Iranian authorities withhold seized belongings from freed political prisoners

September 28, 2026 at 10:06 PM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

Iranian authorities are withholding seized belongings from released political prisoners, defying court orders to return them. Activists say the practice punishes former inmates already barred from government jobs. The nearly seven-month war with the United States has deepened Iran's economic crisis, leaving those under financial strain even more vulnerable.

Key Facts

Sanaz Yekta, released from Evin Prison in February, says police seized her gold and silver jewelry and smartwatch during a raid after her 2025 arrest.
Teacher and union activist Mohammad Habibi says police seized his two mobile phones, laptop, and books when he was arrested in 2022, and they have not been returned.
Human rights activist Mehdi Mahmoudian says authorities have refused to return his personal belongings, including mobile phones, more than eight months after his detention and release.
Yekta was sentenced to five years in prison for insulting the supreme leader but was granted early release on health grounds.

Seized Belongings

Sanaz Yekta, a 46-year-old activist from Tehran's Jewish community, said police raided her apartment after her arrest in 2025 and seized gold and silver jewelry, a smartwatch, and other valuables. Despite her release from Evin Prison in February, authorities are withholding her possessions and defying a court order to return them. Mohammad Habibi, a teacher and union activist, said police seized his two mobile phones, a laptop, and books when they arrested him in 2022, and the belongings have still not been returned. Mehdi Mahmoudian, a prominent human rights activist and former political prisoner, said authorities have refused to return his personal belongings, including his mobile phones, more than eight months after he was detained and later released.

Activists' Response

Activists say the authorities routinely refuse to return the belongings of people considered political prisoners, arguing the practice is intended to punish former inmates even after they've been released. Habibi wrote on X, "They call it confiscation; in reality, it is looting." Mahmoudian wrote on X on September 16, "It seems that in the Islamic republic, a judicial order is nothing more than a letter. Hence, apparently, people's ownership is only respected as long as a security institution hasn't taken a liking to their possessions." He added, "When a security institution seizes people's property and disregards the judicial order to return it, confiscation is just a polite name for the appropriation of people's assets."

Economic Hardship

For former political prisoners, losing their belongings can be a serious blow, especially as many are effectively barred from government jobs. The nearly seven-month war with the United States has deepened Iran's economic crisis, leaving those already under financial strain even more vulnerable. Yekta said, "Why do security bodies need the gold of a political prisoner? When political prisoners are released, they have financial needs and it's difficult for them to find a job."