At least 13 Sunni Arab men arrested in Ahvaz crackdown

Hengaw – Monday, May 4, 2026

Iranian intelligence forces have arrested at least 13 Sunni Arab men in a sweeping crackdown across Ahvaz and Kut Abdollah. The detainees were subjected to interrogation and torture in solitary confinement before being transferred to Sheiban Prison in Ahvaz.

Based on information received by Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, the men—identified as Abdolmajid Silawi, Mohammad Hezbawi, Fares Abu Mohammad, Mohammad Samiri, Karim Samiri, Saeed Samiri, Abu Masoud Badawi, Abu Yaser Hezbawi, Adel Alboghbish, Oday Hendali, Soheib Zobeidi, Karim Mojdam, and Nader Zobeidi—are Sunni Arab residents of Ahvaz and Kut Abdollah and have been held for more than a month.

According to informed sources, the charges against them relate to religious practices, including “holding Sunni congregational prayers” and “organizing Eid al-Fitr ceremonies.”

Hengaw has learned that all of the detainees, who are married and have children, have been denied family visits for over a month.