Iranian twin sisters Taraneh and Romina Rahimi turned 20 behind bars this year, awaiting the outcome of a case that has drawn scrutiny over allegations of torture, forced confessions, and severe mistreatment of the defendants.The sisters are among 16 people tried in Isfahan, in central Iran, in connection with demonstrations in the city during mass nationwide protests in January."These children have been and are still under enormous pressure, both psychologically and physically," their cousin, Masud Nurmohammadi, told RFE/RL's Radio Farda.The sisters have been convicted of moharebeh, or "waging war against God," aiding and abetting moharebeh, destruction of public property amounting to moharebeh, assembly and collusion, and propaganda against the Islamic republic.Taraneh has been sentenced to death, while Romina has been given 25 years in prison, according to their family.
Torture AllegationsNurmohammadi, who lives in the United States, said Taraneh had undergone surgery on her leg and had screws and plates inserted before she was detained. He said her condition deteriorated significantly in prison following what he described as repeated torture."We don't know whether her leg was broken, whether the screws and plates were displaced, or what happened," he said.According to Nurmohammadi, a prison doctor ordered that Taraneh be urgently taken to a hospital for treatment, but prison authorities prevented her from receiving the care."They repeatedly told Taraneh, 'You're going to be executed. Whether you have a broken leg or a healthy leg, you're going to be executed. It doesn't matter whether you have a leg or not.'"Nurmohammadi said Taraneh eventually told relatives during a phone call from prison that she could no longer walk."A 20-year-old girl who should now be standing on her own feet, riding her horse, and playing sports," he said.
