21 Arab activists arrested by security forces in recent days

Hengaw: Thursday, January 9, 2025

The arrest of 18 Arabs in the cities of Ahvaz and Ramshir has brought the total number of Arabs arrested by security forces of Islamic Republic of Iran in recent days to 21.

According to a report received by the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, at least 12 Arabs were arrested on Wednesday, January 9, 2025, in the Malashiya and Shalengabad neighborhoods of Ahvaz, the capital of Khuzestan Province. The detainees have been identified as Ali Koroshat, Mohammad Naseri, Yasin Silavi, Javad Afari, Seyyed Fuad Mousavi, Ali Sari, Javad Heidari, Jabbar Tarfi, Mohammad Heidari, Ismail Heidari, Reza Heidari, and Ayoub Chenani.

In addition, the Karun Human Rights Organization reported the arrest of three brothers—Khaled Amouri, Ali Amouri, and Mohammad Amouri—in Ramshir (Khalifeh) by intelligence forces.

Sources indicate that the arrests were conducted through raids on the detainees’ homes by intelligence forces, who failed to present arrest warrants. The detainees were subsequently transferred to undisclosed locations, leaving their families without information on their whereabouts.

On Monday, January 6, 2025, two Sunni Arabs from the Malashiya neighborhood of Ahvaz, identified as Younes Gharbavi and Reza Zohairi, were arrested by intelligence forces. These arrests were reportedly linked to their religious activities, and the detainees’ locations remain unknown.

On Sunday, January 5, 2025, Hashem Mousavi, also known as “Abu Omar,” a political activist and former political prisoner from the Sheiban area of Ahvaz, was also arrested. Mousavi, aged 56, was previously detained in 2009 and sentenced to four years in prison. He was released in 2013 after completing his sentence. His current fate and location are uncertain.

Hengaw had previously reported the arrest of three additional Arab activists: Saeed Ismail, Ahlam Bandar, and Milad Bahri.