16 people, including two women and five students, arrested across several Iranian cities
Hengaw – Tuesday, February 3, 2026
At least sixteen people — including two women, five students, and one Baha’i adherent — have been arrested by Iranian government forces in Kerman, Tabriz, Bandar Anzali, Arak, Minab, Varamin, and Tehran amid the continuing wave of detentions linked to recent protests.
Among those detained are at least two Turks, two Arabs, and one Gilak. The identities of the detainees have been verified by the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights as follows:
Shakila Qasemi, a 26-year-old Baha’i resident of Kerman, was arrested at her home on February 2, 2026. Government forces searched the residence prior to her arrest and confiscated personal belongings, including her laptop and mobile phone, as well as devices belonging to her parents. She was then transferred to an undisclosed location.
In Bandar Anzali, Hesam Qanbarnezhad, a 29-year-old Gilak construction painter, was violently arrested by government forces on January 24, 2026. Following his detention, security bodies threatened his family against speaking publicly about his case. He has been denied visitation, and no information has been released regarding his condition.
A large number of arrests took place in Arak in connection with protests on January 9, 2026. Kourosh Malekijan, 50, was detained during demonstrations and subjected to torture after being accused of setting fire to a mosque. Sources state that he was taken in a wheelchair — with gunshot injuries to both legs and a broken arm — to the Khatam al-Anbia Mosque and pressured to give a televised confession. Reports indicate the mosque had been used as an operational base by government forces during the protests.
On the same day in Arak, five other residents — Soheil Taheri, Moein Karimi, Meisam Jahani (19), Mohammad Mohammadi, and Arshia Yasavoli (25) — were arrested during protests and transferred to undisclosed locations. Arshia Yasavoli was held in solitary confinement for at least 12 days and is currently being held in Arak Central Prison.
Also in connection with the January 9 protests in Arak, Abolfazl Rezaei, 22, from Mohajeran, and Morteza Orouji, 33, from Cheshmeh Pehn village, were arrested and transferred to undisclosed locations. No information has been released regarding their fate.
In Minab, Hadis Naseri was arrested by government forces during protests on January 9, 2026. According to sources, she has been accused of playing a leading role in the demonstrations. More than three weeks after her arrest, no information has been provided regarding her whereabouts or legal status.
Student arrests have also been reported in Tabriz, Varamin, and Tehran. Pedram Alamdari, a Turkish physics student at the University of Tabriz and editor-in-chief of the suspended student publication Yol, was arrested at his home on February 1, 2026. Government forces confiscated his phone and laptop during the arrest. No official information has been released regarding the charges against him or his place of detention.
Two Arab students from Abadan — Hossein Ouda and Ali Al- Buhalaf, both microbiology students at Islamic Azad University of Varamin — were arrested by government forces on January 8, 2026, and transferred to undisclosed locations. Hossein Odeh suffers from diabetes and requires regular medication.
On the same date, Amir Soleimani, a social work graduate of Allameh Tabataba’i University and a master’s student in rehabilitation counseling at the University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, was arrested during protests and transferred to an undisclosed location. He faces the charge of “assembly and collusion against national security.”
Meanwhile, Ali Ebrahimi, a Turkish physics student, is currently being held in Tabriz Central Prison. No information has been released regarding the charges against him or his legal status.
