Zoroastrian couple detained in Kerman, whereabouts unknown weeks after arrest

Hengaw – Sunday, April 12, 2026

Iranian government forces have detained a Zoroastrian cleric, Hooman Forouhari, and his wife, Mino Mehrbani, in Kerman, and their whereabouts remain unknown weeks after their arrests.

According to information obtained by the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, Forouhari, a Zoroastrian mobedyar (junior priest), was arrested on March 15, 2026, by intelligence agents affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Mehrbani, a researcher and cultural activist, was arrested in early April 2026 by the same security agency.

The couple managed a Telegram channel called “Pouyandegan-e Rah-e Asha,” which focused on education and the promotion of Zoroastrian teachings.

More than a month after Forouhari’s arrest and about two weeks after Mehrbani’s detention, their families have received no information about their place of detention, condition or any charges against them.

Authorities have not disclosed the reasons for their arrests, and continued lack of response from security agencies has raised concerns about their legal and physical well-being.