Iranian state forces arrest 24 more, including four women and five children, amid protests
Hengaw – Sunday, January 4, 2026
As arrests continue amid protests, at least 24 people, including four women and five children, have been detained by forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran across multiple cities.
According to information obtained by the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, arrests were reported across Badreh, Sabzevar, Tehran, Kermanshah (Kermashan), Dehdasht, Yasuj, Nishapur, Mashhad, Sarbandar in Khuzestan Province, and Nahavand in Hamedan Province. No information has been released regarding the detainees’ current condition or whereabouts.
Hengaw has confirmed the arrest of Hasti Karimi, a 16-year-old child, who was detained near Palestine Square in Mashhad on Saturday, January 3. On the same day, Ali Amanabadi, a 20-year-old resident of Nishapur, and Jalal Lotfi, from Sabzevar, were also arrested.
Meanwhile, at least six Kurdish residents—Ehsan Sanjabi from Kermanshah, along with Mohsen Heidarbigy, Sajad Fatemi, Sha’ban Karami, Pedram Ganji, and Rouhollah Moradi—were arrested in Badreh.
In Yasuj, five Lor residents—Alireza Jamshidi, Mohammad Jamshidi, Setayesh Ansari, Mohammad Ravansalar, and Saeed Deel—were arrested by government forces on Friday, January 2.
On the same day, Hamid Dadras, a former Lor political prisoner, was arrested in Dehdasht, located in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province, and transferred to an undisclosed location.
Also on January 2, Saeed Shi’i and Abolfazl Imani, both 17-year-old children from Sabzevar, along with Javad Soltani Kalateh, a father of two from the same city, were arrested during protests.
Elsewhere, Mehrsa Maleki, a 20-year-old Arab, was violently detained during protests in Sarbandar, Khuzestan Province, while Mohammad Fathi was arrested in Khak-e Sefid, Tehran.
Earlier, on Thursday, January 1, Mohammad Taheri Parsa, a 38-year-old father of two from Sabzevar and a resident of Mashhad, was arrested at his clothing shop.
Additionally, Mehdi Seif, a 25-year-old Lor teacher, was arrested by government forces in Nahavand, Hamedan Province, on Wednesday, December 31. No information has since been made available regarding his fate.
Two more children, Hooman Balashabadi and Saba Mahroomi, both 17 years old and from Sabzevar, were arrested earlier on Tuesday, December 30, 2025.
