IRGC intelligence detains karate coach Elias Arayesh in Rasht

Hengaw – Friday, June 19, 2026

Elias Arayesh, a Gilak civil engineer, athlete, and karate coach from Rasht, was arrested after being summoned by Iranian security authorities and transferred to an undisclosed location.

Information received by Hengaw Organization for Human Rights shows that Arayesh was arrested on the evening of Thursday, June 18, 2026, following an official summons to the intelligence organization of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Rasht, the capital of Gilan Province.

According to informed sources, the summons and subsequent arrest were solely linked to his peaceful activity on social media, specifically the publication of a critical post on his personal Instagram account.

The precise security-related charges brought against the young athlete have not been disclosed. His current whereabouts, legal status, and any charges against him remain unknown.