The Times of Israel https://www.timesofisrael.com/topic/political-prisoners/ News from Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World Sat, 13 Jun 2026 00:28:04 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://static-cdn.toi-media.com/www/uploads/2018/11/toi_icon_512-200x200.png political prisoners | The Times of Israel https://www.timesofisrael.com/topic/political-prisoners/ 32 32 Iran has aired some 100 forced confessions by anti-regime protesters, activists say https://www.timesofisrael.com/iran-has-aired-some-100-forced-confessions-by-anti-regime-protesters-activists-say/ Tue, 13 Jan 2026 23:34:50 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3733304 Tehran ups pace of notorious broadcasts amid unrest, with regular references to Israel and US as supposed proof of foreign plots; activists report that confessions follow torture

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]]> Israeli-Argentinian imprisoned in Venezuela for over a year released, returns home https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-argentinian-imprisoned-in-venezuela-for-over-a-year-released-returns-home/ Tue, 13 Jan 2026 16:58:31 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3733089 Yaakov Harari, 72, said to be among 125 accused of serving as US mercenaries last January; Venezuela says release of prisoners part of efforts to 'seek peace' with Washington

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]]> Female prisoner dies in Iranian jail; rights groups blame authorities’ neglect https://www.timesofisrael.com/female-prisoner-dies-in-iranian-jail-as-rights-groups-blame-authorities-of-neglect/ Thu, 25 Sep 2025 17:21:11 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3650117 Somayeh Rashidi, 42, dies six months after being jailed for writing anti-regime slogans; Iran says death due to earlier illness but NGOs say coma caused by denial of medical care

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]]> Israel’s strike on Iran’s Evin prison sparks fear for political prisoners https://www.timesofisrael.com/israels-strike-on-irans-evin-prison-sparks-fear-for-political-prisoners/ Mon, 30 Jun 2025 10:31:08 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3587612 Detainees and their families say conditions for inmates are worse at facilities they were moved to after attack, raise concerns of what authorities might do next

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]]> Major Russia-US prisoner swap, including Evan Gershkovich, could be underway https://www.timesofisrael.com/massive-russia-us-prisoner-swap-including-evan-gershkovich-reportedly-underway/ Thu, 01 Aug 2024 10:50:42 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3345078 Jewish-American journalist could be released alongside artists, activists and former senior staffers of late dissident Alexei Navalny

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]]> Jailed Nukhba terrorists regularly sexually harass female guards, soldier says https://www.timesofisrael.com/jailed-nukhba-terrorists-regularly-sexually-harass-female-guards-soldier-says/ Mon, 27 May 2024 07:42:39 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3298802 A female reserve soldier details lax security at terrorist detention facility and sexual harassment she has experienced

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]]> US withholds $85 million in military aid to Egypt over rights abuses — senator https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-withholds-85-million-in-military-aid-to-egypt-over-rights-abuses-senator/ Thu, 14 Sep 2023 08:09:54 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3096064 Letter to congressional committee reportedly says cash will go to Taiwan and Lebanon instead; Democrat Chris Murphy calls for keeping back a further $235 million

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]]> German held by Iran said to be in life-threatening danger with failing health https://www.timesofisrael.com/german-held-by-iran-said-to-be-in-life-threatening-danger-with-failing-health/ Sun, 04 Jun 2023 19:41:07 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3027505 Dual citizen Nahid Taghavi, 68, is barely able to move, says activist Narges Mohammadi, who is incarcerated alongside her at Tehran's Evin prison

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]]> Former Iranian president Rafsanjani’s son freed after seven years in jail https://www.timesofisrael.com/former-iranian-president-rafsanjanis-son-freed-after-seven-years-in-jail/ Wed, 18 Jan 2023 12:45:38 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2928932 Mehdi Hashemi Rafsanjani, 53, was convicted in 2015 of fraud, embezzlement and undermining national security, charges that he has previously denounced as 'politically motivated'

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]]> Belgium summons Iran envoy after aid worked sentenced to 40 years, lashes https://www.timesofisrael.com/belgium-summons-iran-envoy-after-aid-worked-sentenced-to-40-years-lashes/ Tue, 10 Jan 2023 20:09:30 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2922120 Olivier Vandecasteele, 41, has been detained in an Iranian prison for months and has been on a hunger strike; his family says he is suffering from serious health problems

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]]> Iran sends German-Iranian activist on medical leave back to prison https://www.timesofisrael.com/iran-sends-german-iranian-activist-on-medical-leave-back-to-prison/ Sun, 13 Nov 2022 21:57:23 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2873345 Daughter of Nahid Taghavi says her mother didn't complete her treatment, but that she is returning to Evin Prison 'with her head held high'

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]]> Documentary filmmaker casts lens on Russian teen allegedly framed by Putin’s regime https://www.timesofisrael.com/documentary-filmmaker-casts-lens-on-russian-teen-allegedly-framed-by-putins-regime/ Thu, 23 Jun 2022 17:39:38 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2785797 After fleeing to safety in Israel, director Anna Shishova completes 'The New Greatness Case,' portraying Russian use of cyber-entrapment against youth calling for more freedom

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]]> Egypt releases 41 political prisoners ahead of Eid, says negotiator https://www.timesofisrael.com/egypt-releases-41-political-prisoners-ahead-of-eid-says-negotiator/ Sun, 24 Apr 2022 19:06:17 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2750668 More detainees expected to be released ahead of next week's holiday, but thousands more likely to remain locked up on charges like spreading 'false news'

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]]> ‘A cornerstone of repression’: Fresh claims raise fears over Iran prison abuses https://www.timesofisrael.com/a-cornerstone-of-repression-fresh-claims-raise-fears-over-iran-prison-abuses/ Mon, 25 Oct 2021 11:57:33 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2638088 A slew of recent allegations concerning high-profile detainees and claims disseminated on social media have amplified anxiety about treatment of prisoners in the Islamic Republic

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]]> Decade after Arab Spring, vast numbers of political detainees languish in prison https://www.timesofisrael.com/decade-after-arab-spring-masses-of-political-detainees-languish-in-prison/ Mon, 07 Dec 2020 06:57:25 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2443642 Autocratic regimes still in power, cracking down on dissent in Egypt and Syria, where thousands have died in custody and more harbor scant hopes of freedom

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