On March 1, 2020, Barghi Sedeghiani was arrested by members of the Urmia division of the Intelligence Organization of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). 

According to local sources, Barghi Sedeghiani was arrested for her activities during the February 2020 parliamentary election in Western Azerbaijan province.

Sedeghiani has been charged with “disturbing the public peace” and she has remained in custody since her arrest in March.

Prior to her arrest, on February 5, 2020, Sedeghiani posted a photo on her Instagram page for which she had written the caption, “Finally, after a year, we have received the publication license for the Yurd Sas news website from the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance in Tehran.”

Finally, after enduring two months in prison, this reporter was released on bail in June 2020. A court hearing has not yet been held to review her case.