Kurdish religious figure Sheikh Zahed Shahabi violently arrested in Saqqez

Hengaw – Friday, March 13, 2026

Sheikh Zahed Shahabi, a Kurdish religious figure and activist from Saqqez, has been violently arrested by Iranian government forces. He has faced continuous pressure from security institutions in recent years.

According to information received by the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, Iranian security forces arrested Sheikh Zahed Shahabi in recent days at a location outside his home and workplace.

Sources close to the religious activist told Hengaw that the arrest was carried out with severe violence. Following his detention, forces affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) raided his family home, conducting a thorough search of all rooms and belongings.

According to the same sources, the search of the Shahabi family home was carried out in a highly aggressive and destructive manner. After the security forces left, members of the family abandoned the house due to the extensive damage and threats issued by the IRGC forces.

Several days after the arrest, despite efforts by family members and friends to obtain information, no details have been released regarding Sheikh Shahabi’s whereabouts, the charges against him, or his current condition.

Sheikh Zahed Shahabi had previously been arrested during Newroz-related ceremonies in Kurdistan. At that time, he was held and interrogated for more than two months in Saqqez Prison before being released on temporary bail. During that detention, he was denied access to legal counsel and family visits.