Eight detained, including four women and two students, whereabouts unknown

Hengaw — Tuesday, January 27, 2026

Amid an ongoing wave of arrests, eight individuals, including four women, two students, and two Baha’i adherents, have been detained by Iranian government forces across the cities of Tabriz, Kerman, Tehran, Karaj, Ardabil, Mashhad, and Izeh. No information has been released regarding their whereabouts or condition.

Hengaw Organization for Human Rights has learned that the identities of those detained are as follows:

Mostafa Mohammadhasan Rahi, who ranked seventh in Iran’s university entrance exam, is a master’s student in the philosophy of science at Sharif University of Technology and a student activist. He was arrested on Sunday, January 25, 2026, after being summoned to judicial authorities, and was transferred to Evin Prison in Tehran.

Rahi had previously been convicted over his online activities on charges including “insulting Islamic sanctities,” “spreading false information,” and “propaganda against the state,” and sentenced to 37 months in prison and a 15 million toman fine. He had earlier been transferred to Evin Prison on October 25, 2025, and November 26, 2025, in connection with the enforcement of this sentence.

Rozhin Hosseinnejad, a 19-year-old Baha’i adherent, was arrested on Saturday, January 24, 2026, after Iranian government forces raided her home in Kerman. She was taken to an undisclosed location. During the arrest, officers searched the house and confiscated electronic devices belonging to her family members, including mobile phones and laptops.

Narges Heydari, a fitness trainer from Izeh, was arrested at her workplace on Monday, January 19, 2026, by IRGC Intelligence forces and transferred to an undisclosed location.

Negin Khaksar, a pianist and piano instructor, was arrested in Tehran on January 12, 2026. No information has since been released regarding her whereabouts.

Sepehr Koushkbaghi, a 31-year-old Baha’i adherent and resident of Mashhad, was arrested on Sunday, January 11, 2026, and transferred to Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad.

Mehdi Kouhsari, a Turk medical student at Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, was arrested in Tabriz on Thursday, January 8, 2026, and transferred to the city’s central prison.

Jahangir Kazemi, a resident of Karaj, was violently arrested at his home in the Gohardasht neighborhood on Sunday, January 4, 2026, in connection with public protests. Despite 23 days having passed, no information is available regarding his place of detention or condition.

Dr. Ameneh Soleimani, a specialist dermatologist, was arrested in Ardabil by Iranian government forces for providing medical treatment to individuals injured during the recent protests.