Who Are the Eight Iranian Women Trump Referenced Regarding Their Death Sentences?

April 26, 2026

7 min read

On April 21, U.S. President Donald Trump reshared images of eight detained female protesters in Iran and called on the authorities of the Islamic Republic to release them. What do we know about these eight women, whom Trump says were at risk of execution but were spared following his request?

Bita Hemmati was arrested along with her husband and two brothers who were their neighbors. They were sentenced to death by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Iman Afshari, for participating in the January 8 and 9 protests.

Ghazal Ghalandari is a Lur citizen from Yasuj. According to IranWire sources, she was arrested in the city before January 8 and 9, and reports claiming she is 16 years old are incorrect. Due to the internet shutdown, there is no information available about the charges against her or her current status.

Dr. Golnar Naraghi is an emergency physician and a specialist in toxicology and drugs. She was arrested in early February, and due to the internet shutdown, no information has been released about her current status. This photo of Dr. Naraghi was published on the online appointment platform “DoctorTo.”

Panah Movahedi Salamat, a 24-year-old protester, posted her last story on the evening of January 9, 2026, and, according to an informed source, headed out into the streets. Based on a report previously obtained by IranWire, her family has found no trace of this young woman. The website Witness Report has described her status as “missing.”

No credible media source has so far published any report about Ansieh Nejati. Only a few lines and a single photo of her have circulated on social media, claiming that she is from Darab, has a five-year-old child, and was arrested there on January 10, 2026, and is at risk of execution. IranWire cannot confirm or deny this information.

Mahboubeh Shabani, 33, a resident of Mashhad, was arrested by agents of the Mashhad Intelligence Department on the evening of February 1, 2026, at around 8 p.m., and was held in the women’s ward of Vakilabad Prison. Hengaw and several other human rights outlets have reported that she has been charged with “moharebeh” (enmity against God), an offense that can be punishable by death.

Venus Hosseininejad, a Baha’i citizen from Kerman, suffers from bipolar disorder. In a letter obtained by IranWire, her parents wrote that she once called them in tears and said: “I am very, very tired. I am hitting myself against the walls. I cooperated so they would release me. They promised to release me within three days.” Due to the internet shutdown, no information about her current status has been made available as of the time of this report.

Diana Taherabadi, 16, is from Karaj. She was arrested at her home on January 25, 2026. According to the Coordinating Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations, Diana is “at risk of execution.”

On April 21, U.S. President Donald Trump shared images of eight Iranian women who had been arrested during protests, urging the Islamic Republic to release them and suggesting that such a move could be a positive starting point for peace negotiations. The Iranian judiciary responded quickly, dismissing claims of “death sentences” for these women as “false” and questioning the U.S. President’s cognitive abilities. At the same time, the statement acknowledged that all eight had been in custody, adding that some had been “released” while others were still facing charges, though none had a “final” sentence.

So what do we actually know about these eight women whom Donald Trump claimed were at risk of execution and later said had been spared?

On April 22, Trump said that the women he had earlier described as facing imminent execution “will not be killed.” He added that he had been informed that the group, arrested during the January protests, would no longer be executed. A day before that, he had posted on his social media platform, “Truth Social,” calling on Iran to release them as a way to improve the chances of progress in peace talks.

In his latest message, Trump wrote: “I have very good news! I have been informed that the eight female protesters who were supposed to be executed tonight in Iran will not be killed. Four will be released immediately, and four others will be sentenced to one month in prison. I appreciate Iran and its leaders for respecting my request and stopping the executions.”

After this post, the judiciary’s media center said that, following Trump’s “allegation,” the cases of these women had been “followed up” internally. It added that “a careful review of their files shows that some have been released, some are facing charges that, if confirmed by the court, will ultimately result in imprisonment, and finally, none of these individuals have a final sentence that would lead to execution.”

In Iran’s legal system, a “final sentence” refers to a ruling that has been confirmed by the Supreme Court. Under Iranian law, decisions made by lower courts can be appealed, and the appeals authority can either uphold or change the verdict.

According to Mousa Barzin, a lawyer and legal consultant for IranWire, the Supreme Court acts as the appeals body in serious cases, including those involving life imprisonment or the death penalty. It can either confirm the ruling or send the case back for further review if it finds issues.

Barzin explains, “A final sentence means a verdict that has been decided upon by the appellate authority, which may be the Supreme Court or an appeals court, and no normal path for objection remains. Therefore, that verdict is enforceable as soon as it is issued. From that moment, the risk of execution exists.”

He adds, “After the sentence becomes final, there is no normal path for objection, but there is an extraordinary method called ‘retrial’ (reopening of the case). However, a retrial does not prevent the execution of the sentence.” This means authorities are “not forced to wait and give the defendant a chance. But the judicial procedure is to wait and allow the defendant to file for a retrial.”

Much of the confusion around these cases comes from the lack of reliable information. During the January 2026 protests, a nationwide internet blackout that lasted over 57 days during the war and the following ceasefire made it difficult to verify details about detainees. Most available information comes from domestic outlets such as Mizan, which is linked to the judiciary, and IRGC-affiliated agencies like Tasnim and Fars. These outlets have reported executions and aired “confessions” that human rights activists say are extracted under physical and psychological pressure.

Activists and critics of the Islamic Republic argue that the spread of conflicting reports about death sentences is part of a broader “disinformation” effort aimed at confusing the public and undermining credible reporting.

What We Know About the Eight Women

The eight women whose images were shared by Trump are Bita Hemmati, Ghazal Ghalandari, Golnaz Naraghi, Panah Movahedi Salamat, Ansieh Nejati, Mahboubeh Shabani, Venus Hosseininejad, and Diana Taherabadi.

Bita Hemmati

IranWire’s findings indicate that, among the eight, Bita Hemmati is the only one for whom a death sentence has been reported. According to the news agency HRANA, Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, headed by Iman Afshari, issued death sentences for Hemmati, her husband Mohammad-Reza Majidi-Asl, and two others, Behrouz and Kourosh Zamaninezhad. Her brother, Amir Hemmati, was sentenced to 5 years and 8 months in prison in the same case.

Reports say they were arrested on January 9, and the charges against them include “operational action for the hostile state of the United States and hostile groups” and “assembly and collusion against national security.” The alleged actions include taking part in protests, chanting slogans, throwing objects from rooftops, and damaging public property.

Because of the internet blackout, it is still unclear whether these sentences have been confirmed. The judiciary has said that no “final” death sentence has been issued.

Ghazal Ghalandari

News of Ghazal Ghalandari’s arrest first appeared on Instagram through the Freedom-Seeking Youth of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad page, which said she had been detained in Yasuj. Some posts later claimed she was 16. However, a source told IranWire that she is over 18 and had been arrested before January 8 and 9. Due to the information blackout, there is little clarity about her current status, charges, or whether she is still being held.

The Atlas of Iranian Prisons lists her as being under temporary detention, but there is no confirmed information about any legal proceedings or sentencing.

Dr. Golnaz Naraghi

Reports about Dr. Golnaz Naraghi vary. The TV network Manoto said she is 41, an emergency medicine specialist, and works at Hasheminejad and Shohadaye Tajrish hospitals. It reported that she was arrested at her home around January 22, with no official explanation given. Another outlet, Dadban, reported earlier that she had been transferred to the women’s ward of Qarchak Prison and listed her age as 37. According to this report, she was forced to sign a document without knowing its contents, raising concerns about coerced confessions.

No verified information is available about her release, charges, or court proceedings due to the blackout.

Panah Movahedi Salamat

Panah Movahedi Salamat has been described as “missing” since January 9, after attending protests in Tehran. According to IranWire, her family has searched extensively but found no record of her among the arrested, injured, or deceased. She was a professional kickboxer and is believed to have lived in Tehranpars. An informed source said her last message read, “My life is a sacrifice to see my homeland free,” before her phone went offline.

Her case remains unresolved, and there is no information on whether she is in custody or has faced any legal proceedings.

Ansieh Nejati

There is almost no verified information about Ansieh Nejati. Social media posts claim she is from Darab, has a young child, and was arrested on January 10, but IranWire has not been able to confirm these details.

Mahboubeh Shabani

According to the human rights group Hengaw, Mahboubeh Shabani, 33, was arrested in Mashhad and charged with “moharebeh” (enmity against God). Reports say she was detained on February 2 and held in Vakilabad prison. She is accused of helping injured protesters by transporting them to hospitals. Sources also say she faced violence during her arrest. There is no confirmed information about a trial or sentence, but the charge of “moharebeh” carries the risk of the death penalty.

Venus Hosseininejad

Venus Hosseininejad, 28, is a Baha’i citizen from Kerman. A letter from her parents described her condition in detention, saying she had been denied visits and was under severe psychological pressure. They wrote that she told them, “I am very, very tired. I am beating myself against the walls. I cooperated so they would release me. They promised to release me in three days.”

Her parents warned that she was being pushed into giving false confessions. A state TV program later aired clips of her alongside two other detainees, presenting them as members of a “virtual terrorist group.” There is still no confirmed information about her legal status or whether any sentence has been issued.

Diana Taherabadi

Diana Taherabadi, reportedly 16, was arrested in Karaj, according to the Coordinating Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations. She is said to be held in a juvenile facility at Kachouyi prison. Reports say she was arrested at home by plainclothes agents who confiscated phones and took her into custody. She was later taken to court, where her family was warned about the possibility of a death sentence. Her case, like the others, remains unclear, with no confirmed details about a trial or verdict.