Iranian authorities arrest Kurdish academic Dr. Nabi Omidi and his brother Dr. Ali Omidi in Ilam; fate remains unknown

Hengaw– Tuesday, January 6, 2026

Iranian government forces have violently arrested Dr. Nabi Omidi, an associate professor of economics at Ilam University, and his brother Dr. Ali Omidi, a political activist, in Ilam. Two days after their arrest, no information has been made available regarding their whereabouts or condition.

According to information received by the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, the arrests took place on the evening of Sunday, January 4, 2026, when government forces raided the family home of Dr. Nabi Omidi without presenting a court warrant or formally announcing any charges. Both brothers were taken into custody during the operation.

Informed sources told Hengaw that government forces initially raided the homes of the brothers’ father and other relatives in an attempt to locate Dr. Nabi Omidi. When Dr. Ali Omidi resisted the arrest, agents resorted to physical violence, assaulting and detaining both men.

During the arrest, Dr. Nabi Omidi sustained serious injuries, including fractures to his nose and hand, as a result of beatings by government forces. Despite his condition, he was transferred to an undisclosed location without access to medical care.

Efforts by family members to obtain information about the whereabouts, health condition, or legal status of Dr. Nabi and Dr. Ali Omidi have so far been unsuccessful, raising serious concerns over their safety and fate.