Additional Coverage:
- Iranian twins, 19, dragged from beds, had feet broken & hair ripped out before death sentence (themirror.com)
An Iranian mother has spoken out after her 19-year-old twin daughters were arrested and subjected to severe torture by regime forces-one now facing a death sentence.
Taraneh and Romina Rahimi were quietly detained at night by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), leaving their mother in a desperate five-month search through hospitals and police stations before learning the sisters were held in Dowlatabad prison in Isfahan.
When their mother finally saw them in May, the physical evidence of brutal abuse was undeniable. According to their cousin Masoud Nourmohammadi, who lives in Utah, the twins had patches of hair violently torn from their scalps, swollen and bruised faces, and broken bones. Nourmohammadi described how their mother “did not recognize her own children” due to the extent of their injuries, which included broken elbows, knuckles, and feet, alongside the trauma of solitary confinement.
Taraneh was sentenced to death after what the family claims was a forced confession extracted under horrific threats-guards allegedly warned her that if she refused to sign, Romina would be raped in front of her. Romina received a 25-year prison sentence. Nourmohammadi believes Taraneh’s gentle nature made her a target, explaining, “They want to instill fear-no matter how innocent you are, they can get you.”
The sisters, who reportedly were not known to participate in protests, were detained separately in the wake of nationwide demonstrations earlier this year. Taraneh was apprehended while staying at a house, and Romina was taken from their family home. Despite the lack of evidence tying them to protest activity, the regime’s Revolutionary Court convicted them of “moharebeh” (waging war against God) and other charges related to anti-government protests.
Nourmohammadi, who fled Iran over two decades ago, has publicly shared the family’s story despite receiving death threats. He suspects the authorities used Romina’s captivity and torture to coerce Taraneh’s confession, citing the twins’ close bond.
The Rahimi sisters are among 10 people sentenced by the Revolutionary Court in Isfahan in this case, with other defendants receiving lengthy prison terms. Since the protests began, Iran has executed over 900 individuals, many linked to protest activity or accused of crimes with questionable evidence.
Nourmohammadi condemned the harsh prison conditions, saying, “I never thought Iranians could treat their own people this way-denying water, medical care, and basic human dignity.”
This harrowing case highlights the ongoing crackdown in Iran amid political unrest, with families left to endure unimaginable pain as they fight for justice and the lives of their loved ones.