Arrest of Nine Citizens by Security Forces in Various Cities

HRANA News Agency – Over the past several days, nine citizens—Kamyar (Kamal) Oghabi, Ahsan Othmani, Hamzeh Othmani, Ramyar Rezaei, Omid Bakhah, Abdollah Bakhah, Askar Najafi, Hassan Falaeian, and Abdul Rasouli—have been arrested by security forces in the cities of Oshnavieh, Marivan, Qasr-e Shirin, Divandarreh, and Piranshahr, and transferred to undisclosed locations.

According to a report by Kordpa, on Sunday, June 29, Kamyar Oghabi was arrested at his home in the village of Balagir, a district of Oshnavieh, without a judicial warrant. Security agents reportedly used violence during the arrest and took him to an unknown location. Oghabi, 33, is a married environmental activist with a prior record of arrest and conviction.

Kordpa also reported that in recent days, Askar Najafi, a resident of Sarpol-e Zahab, was detained by security forces at his workplace in the Qasr-e Shirin market and taken to an undisclosed location. No warrant was presented at the time of his arrest.

Additionally, according to KolbarNews, five residents of the village of Dareh-Nakhi, a district of Marivan, were arrested by security forces on Sunday and taken to unknown locations. The individuals were identified as Ahsan Othmani (22), Hamzeh Othmani (24), Ramyar Rezaei (25), Omid Bakhah (30), and Abdollah Bakhah (35). The arrests were reportedly carried out without judicial warrants, and the individuals’ homes were searched.

Separately, KolbarNews reported that Hassan Falaeian—also known as “Hawar Rojhelatî”—a poet and cultural activist from Piranshahr, was arrested on Sunday, June 21, and transferred to an undisclosed location. He remains in custody.

Furthermore, on Wednesday, June 18, security forces arrested a citizen in Divandarreh. KolbarNews identified the individual as Abdul Rasouli, 37, from the village of Tazabad Doleh Rash, a district of Divandarreh.

At the time of this report, the reasons for the arrests, the charges, and the whereabouts of the detainees remain unknown.

Truckers’ Strike: Farzad Rezaei Arrested in Divandarreh

HRANA News Agency– Farzad Rezaei, a resident of Divandarreh, was arrested by security forces for expressing support and solidarity with the nationwide truckers’ strike.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, Rezaei was detained recently in Divandarreh, Kurdistan province, amid the ongoing protests by truckers.

Sources told HRANA that his arrest was directly linked to his support for the strike. As of the time of this report, no information has been made available regarding his place of detention or the charges against him.

The truckers’ protests began in Iran on May 22. Since then, dozens of truckers and supporters have been arrested in various cities across the country.

Additionally, HRANA has published a comprehensive report on the past week’s strikes, detailing the causes behind the protests, their spread, the government’s response, and the status of those detained.

Kurdistan Shopkeepers’ Strike; 7 Protesters Against Executions Arrested

HRANA News Agency – Yesterday, January 22, 2025, amid a strike by shopkeepers across cities in Kurdistan Province protesting the death sentences of Varisheh Moradi and Pakhshan Azizi, seven citizens were arrested by security forces and taken to unknown locations.

According to HRANA, quoting Kolbar News, Soheila Mataei, previously arrested during the 2022 nationwide protests in Dehgolan, was detained for participating in the strikes. Additionally, six residents of Sanandaj—Amjad Geriakhiz, Naeem Doosti, Mohammad Seif-Panahi, Sina Rezaei, Mohammad Atlasi, and 33-year-old Omid Mohammadi—were arrested without judicial warrants for joining the strike.

As of this report, no information about the charges against these individuals has been released. Soheila Motaei has a history of arrests and legal confrontations due to her activism.

Yesterday, shopkeepers in various cities across Kurdistan, including Sanandaj, Saqqez, Divandarreh, and Marivan, went on strike, halting daily activities in protest against the death sentences of Varisheh Moradi and Pakhshan Azizi.

Farhad Sheikhi Sentenced to Imprisonment and Additional Penalties

Farhad Sheikhi, a workers’ rights advocate, has been sentenced by the Revolutionary Court of Karaj to one year in prison, a two-year travel ban, two years of mandatory residence in Divandarreh, and a two-year ban on living in Alborz and Tehran provinces.

Based on a verdict recently issued by Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Karaj, presided over by Judge Seyed Musa Asif al-Hosseini and communicated to Mr. Sheikhi, he has been sentenced to one year in prison, two years of exile to Divandarreh in Kurdistan province, and a two-year travel ban for the charge of “propaganda against the regime.” Additionally, after the period of exile, he is prohibited from living in Alborz and Tehran provinces for two years. His court session regarding this charge was held on June 19th of this year.

Farhad Sheikhi was arrested by security forces at his home in Hashtgerd on May 28th of 2023 and was subsequently transferred to Rajai Shahr Prison in Karaj.

Mr. Sheikhi was eventually released on June 13th of the same year from Karaj Central Prison on a bail of 100 million Tomans after being formally charged at the Hashtgerd Prosecutor’s Office.

This workers’ rights advocate has previously been arrested and sentenced due to his activities. He was released from prison on February 7, 2023, as per a pardon directive.

Farid Badidast Arrested by Security Forces in Divandarreh

Farid Badidast, a resident of Divandarreh located in Kurdistan province, was arrested by security forces on Wednesday, June 12th, and transferred to an unknown location, as reported by Kurdpa.

The report states that on Wednesday, security forces entered the Badidast’s home, arrested him without an arrest warrant, and took him to an undisclosed location.

To date, no information has been obtained regarding the reasons for Mr. Badidast’s arrest or the charges against him.

According to data collected by the Department of Statistics and Publication of HRA in 2023, Kurdistan Province accounted for 8.3% of reported human rights violations, including instances of arbitrary detentions.

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Omid Ghadimi Receives 40-Month Sentence on Political Charges

According to Kurdpa, the Revolutionary Court of Divandarreh has sentenced Omid Ghadimi to 40 months in prison along with a fine. Ghadimi’s brother, Foad Ghadimi, was tragically killed by regime forces during the nationwide protests of 2022.

The court has determined that Ghadimi will serve 32 months for alleged “membership in an opposition political party,” eight months for “propaganda against the regime,” and is also fined for “disseminating false information.”

Ghadimi was apprehended by security forces in September 2023 and held in a detention facility in Sanandaj until his release on bail on December 25, 2023.

His brother Foad Ghadimi lost his life to regime gunfire during the nationwide protests on September 21, 2022.

Arsalan Divargar Arrested in Sanandaj

Arsalan Divargar was apprehended on Thursday, September 28, following his presence at the Sanandaj Ministry of Intelligence, as reported by Kolbar News.

Divargar, aged 46 and a resident of Divandarreh, had received a summons via phone from the Sanandaj Ministry of Intelligence before being arrested upon his arrival.

Notably, Divargar had previously been detained during the nationwide protests in 2022. He secured his release from Sanandaj Prison on February 28, 2023, after posting a bail of one billion rials (approximately 20,000 dollars).

Ten Teacher Union Activists Arrested in Saqqez and Divandarreh

Yesterday, on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, security forces arrested ten teacher union activists in Saqqez and Divandarreh, in Kurdistan Province, and transferred them to an unidentified location. The individuals arrested, who are members of the Kurdistan Teachers’ Trade Associations, include Soleiman Abdi, Aziz Marzi, Salah Sorkhi from Saqqez and Omid-Shah Mohammadi, Othman Rezai, Hiwa Ghoreishi, Parviz Ahsani and Kaweh Mohammadzadeh from Diwandarreh.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, ten members of the Kurdistan Teachers’ Trade Associations were arrested in Saqqez and Divandarreh.

The reason for the arrest, the whereabouts and the charges against these individuals are unknown so far.

The Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations called active and retired teachers to rally across the country in protest against the widespread arrests of teachers.

Arman Asadi Arrested by Security Forces in Divandarreh

On Monday, September 27, Arman Asadi was arrested by security forces and transferred to the Sanandaj Intelligence Detention Center.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Asadi, who is a native of Divandarreh in Kurdistan Province, informed his family  yesterday that he had been transferred to this security detention center.

“Mr. Asadi was detained by security forces when he was closing his shop for lunch,” an informed source told HRANA.

The reasons for Asadi’s  arrest and the charges against him are not known as of this writing.

Charo Ahmadi Arrested in Divandarreh in Kurdistan Province

On Monday, August 16, Sanandaj resident Charo (Jaleh) Ahmadi was arrested and transferred to an unknown location by security forces in Divandarreh .

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting the Center of Democracy and Human Rights in Kurdistan, A day later, Ms. Ahmadi was released on bail from a security detention center on Tuesday, August 17.

The security forces searched Ms. Ahmadi’s house and confiscated some of her personal belongings at the time of the arrest.

Charo Ahmadi is a Kurdish language teacher. She holds a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering and a bachelor’s degree in journalism. Ms. Ahmadi is a member of the board of directors of the Zagros Socio-Cultural Institute in Divandere.

As of this writing, no information is available on the reasons for the arrest or the charges against her.