In Iran, speaking up for women’s rights is an act of extraordinary courage—one that can come at a devastating price. Since the “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement gained momentum after the killing of Mahsa Amini in 2022, thousands of women and activists have taken to the streets to demand freedom. But their defiance has been met with brutal crackdowns, arrests, and imprisonment.
At the Omid Foundation, we work with women who have been impacted by state repression, and we witness the emotional and physical scars left by their struggle. These women are not criminals—they are daughters, mothers, students, and professionals who simply want a voice in their own future.
The Brutal Response to Women’s Protests
Iranian authorities have a long history of silencing dissent, but the response to women-led protests has been particularly severe. Peaceful demonstrations are often met with:
- Violent crackdowns – Protesters face beatings, tear gas, and even live ammunition. Many have lost their lives simply for demanding their rights.
- Arbitrary arrests – Women and girls, including school-aged students, are detained for showing resistance, sometimes for something as small as removing their hijabs in public.
- Harsh prison sentences – Many women are sentenced to years in prison on vague charges like “propaganda against the state” or “disrupting public order.”
Even those who do not take to the streets are at risk. Journalists, lawyers, and activists who speak out on social media or in private gatherings can be arrested in the middle of the night and taken away without warning.
What Happens to Women in Prison?
For women who are imprisoned for speaking out, the nightmare does not end with arrest. Once inside Iran’s notorious prisons, many are subjected to:
- Psychological and physical torture – Reports from former prisoners describe beatings, forced confessions, and solitary confinement.
- Sexual violence and abuse – Some women detainees have faced sexual harassment and rape as a method of punishment and control.
- Denial of medical care – Injuries inflicted during arrests or in prison often go untreated, leading to long-term health consequences.
Families of imprisoned women are also targeted. Authorities intimidate loved ones, threatening them with arrests or travel bans to silence them.
The Resilience of Iran’s Women
Despite these horrific consequences, Iranian women continue to fight. Even behind bars, they find ways to resist—going on hunger strikes, smuggling messages to the outside world, and refusing to be broken by the system. Every act of defiance, no matter how small, is a reminder that their spirit cannot be crushed.
At the Omid Foundation, we stand in solidarity with these women by providing education, trauma support, and resources for those at risk. We believe that no woman should face imprisonment for demanding basic human rights.
The cost of speaking up in Iran is high, but the cost of silence is even greater. And as long as women continue to raise their voices, the fight for freedom will never die.
