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Born in Borazjan in 1989, Vida Rabbani’s journey to journalism began with a deep passion for storytelling and the press. At a young age, Rabbani redirected her studies toward humanities, defying family expectations. In 2009, she was admitted to Allameh Tabataba’i University in Tehran to study journalism. Her move to Tehran coincided with the aftermath of the controversial 2009 presidential election, where the nationwide crackdown on dissent marked the early days of her university experience.
Amid the political tension, Rabbani became deeply involved in journalism, developing her voice as a writer with a focus on political and social issues. Her professional start was with Nasim-e Bidari magazine, a formative experience that soon led her to Maghreb, a reformist newspaper that faced immediate censorship and multiple shutdowns. The pressures on the media during this period were extensive, with Rabbani and her colleagues subjected to regular intimidation, arrests, and intense scrutiny that had an intense toll on her personal life.
Rabbani’s work expanded to include Shargh, Seday-e Mellat, and Ghanoon, where she delved into investigative and reform-oriented pieces that highlighted the plight of the Iranian public and questioned government practices. Her reporting earned her both respect and a place among the notable reformist journalists in Iran, but it also led to repeated arrests and detainments by authorities.
In 2020, as Iran grappled with protests over issues such as the downing of Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752 by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Rabbani was detained for her activism, including her association with reformist leader Mostafa Tajzadeh. During her time in custody, Rabbani initiated hunger strikes in protest of her conditions, including periods in solitary confinement. Her health deteriorated significantly, with recurring severe headaches linked to cerebral fluid pressure and concerns for her vision and neurological health.
As of her most recent arrest in 2022, Vida Rabbani remains in Evin Prison, where she has been held following her participation in protests supporting the “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement. In a particularly concerning incident, Rabbani reported being physically assaulted by a prison official during an interrogation. According to Vida, an interrogator punched her in the face, and she was beaten once again on another occasion. She has since been denied adequate medical care, resulting in further deterioration of her health, and has endured isolation from her family and friends. Despite a temporary medical leave, her repeated appeals for release on health grounds and for parole were rejected by Tehran’s judiciary, citing her case as “necessary for public order.”
In addition to her imprisonment, Rabbani faces restrictions on professional activities, political engagement, and social media use, amounting to severe limitations on her right to free expression.
The National Iranian American Council urges the Iranian authorities to immediately release Vida Rabbani and other detained journalists who continue to suffer under unjust detention conditions. Rabbani’s case exemplifies the hardships faced by journalists in Iran who advocate for transparency and reform. Her health, safety, and right to free speech are at serious risk. We call for an end to the systemic repression of journalists, whose work remains vital to civil society and the pursuit of truth, and note Iran’s obligation to allow for freedom of the press under international law.
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