Maryam Sabri, 21 at time of arrest

After the 2009 elections, art student Maryam Sabri became politically active with the Green Movement. After a demonstration, she was arrested and imprisoned without being told her false charges. She was then isolated, blindfolded, and physically and sexually abused.

All prisoners were held in solitary cells there. There was absolute silence when I was taken out of my cell to the bathroom.

He r*ped me. After that I was almost half conscious when I was taken to my cell. They acted as if nothing had happened. They threw me in my cell. I didn’t understand how much time passed. For me, every moment was like years.

I was screaming and he was laughing. Then he said, “Even if you k*ll yourself shouting here, nobody can hear you.” Then he r*ped me a second time.

----
Iranian Diaspora Collective: This testimonial is part of the ‘The Iran Prison Project’ that documents the living testimony of political prisoners. The aim is to bring the horrors of Iranian prisons to the attention of Western leaders and media, so that collective pressure can be placed on the Iranian government to release prisoners and stop executions. We also believe that one day, the Islamic Republic of Iran will be held to account for their crimes against humanity. On that day, these stories and testimonies will be essential.