A Proud Milestone for WNC Advocacy

The WNC proudly announces the release of Maryam Akbari Monfared, one of Iran’s longest-serving female political prisoners, on April 8, 2026. Her freedom marks a powerful moment of hope and perseverance and stands as a testament to years of tireless advocacy, including efforts led by our organization.

After nearly 17 years of imprisonment without a single day of leave, Maryam Akbari Monfared has finally been reunited with her family. Her case has long symbolized the profound injustices faced by political prisoners in Iran, particularly women who endure systemic repression under the ruling authorities.

Born on December 14, 1975, Maryam is a mother of three daughters. She was arrested in the aftermath of the 2009 nationwide protests in Iran. On December 29, 2009, she was summoned to Tehran’s Evin Prison under the pretext of “providing explanations.” She never returned home. In June 2010, she was sentenced to 15 years in prison by the Revolutionary Court on allegations of membership in the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI). Over time, additional accusations were fabricated to prolong her detention, extending her imprisonment beyond her original sentence.

Maryam’s continued calls for justice for her slain siblings became one of the central reasons for the authorities’ sustained pressure against her during imprisonment. Two of her brothers were executed in the early 1980s, and another brother along with her sister were executed during the 1988 massacre of political prisoners. Her sister, Roghieh Akbari Monfared, was among those killed despite having a young child at the time.

Throughout her years in prison, Maryam became a symbol of resilience and compassion. Fellow prisoners described her as a source of strength and hope a “rainbow” in the darkness of incarceration. Her influence was so profound that authorities repeatedly transferred and isolated her, including her exile to Semnan Prison in March 2021 and later to Qarchak Prison in 2024. Despite enduring harsh conditions, including periods of solitary confinement, she remained steadfast in her beliefs and continued to inspire others.

Maryam Akbari Monfared suffered from numerous serious health conditions, including hypothyroidism, liver disease, chronic pain, and symptoms indicating possible nerve and spinal damage. Multiple medical specialists warned that urgent surgical intervention was necessary to prevent irreversible harm.

Yet, throughout her 17 years of imprisonment, she was denied access to adequate medical treatment outside prison and was never granted a single day of leave even under the regime’s own legal provisions. Although Maryam completed her original 15-year sentence in October 2024, authorities fabricated new charges against her, resulting in an additional three-year sentence, internal exile, and confiscation of property. These actions drew widespread condemnation from human rights advocates around the world.

Her eventual release on April 8, 2026, represents not only the end of a long and unjust imprisonment but also a victory for sustained international advocacy.

WNC views this moment with both pride and renewed determination. Maryam Akbari Monfared’s freedom is a powerful reminder that persistent advocacy can make a difference. At the same time, many political prisoners, especially women, remain behind bars under similar conditions.

WNC calls on international human rights organizations, women’s rights advocates, and United Nations bodies to intensify efforts to secure the release of all political prisoners in Iran.