Mahboubeh Shabani, a detainee from the January protests, was punitively transferred to the quarantine ward of Mashhad’s Vakilabad Prison on Sunday, July 5. Sources close to her family state that the transfer was carried out using physical violence by prison guards.
According to information provided to human rights organizations by an informed source close to the prisoner’s family, prison officials cited “the release of an audio file to the outside world” as the reason for the transfer. However, the source emphasized that no audio file had been published by Mahboubeh Shabani and that the claim is entirely false.
The source added that Ms. Shabani opposed the transfer to the quarantine ward, prompting prison guards to resort to violence to move her there.
Mahboubeh Shabani has been held in Vakilabad Prison without a final verdict since her arrest by security forces on February 2 in connection with the nationwide protests in Mashhad. Her case is currently being processed by Branch 1 of the Mashhad Revolutionary Court.
According to published reports, she faces charges including “operational measures to strengthen Israel, the United States, and elements linked to opposition groups,” as well as Moharebeh, or enmity against God, a charge that can carry the death penalty under the laws of the Islamic Republic.
