The Iranian regime has long employed a sinister strategy to suppress dissent: targeting the families of political prisoners. By subjecting relatives—particularly spouses, children, and parents—to harassment, intimidation, and even imprisonment, the regime seeks to break the resolve of activists and coerce them into compliance or forced confessions.
In recent years, this systematic approach has intensified, revealing a pattern of deliberate and cruel tactics designed to exploit familial bonds.
A Deliberate Tool of Repression
Pressuring families is a calculated method to amplify the suffering of political prisoners. The regime’s objectives are clear: to force prisoners into cooperation, extract televised confessions, or deter further activism by demonstrating that dissent comes at a devastating personal cost. By targeting loved ones, authorities create a ripple effect of fear and pain, hoping to weaken the prisoners’ resolve.
Miryousef Younesi,70 ans, prisonnier politique,transféré de force au quartier des crimes sociaux.Son fils Ali Younesi, prodige et prisonnier politique, est détenu pour soutien aux Moudjahidine du peuple.Les gardiens d’Evin les ont séparés violemment #DroitsHumains #Iran @jnbarrot pic.twitter.com/9UM8fglC4R
— Parnian Saramad (@parnian2013) May 8, 2025
Families face a range of abuses, including surveillance, job loss, educational disruptions, arrests, and psychological torment during prison visits. Children, often teenagers, are particularly vulnerable, as they are subjected to intimidation or legal harassment to pressure their imprisoned parents. Despite these hardships, many families refuse to become tools of oppression, choosing instead to resist and expose the regime’s tactics.
Families Under Siege
Asal Meskin-Navaz, the 17-year-old daughter of political activist Mehdi Meskin-Navaz, exemplifies the regime’s targeting of prisoners’ children. In February 2023, Asal was arrested on her way to school.
As a minor, her case should have been handled by a juvenile court, but it was unjustly transferred to the Revolutionary Court, known for its harsh treatment of political cases. For months, she endured relentless interrogations and repeated summonses.
While her father remains detained on new charges, Asal faces the threat of judicial rulings herself. This dual pressure illustrates the regime’s use of illegal and punitive measures to target activists’ families. In some cases, authorities avoid filing formal charges against children but disrupt their education or employment, creating long-term obstacles for their future.
Amnesty and @UN Special Rapporteur Sound Alarm Over Looming Executions of Five Political Prisoners in #Iran https://t.co/WY00TSgp9q
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) April 18, 2025
A Family’s Ordeal
Esmaeil Abdi, a teachers’ union activist imprisoned for nearly nine years, has witnessed firsthand the toll of this repression on his family. One of his most painful moments came when he was denied permission to attend his daughter Mobina’s wedding.
“They wouldn’t even allow me to be with her for a few hours,” Abdi recounted.
Mobina, now 21, faced her own ordeal when she was fired from her accounting job at a private company due to pressure from security agencies. She was told explicitly, “Because your father is a political prisoner, we’ve been ordered to dismiss you.”
Abdi’s family also endured harassment during prison visits, with authorities deliberately delaying or denying in-person meetings to inflict further pain. “When they realized my children needed visits, they tormented us even more,” Abdi said.
June 10—Tehran, Iran
Rally by families of death-row political prisoners in tandem with the 72nd week of the "No to Executions Tuesdays" campaign.#IranProtestspic.twitter.com/RUqjqTdcS4— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) June 11, 2025
In one particularly manipulative incident in July 2015, authorities staged a family visit under the pretext of Abdi’s birthday. With cameras recording and an interrogator present, they pressured Abdi’s children to convince him to call off a planned teachers’ rally, promising his release in return.
Abdi’s wife, Monireh, stood defiant, declaring, “If my husband isn’t freed soon, I’ll join the rally with the kids myself.” Her courage underscores the resilience of families under pressure.
Father and Son Imprisoned
The Younesi family’s story is another stark example of familial targeting. Ali Younesi, a 25-year-old computer engineering student at Sharif University and a gold medalist in the 2017 International Astronomy Olympiad, has been imprisoned since April 2020. Alongside fellow student Amirhossein Moradi, he was sentenced to 16 years in prison on politically motivated charges.
Ali’s father, Miryousef Younesi, a 70-year-old with a history of 14 years in prison dating back to the Shah’s era, was arrested in January 2023 and is now held in Evin Prison alongside his son. This dual imprisonment is a clear attempt to crush the family’s spirit.
On May 6, 2025, Miryousef was forcibly transferred to Ward 7, reserved for social crimes, separating him from Ali. Political prisoners in Evin’s Ward 4 staged a sit-in to protest the transfer, but authorities failed to honor their promise to return Miryousef.
June 3—Tehran, Iran
Families of political prisoners on death row rally in front of Evin Prison in tandem with the 71st week of the "No to Executions Tuesdays" campaign in 46 prisons across Iran.pic.twitter.com/wteY8MJYRI— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) June 3, 2025
On May 13, 2025, Miryousef began a hunger strike to protest his conditions. Suffering from diabetes and deafness, he is denied access to medical care, highlighting the regime’s neglect and cruelty toward vulnerable prisoners and their families.
The Broader Pattern
These cases are not isolated but part of a broader strategy. The regime exploits families to pressure resistant prisoners into submission, repentance, or cooperation. By targeting those who appear most vulnerable, the authorities aim to create a sense of helplessness. However, this tactic often backfires, as families demonstrate remarkable resilience.
Statements like “I will never ask for your pardon” or “It is you who must seek forgiveness from the people” echo through history, symbolizing the unyielding spirit of those who refuse to bow. Families like the Abdis and Younesis embody this defiance, turning the regime’s tools of repression into symbols of resistance.
The Path Forward: Resistance and Solidarity
Families of political prisoners play a crucial role in countering the regime’s tactics. By refusing to yield, they render these repressive measures ineffective. Key steps include:
- Exposing Injustices: Publicizing the regime’s abuses raises awareness and mobilizes support, both domestically and internationally. Social media, human rights organizations, and civil society amplify these voices.
- Legal Advocacy: Pursuing legal avenues, despite the regime’s corrupt judicial system, can alleviate some pressures and hold authorities accountable.
- Solidarity: Mutual support within and among families strengthens their resolve and boosts prisoners’ morale, reminding them they are not alone.
- International Pressure: Engaging global human rights organizations can bring scrutiny to Iran’s practices, potentially deterring further abuses.
The struggle is daunting, but families are not alone. Human rights groups, civil society, and activists worldwide stand in solidarity, offering hope and resources to those fighting for justice.
The Iranian regime’s tactic of targeting prisoners’ families reveals the depths of its desperation to silence dissent. Yet, the courage of families like those of Asal Meskin-Navaz, Esmaeil Abdi, and Ali and Miryousef Younesi demonstrates that resistance can triumph over repression.
By standing firm, exposing abuses, and demanding their rights, these families send a powerful message: the regime’s tactics will not succeed. Their resilience keeps the flame of hope alive, inspiring others to join the fight for a just and free Iran.