Nasrin Sotoudeh, the prize-winning Iranian human rights lawyer, has been arrested at her home in Tehran, according to her daughter, as activists warn of a regime crackdown on civil society under cover of the war with Israel and the United States.
Mehraveh Khandan said her mother was taken from the family home late on Wednesday and that her whereabouts remain unknown. She suspects the arrest may be linked to recent interviews in which Sotoudeh criticised the government over the conflict. 'We do not know which agency carried out the arrest or who was responsible. She was alone at home at the time,' Khandan told reporters.
The arrest comes amid a communications blackout in Iran, with internet shutdowns and restrictions on international calls. Activists have expressed fears that a rise in executions is being overshadowed by the war, with at least 145 people confirmed killed so far in 2026 and more than 400 additional executions reported but unverified, according to Iran Human Rights.
Sotoudeh is known for representing political prisoners, including opposition activists and women prosecuted for removing their mandatory headscarf. She has won several international awards, including the European Parliament's Sakharov Prize in 2012 and the Right Livelihood Award in 2020.
Khandan voiced concern for her mother's health, noting that Sotoudeh developed a heart condition after a hunger strike in prison. 'Doctors had said she should not be exposed to psychological pressure, and it was on this basis that she had been granted medical leave,' she said. Sotoudeh's husband, Reza Khandan, has been held in prison since December 2024 for distributing badges bearing the slogan 'I oppose compulsory hijab'.
