The Disappearance of Elham Salehi – Urgent Call for Accountability
189
Signatures
500
Goal
August 8, 2025
We are deeply concerned about the situation of Elham Salehi. Ms. Salehi, a 37-year-old Iranian citizen, a children's rights activist, and a teacher for Afghan children, went missing on August 2, 2025. After several days of uncertainty, she made contact last night by phone from prison, confirming her arrest.
According to reports from her friends on social media, after her disappearance, her home was found in disarray, with her bookshelves, computer, and phone in an unusual condition.
In November 2024, Elham Salehi was sentenced to six months in prison and a fine of 20 million Toman on charges of "spreading falsehoods," "insulting the president," and "propaganda against the Islamic Republic." The execution of her sentence had been suspended until recently.
After days of uncertainty, we now know that the Iranian security forces have arrested Elham Salehi. The government's discriminatory policies against Afghans may be a factor in her arrest, particularly given Ms. Salehi's active support for Afghan children. She has selflessly dedicated herself to ensuring that her students have a safe space to learn and grow.
We call on the law enforcement authorities and the judiciary to provide an immediate explanation regarding Elham Salehi's situation and to refrain from any illegal actions that would violate her human and civil rights. We demand the immediate release of Elham Salehi.
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Recent events
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See where all the votes are coming from
Province Number of signatures Alborz 3 Ardabil 0 Bushehr 0 Chahar Mahaal and Bakhtiari 2 East Azerbaijan 3 Fars 4 Gilan 2 Golestan 2 Hamadan 2 Hormozgan 1 Ilam 0 Isfahan 2 Kerman 0 Kermanshah 0 Khuzestan 0 Kohgiluyehv And Boyer Ahmad 0 Kurdistan 1 Lorestan 0 Markazi 0 Mazandaran 0 North Khorasan 1 Qazvin 0 Qom 1 Razavi Khorasan 3 Semnan 0 Sistan and Baluchestan 0 South Khorasan 0 Tehran 10 West Azerbaijan 1 Yazd 0 Zanjan 0 This petition has received 189 signatures so far. Approximately 71% of signatures come from Iran. Approximately 29% of signatures come from outside of Iran. Learn how Daadkhast generates signature maps. -
Latest signatures
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Signed via Telegram -
Signed via Telegram
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Signed via Telegram
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Elham Salehi has not committed a crime and should be released immediately.
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Elham Salehi has not committed a crime and should be released immediately.
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A Feminist Group in Iran started this petition
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الهام صالحی پس از چند روز بی‌خبری در تماس کوتاهی بازداشت خود را تایید کرد
رادیو زمانه ــ الهام صالحی، نویسنده و پژوهشگر حوزه کودکان کار و فعال مدنی ساکن تهران، پس از چند روز بی‌خبری، در تماسی کوتاه با خانواده‌اش بازداشت خود را تایید و اعلام کرده در سلامت است. با این حال، با ممانعت ماموران او اجازه نداشته درباره محل نگهداری‌اش توضیحی بدهد.
