HRANA – Ghazal Marzban, a transgender woman incarcerated in Evin Prison, has written a letter describing her experience of sexual assault at one of the Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facilities. She says that following her arrest in May 2023, she was raped at the detention facility and subsequently threatened into remaining silent about the incident.

According to HRANA, Ghazal Marzban wrote in a letter, a copy of which was obtained by HRANA, that on May 17, 2023, while walking in a park, she was detained by several individuals and taken blindfolded to a location that she later learned was one of the Ministry of Intelligence’s operational detention facilities.

In describing what happened to her at the detention facility, she wrote that after being searched and forced to remove her clothes, she was left in a cell in the basement. According to Ms. Marzban, minutes later, a masked man entered the cell and raped her, an incident that, according to her account, resulted in bleeding as well as physical and psychological injuries. She further wrote that afterward, several officials at the detention facility promised to release her in exchange for her silence and, when releasing her, again threatened her against speaking about the incident.

In another part of the letter, Ms. Marzban wrote that when she was arrested again in January 2026, she was taken back to the same detention facility. She described the fear that the assault might happen again as the “greatest torture” she endured during her 22 days in detention. She also stated that her attempts to file a complaint regarding the rape were met with obstruction and threats, and that she continues to suffer from the psychological effects of the incident.

Regarding Ghazal Marzban, it should be noted that in June of this year, Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced her to nine years and eight months in prison. The sentence was issued on charges including “propaganda against the regime” and “assembly and collusion against national security.”

Ms. Marzban was arrested by security forces at her home in Tehran on January 15, 2026. She was subsequently transferred to Evin Prison.

Marzban, who converted to Catholic Christianity, has previously served prison sentences in connection with her activities.

It should also be noted that in recent years, this Christian convert faced numerous difficulties obtaining Parkinson’s medication for her spouse. Marzban has claimed that some of these difficulties were related to the couple’s Christian faith.

Ghazal Marzban Jourshari is a law graduate originally from Lasht-e Nesha, Rasht, and resides in Tehran.