Amid ongoing nationwide internet disruptions in Iran, Aaliyeh motalebzadeh, a prominent photographer and women’s rights activist, has been released on bail.
motalebzadeh, who suffers from cancer, was freed after posting bail, having spent more than a month in temporary detention. During her imprisonment, she was reportedly denied effective access to necessary medical treatment and specialized care despite her serious health condition.
Her lawyer, Mostafa Nili, had previously stated that his client was being held in solitary confinement and lacked access to specific medications required for her illness.
Security forces in Mashhad arrested motalebzadeh on December 12, 2025, during a memorial ceremony honoring Khosrow Alikordi, a respected human rights lawyer. She was detained alongside Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi and several other political activists and former political prisoners.
Aaliyeh motalebzadeh is a photographer, women’s rights defender, and former political prisoner with a history of prior arrests and encounters with security and judicial authorities.
Her release comes amid persistent internet blackouts and widespread disruptions to communication networks across Iran. Following the escalation of anti-government protests, Iranian authorities imposed a nationwide cutoff of international internet access on Thursday, January 8, 2025, while also causing extensive interference in domestic networks, including mobile phone services. The blackout and disruptions have now entered their seventh day and continue unabated.