A Christian convert arrested over three months ago remains in Evin Prison, having been unable to afford the extremely high bail set for her.

Aida Najaflou, 43, was arrested at her parents’ home in Tehran on 6 February and taken to Ward 209 of the prison, which is under the control of the Ministry of Intelligence. 

After weeks of interrogations, she was transferred to the women’s ward of the prison, where she remains because her family can’t afford the bail set for her – equivalent to $130,000.

According to the website Human Rights in Iran, Aida is facing charges of “acting against national security” and “propaganda against the regime”.

She is a mother-of-two boys, aged 10 and 13, the eldest of whom suffers with arthritis and recently underwent serious spinal surgery and is reported to be especially struggling with his mother’s continued absence.

Aida was previously arrested in January 2022 and charged under the amended Article 500 of the penal code, which criminalises “deviant propaganda contrary to the sacred Islamic faith”. However, she was reportedly acquitted later that year.