News Center — Iranian authorities continue to arrest activists and issue harsh sentences against them, drawing increasing criticism from human rights organizations amid reports of arbitrary detentions and denial of legal rights, reflecting a hardline approach in dealing with civil voices calling for reform.

Iranian authorities have released civil activist Soheila Motaei from Dehgolan city, one of those detained in connection with the popular uprising in Iran in 2022, after she served part of her sentence at the Correction and Rehabilitation Center. She will now complete the remainder of her six-month sentence outside prison under electronic monitoring and within specific restrictions on her movements.

According to human rights reports, she was released after having been transferred to the Correction Center following her summons to Branch 102 of the Revolutionary Court in Dehgolan for the execution of the sentence issued against her.

Security forces had arrested Soheila Motaei without a judicial warrant, and she was denied the right to a lawyer or family visits at the time, before being released on temporary bail. She was subsequently sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for three years, on charges including "propaganda against the system" and "publishing in media outside Iran," in connection with her participation in an event marking International Women's Day in the city of Sanandaj.