Two 19-year-old twin sisters, Taraneh and Romina Rahimi, endured four months of brutal torture for participating in anti-regime protests in Iran. One of the sisters, Taraneh, was sentenced to death after she confessed under duress to save her sister from rape, according to their family.
The sisters, who were still high school students when they joined widespread demonstrations, suffered beatings, broken feet, and had their hair pulled out while in custody, The Guardian reported.
Their mother, Marzieh Nourmohammadi, stated that she did not recognize her daughters during their sentencing. She learned that Taraneh faced execution after admitting to involvement in the protests. Nourmohammadi claims prison guards threatened to rape Romina in front of Taraneh if she did not confess.
The protests, which saw millions take to the streets, have been met with a severe crackdown by Iranian authorities. Many individuals involved in the demonstrations have faced arrest, detention, and harsh sentences. The Rahimi twins' case highlights the extreme measures reportedly used against those who oppose the government.