Saman Zendepil remains incommunicado nine days after arrest in Mahabad

Hengaw – Friday, June 26, 2026

Iranian authorities have held Saman Zendepil, a 40-year-old Kurdish man from Mahabad, incommunicado for nine days, refusing to disclose his whereabouts, condition, or place of detention.

According to information received by Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, Intelligence Department agents in Mahabad arrested Zendepil on Wednesday, June 18, 2026, without presenting a warrant. He was transferred to an undisclosed location and has remained in detention ever since.

Zendepil, who holds academic degrees in philosophy and sociology, has had no contact with his family since his arrest.

Despite repeated inquiries by his family over the past nine days, authorities have refused to provide clear information regarding the reasons for his detention, any charges against him, or his current whereabouts.