The Iranian authorities have once again demonstrated their escalating campaign of repression by arbitrarily arresting 19-year-old activist Bita Shafiei and her mother, Maryam Abbasi Nikoo. Both women are currently being held incommunicado, with no clear information about their whereabouts, legal status, or physical condition. Their case has become a stark symbol of the Iranian regime’s ongoing assault on basic human rights, particularly targeting women, youth, and families who dare to speak out against injustice.
The detention of a young woman and her mother for peaceful civic engagement raises profound concerns about enforced disappearance, psychological pressure, and the risk of mistreatment in Iran’s detention system — a system long criticized for its lack of transparency and accountability.
Who Is Bita Shafiei?
Bita Shafiei is a 19-year-old citizen from Shahin Shahr in Iran’s Isfahan Province. Despite her young age, she has been known for her courage in expressing concern about social injustices, public safety, and the fundamental rights of Iranian citizens. Like many young Iranians, Bita used her voice — both online and offline — to call for dignity, accountability, and the right to live without fear.
Her activism emerged during a period of heightened public tension, when Iranian society was shaken by widespread protests and demands for justice. Young people, particularly women, became the face of these calls for change. As a result, many of them, including Bita, found themselves under constant surveillance, harassment, and threat from security forces.
Bita had previously been detained in connection with peaceful protests and was later released. However, her continued civic engagement made her a persistent target of the authorities.
The Arrest of a Mother and Daughter
On November 19, security forces raided the family home and arrested Maryam Abbasi Nikoo, Bita’s mother, without presenting a warrant or explaining the legal basis for her detention. She was taken to an undisclosed location, and her family was left without any information regarding the charges against her or the conditions under which she was being held.
Just days later, Bita Shafiei herself was arrested while traveling, reportedly in an attempt to follow up on her mother’s situation. She was detained by security agents and transferred to a location that remains unknown. Since that moment, both mother and daughter have effectively disappeared into the Iranian detention system.
No official statement has been issued by the authorities. There has been no confirmation of formal charges, no court appearance, and no assurance that either woman has access to a lawyer, medical care, or family contact.
Incommunicado Detention and the Risk of Abuse
Human rights organizations have long warned that incommunicado detention in Iran is often accompanied by coercive interrogations, psychological pressure, and forced confessions. The lack of access to legal counsel and family visits leaves detainees extremely vulnerable.
Reports indicate that both Bita and her mother may be held in solitary confinement — a practice that can cause severe mental and emotional harm, especially when imposed on young detainees. For a 19-year-old woman, isolation under such conditions can be devastating.
The deliberate separation of a daughter from her detained mother further intensifies concerns. This tactic has been repeatedly used to exert pressure, break resistance, and silence dissenting voices by targeting entire families.
A Broader Pattern of Repression
The arrest of Bita Shafiei and Maryam Abbasi Nikoo is not an isolated incident. It reflects a broader pattern of repression in Iran, where peaceful expression, civic activism, and even expressions of solidarity are criminalized.
Over the past years, Iranian authorities have increasingly relied on arbitrary detention, vague national security charges, and prolonged pre-trial imprisonment to intimidate society. Women and young activists have been disproportionately affected, facing harsher treatment for challenging social and political norms.
Families of activists are frequently targeted as a means of collective punishment — a clear violation of international human rights standards.
International Legal Obligations Ignored
Iran is a signatory to several international treaties that guarantee the right to due process, freedom from arbitrary detention, and protection against torture and ill-treatment. These include obligations to inform detainees of charges against them, grant access to legal representation, and ensure humane treatment.
In the case of Bita Shafiei and her mother, these basic legal safeguards appear to have been completely disregarded. The absence of transparency and the ongoing silence from authorities constitute serious violations of international law.
Voices of Concern and Solidarity
The continued silence surrounding Bita and Maryam’s fate has sparked deep concern among activists, human rights defenders, and members of the Iranian diaspora. Many fear that prolonged detention without oversight could expose them to physical or psychological harm.
Campaigns demanding their immediate release have gained traction, emphasizing that no individual — especially a teenager — should be punished for peaceful civic engagement. Their supporters insist that demanding justice, dignity, and basic rights is not a crime.
Why This Case Matters
The detention of Bita Shafiei and her mother goes far beyond one family. It reflects the dangerous reality faced by countless Iranian citizens whose voices are systematically suppressed.
When a young woman is detained for expressing concern about her society, and her mother is imprisoned simply for being related to her, it sends a chilling message: silence is enforced not only through fear, but through the destruction of family bonds.
Such practices erode the foundations of any society and deepen the cycle of trauma and injustice.
A Call to the International Community
The international community must not remain silent. Diplomatic pressure, public advocacy, and sustained attention are essential to prevent further harm and to protect those currently at risk.
Immediate and unconditional release of Bita Shafiei and Maryam Abbasi Nikoo must be demanded. At the very least, their whereabouts, legal status, and access to medical care and legal counsel must be made transparent.
Human rights are not negotiable. The safety and dignity of a young woman and her mother must not be sacrificed to repression and fear.
We Stands for Human Dignity
Verein Welle strongly condemns the arbitrary detention of Bita Shafiei and Maryam Abbasi Nikoo and calls for their immediate release. We stand in solidarity with all individuals in Iran who are imprisoned for peaceful expression and civic engagement.
We urge governments, international organizations, and civil society to raise their voices and take meaningful action. Silence enables injustice. Visibility saves lives.
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