Activist Somayeh Rashidi Dies in Custody, Sparks Anger

An Iranian activist, Somayeh Rashidi, has died while in custody — and her death is raising serious questions. She was just 42 years old and described by rights groups as a political prisoner.

Officials say Rashidi had health problems, including seizures, and insist she was treated in prison and later in hospital. But human rights groups tell a very different story. They claim she was denied proper medical care and accuse authorities of medical neglect that led to her death.

Arrest and Health Issues

Rashidi was no stranger to Iranian prisons. She had been arrested several times in recent years for allegedly writing anti-government slogans and having ties to the banned Mojahedin-e-Khalq (MEK) opposition group. In April this year, she was detained again and held at Tehran’s Evin prison.

Her health reportedly got worse in August, with frequent seizures. Rights groups say prison officials ignored how serious her condition was and delayed her transfer to hospital until it was too late.

Officials vs. Human Rights Groups

Iran’s judiciary outlet Mizan painted a different picture. It reported that Rashidi was given treatment in the prison infirmary and then moved to a hospital, where doctors tried for days to save her.

But the Human Rights Activists News Agency says she never received the urgent care she needed. A source close to her family confirmed she had long struggled with seizures but was denied timely medical help.

Echoes of Mahsa Amini

Rashidi’s death has already drawn comparisons to Mahsa Amini, the young woman who died in police custody in 2022 after being arrested for allegedly violating Iran’s hijab law. Her death triggered massive protests across the country.

Like Amini, Rashidi’s case is now being seen as another example of how the Iranian system treats political prisoners and women activists.

Why It Matters

For critics of the government, Rashidi’s death shows a larger problem: prisoners being denied proper healthcare. Activists argue this is a tactic used to silence voices of dissent.

While Iranian authorities insist they did everything they could, rights groups are demanding an independent investigation. They say the truth needs to come out — and that her death should not be swept under the rug.