Iranian courts have sentenced Taraneh Rahimi to death and her twin sister Romina Rahimi to 25 years in prison for their involvement in anti-regime protests in January. The sisters were 19 and in high school when they were reportedly taken from their beds by masked men identified as being from the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.
Their mother, Marzieh Nourmohammadi, learned of their detention after four months. During a prison visit in May, the twins were reportedly unrecognisable, with bruised faces and scalps that were patchy from being dragged by their hair. It is claimed that Taraneh was told prison guards would rape Romina if she did not sign a confession.
The difference in their sentences remains unclear. Their US-based cousin, Masoud Nourmohammadi, stated that he struggles to understand the regime's actions, noting that they do not always follow their own laws regarding appeals.
Iran has executed over 500 people this year, including at least 29 connected to the January protests. Last month, the UK and 30 other countries signed a joint statement condemning these executions as an attempt to silence dissent.