Two 19-year-old twin sisters in Iran are facing harsh punishment over their alleged role in anti-government protests earlier this year.
Sisters Sentenced: Death and Prison Terms for Taraneh and Romina Rahimi
Taraneh Rahimi has received a death sentence, while her sister Romina Rahimi has been sentenced to 25 years in prison. The sisters, both high school students at the time of their arrest, were taken from their home by masked men during the night. These events have drawn attention and concern, as reported by The Guardian.
Their family did not know where the sisters were for four months. She was also reportedly threatened with the sexual assault of her sister. The family has also claimed that no evidence was presented showing that either sister had taken part in violence during the protests. Relatives searched for them at different courts and hospitals before receiving a call informing their mother that the girls had been found and were being held in prison. He also questioned whether the authorities were following Iran’s own legal procedures. But he claimed this process has not been followed in several recent cases.
The sisters’ mother, who raised them alone and is now 20 years old, was not allowed to attend their trial. He said lawyers are normally given 18 days to appeal an execution sentence.
Their mother, Marzieh Nourmohammadi, searched hospitals and government institutions before finally being told that her daughters were being held at Dowlatabad prison in Isfahan. Taraneh, who dreams of one day running her own horse stable, allegedly told the court that she was tortured and that any confession she made was forced. Prison guards told Taraneh they would rape Romina in front of her if she did not sign a confession, according to the family. Their lawyers reportedly told the court that the sisters’ statements had been obtained through torture. “The family didn’t know where they were,” their cousin said. Masoud Nourmohammadi said the family does not understand the court’s decisions.
They had not previously participated in protests.
