matters,” Baghi said, “is to set clear criteria — such as prioritizing prisoners near the end of their sentences, those whose convictions are disproportionate, or those eligible for parole under the law — rather than debating whether the number is five or sixty.”
Tahkim Mellat said officials have a duty to respond to the list it published.
