At least 9 children arrested across multiple cities in Iran

Hengaw – Thursday, February 19, 2026

Iranian authorities have arrested at least nine children under the age of 18, including a Lor child, a Baluch child, and four Kurdish children, in the cities of Arak, Farrokhshahr in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province, Isfahan, Saravan, Asemanabad, Darreh Shahr, Dehloran, and Mashhad.

According to reports received by Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, the children remain in a state of uncertainty. Details of the cases are as follows.

Mashhad

Amirhossein Abroush, 17, was arrested on January 14, 2026, in the Abdolmotallab neighborhood of Mashhad.

Sources report that he was subjected to torture after his arrest and has since been transferred to the Juvenile Correction and Rehabilitation Center in Mashhad.

Arak

Amirarsalan Hosseinabad, 16, was arrested and severely tortured.
According to informed sources, he suffered a ruptured eardrum, fractures in two places in his arm, a head fracture, torn fingernails, and facial injuries after being dragged on the ground. He has been denied medical care.

Sources also say he was forced under torture to sign a document, raising concerns about his fate.

Farrokhshahr (Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province)

Amirmohammad Forouzandeh Joneqani, a 16-year-old Lor child, was arrested on the evening of February 16, 2026, at the Farrokhshahr police-road checkpoint while attempting to travel to Shiraz.
He was detained by plainclothes agents without the presentation of any warrant.

Asemanabad, Darreh Shahr, and Dehloran (Ilam Province)

Alireza Nazari, 17, a Kurdish child from Asemanabad, was arrested on February 18, 2026.

Hossein Maqsoudi and Amirali Lotfi, both 15 and Kurdish children from Darreh Shahr, were arrested the same day.

According to sources, Hossein Maqsoudi was transferred to a Juvenile Correction and Rehabilitation Center, while Amirali Lotfi was transferred to Ilam.

Mohammad Piri, 16, a Kurdish child from Dehloran, was also arrested and transferred to Ilam.

Saravan (Sistan and Baluchestan Province)

Mohammad Gomshadzehi (Sanjarzehi), 17, a Baluch child from the village of Jihadabad in Saravan, was arrested on February 19, 2026, after Iranian forces raided his family home with ten vehicles.

Sources say he was arrested with violence and beaten during the operation. The forces also confiscated his personal belongings and a vehicle.

Isfahan

Arsalan Torabazari, 17, was arrested on January 19, 2026.

No precise information is available regarding any charges or the fate of the detained children.