Ava Media team still held without charge by IRGC in Urmia

Hengaw — Wednesday, December 10, 2025

Four members of the Ava Media team remain detained in an Urmia facility after their arrest last week by the IRGC in Sardasht, with no charges announced and no information released on their legal status. The detainees include Omar Ahmad, known as Rasoka and a TV presenter from Qaladze in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq; Mamand Hassanpur, a producer from Naqadeh; a cameraman named Awara Omar; and a fourth member named Omar, surname unknown, who was the team’s driver.

According to information received by Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, all four detainees remain held in an Urmia detention facility despite seven days having passed since their arrest.

A source familiar with the case stated that the detainees were transferred to one of Urmia’s security detention centres shortly after their arrest.

The Ava Media team members were arrested on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, while covering the second day of the “Beyt and Heyran” festival in Sardasht, a cultural event showcasing traditional Kurdish storytelling and lyrical poetry. Their arrest was carried out by the IRGC Intelligence Organization.

The Islamic Republic of Iran has so far provided no explanation regarding their detention.