Rezvaneh Ahmadi-Khanbeigi

Age: 36
Activism/rights: Human rights activist
Status: Released
Judicial status: 20 months’ imprisonment and one open case
Violations: Arbitrary arrest: Lack of fair trial and due process; unfair trial; denial of medical care; prolonged solitary confinement

Rezvaneh Ahmad-Khanbeigi is a human rights activist who was first arrested in 2018 sentenced by Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court to four years and five months’ imprisonment and was released on 10 February 2019. She was rearrested when 11 intelligence forces stormed her home on 18 November 2019 and transferred to the IRGC Intelligence’s Ward 2A of Evin Prison following her participation in the November 2019 nationwide protests where she was beaten. Rezvaneh’s trial was held on 1 February 2020 at Branch 24 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court and in the judgement issued the following day, she was sentenced to five years in prison for “assembly and collusion against national security” and a year in prison for “propaganda against the system” for her peaceful participation in the November 2019 protests and Instagram posts in support of political prisoners’ rights. On May 12, her husband, Behfar Lalezary announced on his Instagram page that Branch 36 of the Court of Appeals had upheld Rezvaneh’s six year sentence. Rezvaneh suffered from epileptic seizures in prison and was granted furlough in August 2020 and 25 June 2021 and subsequently released after being pardoned. However, she has been regularly summoned by the IRGC Intelligence Organisation.

Rezvaneh, who was pregnant at the time, and her husband were arrested on 18 September 2023 and transferred to Evin Prison. She was tried in December 2023 before Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, on charges of “assembly and collusion against internal security” and “propaganda against the system”, and was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment. This ruling was upheld by Branch 36 of the Tehran Court of Appeal, but was later reduced to 20 months.
As her delivery date approached, and amid repeated obstruction by judicial authorities and prison officials, Rezvaneh was granted a ten-day furlough on 18 September 2024. Despite an eight-month furlough being registered in the judicial system, authorities ordered her return on 29 September 2024. As the sole caregiver of her newborn, she stated that the supervising prosecutor had unlawfully recorded her sentence as absconded and, citing the illegality of this action, she refused to return to prison.

Rezvaneh was arrested at her home on 6 July 2025 while having a breastfeeding baby. She was released hours later after being subjected to interrogations. She was threatened and warned to stop posting about the situation of political prisoners.
Rezvaneh's sentence has temporarily been suspended to allow her to care for her young child, but she has been issued a warning that she will be recalled to prison to serve the remainder of her term if she persists with her civic activities.