Baloch cleric and two lawyers among seven detained in multiple cities
Hengaw – Monday, February 16, 2026
Iranian authorities have detained at least seven individuals, including a Baloch cleric and two lawyers, in Mashhad, Shiraz, Fuladshahr, Jiroft, Shirvan, Karaj, and Izeh amid a continuing wave of arrests and mounting pressure.
According to information received by Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, the arrests have taken place over recent days and weeks across several regions of Iran.
Mashhad
Molavi Mohammad Tayeb Esmailzehi, administrative director of Makki Mosque and son of Molavi Abdolhamid, was arrested on Monday, February 16, 2026, after being summoned and interrogated for three consecutive days at the Special Clerical Court in Mashhad. Security forces detained him following the interrogations.
Shiraz
Hadi Sharifzadeh, a lawyer and member of the Central Bar Association who has represented protest detainees in recent cases, was arrested at his home in Shiraz on the morning of Monday, February 16, 2026. Security forces raided his residence and transferred him to an undisclosed location. His current whereabouts, legal status, and any charges against him remain unknown.
Fuladshahr
Shayan Abolian Norouzi, 22, a Lor resident of Fuladshahr in Isfahan Province, was arrested on Friday evening, February 13, 2026. Authorities used violence and beat him during the arrest before transferring him to an undisclosed location. Informed sources state that he was detained on accusations of participating in the January protests and has been subjected to torture in an attempt to extract a forced confession. His current whereabouts, legal status, and any charges against him remain unknown.
Jiroft
Teymour Salari, a lawyer and member of the Hormozgan Bar Association, was arrested on Friday evening, January 9, 2026, during protests in Jiroft. Plainclothes agents affiliated with the Intelligence Organization of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps stopped him while he was inside his personal vehicle and detained him using violence. He was transferred to an undisclosed location. His current whereabouts, legal status, and any charges against him remain unknown.
Shirvan
Milad Ebrahimzadeh, a Persian resident of Shirvan in North Khorasan Province, was arrested on Friday, January 9, 2026, during protests in the city. His current whereabouts, legal status, and any charges against him remain unknown.
Karaj
Mehdi Savarolia was arrested on Thursday, January 8, 2026, during protests in Karaj by agents of the Intelligence Organization of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. He was transferred to Ward 16, the security ward of Karaj Central Penitentiary, and is currently being held in limbo at Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj. Reports indicate that he sustained serious head and spinal injuries as a result of beatings during arrest and interrogation.
Izeh
Nemat Heydari, a 42-year-old Lor resident of Izeh and father of one child, was arrested on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, on Hafez-e Jonoubi Street in the city. Authorities beat him during the arrest and transferred him to Sheiban Prison in Ahvaz.
