Tehran — Kurdish couple Ehsan Khazaei and his wife Neda Karegar arrested by intelligence forces

Hengaw – Monday, July 14, 2025 

Intelligence forces violently arrested Ehsan Khazaei — the brother of slain protester Erfan Khazaei — along with his wife, Neda Karegar, in Tehran. They were taken to an undisclosed location. 

According to information received by Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, on Monday, July 14, 2025, more than 60 intelligence agents raided their home, arrested the couple using force, and severely beat Erfan’s mother and brother, Yazdan Khazaei. The agents also confiscated all family mobile phones. 

Ehsan and Neda are parents to three young children, including an infant. 

Erfan Khazaei, a 30-year-old Kurdish man from Kangavar, was killed on September 21, 2022, during the "Woman, Life, Freedom" protests in Shahriar after being shot by government forces. He was buried in Shahriar, far from his hometown. 

No information is available regarding the reasons for Ehsan and Neda’s arrest, or any charges brought against them.