According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Mehr, the arrested citizen has been accused of “insulting sacred things ” in their online activity.
The report does not mention the identity of the detainee.
According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, The citizens’ personal belongings were confiscated at the time of arrest by security forces.
Arash Kaykhosravi, Mostafa Nili, Mohammad Reza Faghihi, Mohammad Hadi Erfanian Kasb, and Leila Heidari are lawyers, Mehdi Mahmoudian is a journalist and member of the Central Council of the Etihad Mellat party, and Maryam Afrafaraz is a civil activist and a member of the Imam Ali Charity Association.
Mohammad Hadi Erfanian Kaseb and Leila Heydari were released hours after their arrest. Five others are still in detention.
The reasons behind the citizens’ arrests and their whereabouts are not known as of this writing, and the number of detainees is likely to be higher.
According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, on Monday, August 9, Bukan native Rashid Rahimi was arrested by security forces and taken to an unknown location. During the arrest, security forces searched the house and confiscated some of Mr. Rahimi’s personal belongings.
Also, according to the Center of Democracy and Human Rights in Kurdistan, on Wednesday, August 4, Bukan resident Ali Aziz-Zadeh, was detained by security forces without a warrant. According to the report, Mr. Aziz-Zadeh was beaten at the time of arrest.
As of this writing, no information is available on the detainees whereabouts or the charges against them.
According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the report acknowledges that at least 12,000 people were present at a protest rally in Susangerd–a noteworthy distinction amid denials of unrest from many official sources.
According to the report, the day after the first day of the protests, July 15, Khuzestan Governor Qassem Soleimani Dashtaki denied everything about the protest, saying, “Some seek to provoke the people and publish fake images of the protests in cyberspace.” He claimed, “There were no protests in the cities of Khorramshahr and Susangerd.”
Subsequent events showed that the governor’s words were wrong. The Hamshahri newspaper also reported that the protests were peaceful until the fourth day in Susangerd and surrounding cities but escalated into violence with the arrival of troops and special forces.
Until that day, no provincial or government officials were willing to speak to the people. Finally, on the fourth day, with the arrival of the non-native special police unit in the Susangerd area, the atmosphere changed. The police were aimed at stopping protests by any means necessary. Citizens wondered why the special unit had been summoned to the city, given the peaceful nature of their protests.
According to the Hamshahri report, 2018 statistics showed that Khuzestan was the highest ranked province in number of protests, with about 300 union and non-union gatherings and sit-ins in that year alone. Given the high capabilities and abundance of resources within the province, it should be one of the wealthiest regions, but decades of mismanagement and exploitation have left Khuzestan with abysmal rates of unemployment and poverty. Regarding the water issue, citizens have been protesting, in various ways, for more than 20 years, but nothing has been done.
According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, if the sentence is upheld at the appeal court, with the application of Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, 5 years of imprisonment will be applicable as the most severe punishment for Ms. Notghi.
According to unofficial sources, more than 300,000 Baha’is live in Iran, but the Iranian constitution recognizes only Islam, Christianity, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism. Because their faith is not considered legitimate by authorities, the rights of Baha’is in Iran have been systematically violated for years.
This deprivation of the freedom to practice their religion is a violation of Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The United Nations covenant holds that every person has the right to freedom of religion, freedom of converting religion, as well as freedom of expression, individually or collectively; openly or secretly.
According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the rallies turned violent after the arrival of military and security forces.
Protesting citizens chanted slogans against supreme leader Seyed Ali Khamenei upon the arrival of military forces.
During the rally, people chanted, “Police force, support us”, “Death to Khamenei”, “Death to the Islamic Republic”, “The country has no water, pressure continues” , “From Khuzestan to Tehran, unity” , “Death to the dictator”, and “Iranians will die but will not accept humiliation.”
In an interview with HRANA, a citizen reported that several citizens were arrested by security forces during the protest around the Daneshju park. The identities and total number of detainees are not yet known and are under investigation. The protest took place following a call by the artists.
According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, the citizens have been identified as Arkan Bahrami, Khalil Ramezani and Khaled Mirzaei from the county of Salas-e Babajani.
As of this writing, the reasons for the arrests and the charges against Bahrami, Ramezani, and Mirzaei are not known. The report does state, however, that the security forces detained the three citizens in relation to “propaganda against the regime in cyberspace”.
An informed source said that Khalil Ramezani was released on bail two days ago. Bahrami and Mirzaei are still in detention.
According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, the two citizens were arrested by security forces on Thursday, June 17th. Ms. Haghdoost was transferred to Sanandaj Prison after her arrest, and Mr. Fathi was transferred to Marivan Prison.
Aram Fathi, a resident of Marivan with a history of arrests and convictions, was arrested by security forces at his home arrest.
Soraya Haghdoost, also citizen of Marivan, was arrested by security forces on Thursday, June 17, and transferred to Sanandaj Prison.
As of this writing, no information is available on the charges against the citizens.
According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting the Center for Democracy and Human Rights in Kurdistan, the report states that Mr. Azizi was detained without a court order.
Per the report, Mohsen Aziri had been interrogated previously, but the charges against him and the reasons for his detention were not disclosed.
As of this writing, no information has been given on the the organization in charge of his arrest or his current location.
