Shakila Ghasemi is a young Bahá’í woman from the city of Kerman, Iran, whose case has become emblematic of the ongoing persecution of the Bahá’í minority in the Islamic Republic. Born around 1999–2000, she is reported to be 26–27 years old at the time of her arrest in early 2026.
On February 2, 2026, Ghasemi was arrested at her home by Iranian security forces, reportedly affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). According to multiple human rights sources, agents raided her residence, conducted a thorough search, and confiscated personal belongings, including electronic devices belonging to her and her family.
Reports indicate that approximately a dozen plainclothes agents were involved in the operation. Authorities allegedly claimed they were searching for weapons, though no such items were found.
Following her arrest, Ghasemi was taken to an undisclosed location, and for a period of time her family had no information about her whereabouts or condition. She was effectively held incommunicado, a practice frequently documented in cases involving political prisoners and religious minorities in Iran.
Ghasemi spent over 40 days in an IRGC intelligence detention facility, after which she was transferred to Kerman Prison, where she has reportedly been held in solitary confinement for extended periods. Her legal status has remained unclear, with no publicly confirmed charges or formal judicial proceedings announced in connection with her case.
Family members, particularly her twin sister, have publicly expressed concern over her safety and lack of access to legal counsel or due process. Requests for information, visitation, or release on bail have reportedly gone unanswered.
Beyond the limited official details, accounts from relatives portray Ghasemi as an active and educated young woman. She is described as social, energetic, multilingual (speaking English and Turkish, and studying German), and employed both as a graphic designer and at a medical clinic prior to her arrest.
The Bahá’í community, Iran’s largest non-Muslim religious minority, has long faced systemic discrimination, including restrictions on education, employment, and religious practice. Ghasemi’s case reflects this broader pattern, in which Bahá’ís are often targeted during periods of political unrest and accused of national security offenses without credible evidence.
As of the latest available reports, Shakila Ghasemi remains in detention for more than 117 days under uncertain conditions, with growing concern among human rights advocates about her well-being and the lack of transparency in her case.
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