A court in Iran has sentenced a 30-year-old Baloch woman to one year in prison after she expressed support on social media for a teenage rape victim.
According to reports, Elham Ostadi, a resident of Iranshahr in Western Balochistan, was detained on September 16, 2022, in Chabahar without a warrant. She was held in custody for a month before being released on bail.
The Revolutionary Court in Zahedan issued the one-year prison sentence, citing her Instagram posts supporting a 15-year-old girl who was allegedly raped by an Iranian officer in Chabahar.
Human rights groups have expressed concern over this case, which they say highlights broader issues of repression in marginalized regions like Western Balochistan. Activists in Western Balochistan frequently face harsh penalties for their advocacy and social media activities.