In recent days, two Iranian lawyers, Elham Zeraatpisheh and Astareh (Maryam) Ansari, have been arrested in Shiraz, in what appears to be a continuation of measures targeting attorneys involved in political and civil cases.

According to available reports, Elham Zeraatpisheh was arrested on Monday, May 4, 2026, near the Civil Enforcement Prosecutor’s Office in Shiraz. As of the time of writing, no information has been released regarding the reasons for her arrest, the charges against her, or her place of detention. She had previously faced judicial action in connection with the nationwide protests of 2022.

Meanwhile, Astareh (Maryam) Ansari, another lawyer and human rights advocate, was arrested on the evening of Sunday, May 3, following the entry of security forces into her home in Shiraz. She has reportedly been transferred to an undisclosed location, and her family’s efforts to obtain information about her condition and whereabouts have so far been unsuccessful. Ms. Ansari had also previously been detained by security forces during the “Woman, Life, Freedom” protests.

The arrests come amid a broader pattern in recent years in which lawyers handling political and security-related cases have faced repeated summons, arrests, and professional restrictions, raising serious concerns about the independence of the legal profession and the right to effective legal representation.

@iranhrdc
#DigitalBlackoutIran
#iran_strikes
#iran_human_rights
#iranmassacre
#Elham_Zeraatpisheh
#Astareh_Ansari