Re-arrest of ‘Elham Salehi’, Children’s Rights Activist in Tehran
With the re-arrest of Elham Salehi, a children’s rights activist in Tehran, the voice of children is also being silenced.
Elham Salehi, a social researcher and civil activist who has worked for years in the field of children’s rights, has once again become a target of repression by the security forces of the Islamic Republic. The 37-year-old activist, a resident of Tehran, was arrested at her home on Saturday, 11 Mordad 1404 (August 2, 2025) by security personnel and transferred to an unknown location.
The news of Salehi’s arrest was confirmed by human rights sources, and according to her close associates, after a week of no contact, the civil activist was able to announce her relative safety through a brief message, but no information has yet emerged about her place of detention or the organization responsible for her arrest.
Her recent arrest comes as Elham Salehi has previously faced pressure from security agencies. In December 2024, she was sentenced to six months of discretionary imprisonment and a fine of 20 million tomans due to her critical reaction to the news of Ibrahim Raisi’s death, on charges including “spreading falsehoods,” “disturbing public opinion,” and “insulting officials.” The sentence was suspended for five years. However, security measures against her continued, and officers at that time raided her home and confiscated her personal belongings, including her laptop, mobile phone, and research notes.
Ms. Salehi had in recent years attempted to be the voice of a forgotten part of society by focusing on the situation of underprivileged children, including child laborers and street children, amid economic crises and government neglect. Now her re-arrest once again underscores the severity of repression against civil activists in Iran.
Increasing arrests against social activists, human rights defenders, and Christian or critical citizens are part of a systematic policy aimed at suppressing independent voices and weakening the foundations of civil society in Iran. Silence, threats, and arrests have become tools for silencing women activists in Iran. While activists like Elham Salehi merely seek justice, human dignity, and a better future for the children of this land, they face security charges and violent treatment. This alarming process not only violates citizens’ fundamental rights but also sounds a warning bell for the continuation of oppression and injustice in the country. The continuation of this approach, rather than silencing protests, will further call into question the legitimacy of repressive institutions.
