The Price of Courage: Stories of Women Imprisoned by the IRGC

In Iran, women who dare to challenge oppression often pay the highest price. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the regime’s most powerful enforcer, targets women activists, journalists, and protesters who demand freedom and equality. Many of these brave women are arrested, tortured, and imprisoned, enduring horrific conditions in notorious prisons such as Evin and Qarchak.

This article provides:

 • Personal stories of courageous women imprisoned by the IRGC.

 • An overview of prison conditions and tactics of repression.

 • The psychological and physical cost of defying the regime.

 • How the global community can support these women and demand justice.

1. The IRGC’s War on Women’s Resistance

A. Why the IRGC Targets Women

The IRGC considers women-led activism a direct threat to the regime’s authority because:

 • Women defy patriarchal laws, particularly the compulsory hijab.

 • Their activism mobilizes youth and marginalized communities.

 • They use social media to expose state violence and challenge propaganda.

By imprisoning and silencing them, the IRGC seeks to instill fear in society. However, these women’s courage continues to inspire resistance.

2. The Cost of Defiance: Stories of Imprisoned Women

A. Narges Mohammadi: The Voice of the Silenced

Narges Mohammadi, a prominent human rights activist and journalist, has been imprisoned multiple times for:

 • Campaigning against the death penalty.

 • Speaking out about prison torture and solitary confinement.

 • Advocating for women’s rights and freedom of expression.

She has suffered severe health complications in prison, yet continues to write and expose human rights abuses, becoming a symbol of resistance.

B. Sepideh Gholian: Fearless Even in Chains

A labor rights activist, Sepideh Gholian was arrested for:

 • Covering worker protests and corruption.

 • Speaking out against torture in Iranian prisons.

She has been subjected to:

 • Brutal interrogations and forced confessions.

 • Re-arrest immediately after release for continuing her activism.

Even outside prison, she refuses to remain silent, proving that fear will not break her spirit.

C. Nasrin Sotoudeh: The Defiant Lawyer

A renowned human rights lawyer, Nasrin Sotoudeh has defended:

 • Women arrested for removing hijabs.

 • Juveniles sentenced to execution.

 • Political prisoners facing death sentences.

For this, she was sentenced to 38 years in prison and 148 lashes.

Despite suffering abuse and hunger strikes, she remains an unwavering voice for justice.

D. Mahvash Sabet: A Prisoner of Faith

A Baha’i leader, Mahvash Sabet was sentenced to 10 years for:

 • Practicing her religion, which the regime criminalizes.

 • Defending the rights of persecuted religious minorities.

She spent years in Evin Prison, enduring:

 • Psychological torture and isolation.

 • Denial of medical treatment and legal representation.

Her case highlights Iran’s systemic religious discrimination.

3. Life Inside IRGC-Controlled Prisons

A. Evin Prison: The “Torture Factory”

 • Notorious for holding political prisoners, including many women activists.

 • Women endure solitary confinement, physical beatings, and sexual violence.

 • Interrogations last hours or days, often without legal representation.

B. Qarchak Prison: A Living Hell

 • Known as one of the worst women’s prisons in the world.

 • Overcrowded cells, contaminated water, and lack of medical care.

 • Political prisoners are placed among violent criminals as punishment.

C. Tactics of Psychological Torture

The IRGC uses severe psychological abuse to break women’s resistance, including:

 • Threats against family members to force confessions.

 • Fake executions, making prisoners believe they will be killed.

 • Humiliation and forced confessions aired on state TV.

Yet, many women refuse to submit, emerging even stronger.

4. The Global Response and the Need for Action

A. International Condemnation

Human rights organizations, including:

• Amnesty International,

 • United Nations Human Rights Council,

 • Reporters Without Borders,

have repeatedly called for the release of Iranian women political prisoners.

However, global pressure must intensify to ensure accountability.

B. Sanctions Against IRGC Leaders

 • Governments must expand sanctions on IRGC officials responsible for torture and imprisonment.

 • Targeted sanctions should include travel bans and asset freezes.

This isolates those who order and execute repression.

C. Support for Prisoners and Their Families

 • Provide legal and financial aid to families of imprisoned activists.

 • Offer asylum and protection for Iranian women fleeing persecution.

 • Raise global awareness through media campaigns like #FreeIranianWomen.

 Conclusion: The Price of Courage Must Not Be Forgotten

The IRGC’s imprisonment of women is meant to break their spirits, but instead, it has strengthened their legacy. Women like Narges Mohammadi, Sepideh Gholian, and Nasrin Sotoudeh continue to inspire resistance—even from behind bars.

Iranian women are not victims; they are leaders of change. Their stories must be told, their suffering must not be ignored, and their freedom must be fought for.