Uncertainty Surrounding the Fate of the Eight Kurdish Environmental Activists from Gilan-e Gharb as the IRGC Attempts to Fabricate Cases Against Them
Hengaw; Saturday, August 24, 2024
Maria Khani, Mohsen Esfandiari, Arash Olafti, Jahangir Azadi, Lotfollah Parviz, Hamidreza Rahimian, Salman Parhan, and Mohammad Parviz are civil and environmental activists from Gilan-e Gharb (Gilan) who were arrested by IRGC intelligence forces in August, 2024. They remain in detention, with their situation still unclear.
According to reports received by the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, more than ten days after their arrest, there is still no precise information on the fate or whereabouts of these eight Kurdish civil and environmental activists from Gilan-e Gharb: Maria Khani, Mohsen Esfandiari, Arash Olafti, Jahangir Azadi, Lotfollah Parviz, Hamidreza Rahimian, Salman Parhan, and Mohammad Parviz. The efforts of their families to follow up on their situation have been unsuccessful.
Family members of the detainees have stated: "The IRGC intends to fabricate cases against these individuals by accusing them of dishonoring the people and officials, as well as linking their activities to connections with opposition parties and foreign intelligence services. Additionally, cases have been fabricated against political activists from Gilan-e Gharb who reside abroad."
Arash Olafti and Mohammad Parviz were arrested on Thursday, August 15, while the other six were detained on Saturday, August 3, along with two others, Alifarj Khani and Mostafa Rostami, who have since been released.
Hengaw had previously reported that these individuals collaborated in a signature-gathering campaign called the "Save Zagros Mountains" campaign and were actively involved in controlling and managing recent wildfires in the region's forests.
It is worth noting that sensitivity towards the civil, cultural, and environmental activists in this Kurdish city has intensified following the Nowruz ceremony earlier this year, which was attended by over 30,000 people.
