An Iranian court sentenced 20-year-old twin sisters to execution and 25 years in prison over alleged roles in January protests — despite zero evidence either woman was even present.
Taraneh and Romina Rahimi, who were 19 at the time, were abducted from their home in a midnight raid by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in February. Family members reported that IRGC forces placed bags over the sisters’ heads and offered no information on where they were being taken.
The twins were arrested for allegedly participating in anti-government protests in Isfahan on January 8th and 9th. Human rights groups and their legal team confirm there is no evidence connecting them to violent acts.
Following months of desperate searching, the twins’ mother Marzieh Nourmohammadi finally discovered where her daughters were being held — and the sentences they were facing.
“She did not recognise her own children: they were beaten up, badly swollen faces, bruises all over their body, broken elbows, knuckles, feet, and they basically had no hair because they would pull their hair and drag them from one cell to another cell. She found out that they had been in solitary confinement.”
Masoud Nourmohammadi, a U.S.-based healthcare IT specialist and cousin to the twins who emigrated from Iran 22 years ago, said their mother could barely recognize them when she finally visited them in prison in May.
The women had patchy scalps from being dragged by their hair, along with bruised faces and broken bones.
Nourmohammadi further alleged that guards threatened Taraneh that they would assault Romina in front of her unless she signed a confession. The stark differences in their sentencing remain a mystery, though Nourmohammadi emphasized the regime’s arbitrary nature.
“They do not follow their own law. There is an 18-day period that lawyers can go and appeal but in a lot of [execution] cases recently that has not happened. They just sentence and take the kids and execute them and hang them. So I mean, nothing, nothing really makes sense.”
A video of Taraneh Rahimi, a 20-year-old imprisoned protester from Isfahan and a horse training and equestrian instructor, has been circulated on social media.
Taraneh Rahimi is one of the twin sisters arrested in the case known as the “Shohada Square” (Martyrs’ Square), who has… pic.twitter.com/SDfTAo4L21— IranWire (@IranWireEnglish) September 2, 2026
Nourmohammadi noted that he believed Taraneh was sentenced to execution because of her innocent appearance.
“You can see her eyes and you know right away that she is a kind person. My sense is like they’re looking to put fear within the people, to say: ‘Look, no matter how fine you are, no matter how innocent you are, we can get you, and don’t come to the streets any more.'”
Marzieh Nourmohammadi, who raised her daughters alone, was reportedly barred from attending the trial. Lawyers for the twins stated that Taraneh retracted her previous confession in court, explaining it was given under torture. Prosecutors presented zero evidence connecting the sisters to any acts of violence.
“My mum lives with me. There’s not a single second that I pass her and she’s not crying.”
Iran has executed more than 500 people this year, including at least 29 individuals tied to the January anti-government protests. Among those put to death are at least 16 women. Hundreds of additional protesters have either been condemned to execution or face capital charges, including more than 70 in Isfahan alone.
