Maryam Akbari Monfared, one of Iran’s longest-serving female political prisoners, was released on April 8, 2026, after nearly 17 years in prison without a single day of furlough. Her release marks a moment of hope for many who campaigned for her freedom. Despite suffering from multiple serious health conditions, authorities repeatedly denied her access to medical treatment outside prison.
Born on December 14, 1975, and a mother of three daughters, Maryam was arrested following the 2009 uprising. On December 29, 2009, she was summoned to Evin Prison “to provide explanations” and never returned home. In June 2010, she was sentenced to 15 years on charges of membership in the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran—an allegation she has consistently denied.

A sweeping wave of anti-regime protests has erupted across Iranian universities, as students at some of the country’s most prominent academic institutions boycotted classes and turned their campuses into centres of open resistance against the ruling theocracy.
14th Oct 2024 - Iran's longest serving female political prisoner, Maryam Akbari Monfared, has had her prison sentence extended once again, after 15 years imprisonment.