Hengaw’s Statistical Report on the arrest of 2,353 citizens in 2023 throughout Iran

Hengaw; Tuesday, March 12 , 2034

Based on the statistics registered in the Statistics and Documents Center of the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, in 2023, the arrest of 2,353 citizens whose full identities have been confirmed was recorded. Out of the total number of arrested citizens, 216 were minors and 325 were women. With 588 cases, Sistan and Baluchistan provinces had the highest number of arrests. Additionally, Kurdish citizens recorded the highest number of cases last year, with 1,029 cases, equal to 44% of all arrests.

 

This report contains 12 sections, which are individually discussed in the following:

1: Introduction

2: A summary of the statistical report of the arrests in 2023

3: The arrest of 216 children under the age of 18 in 2023

4: The arrest of at least 325 women in 2023

5: The arrest of at least 207 religious activists in 2023

6: The arrest of at least 45 student activists in 2023

7: The arrest of at least 65 university professors and teachers in 2023

8: Separation of arrested citizens in 2023 by province

9: The arrest of 8 foreign citizens and 2 people with dual citizenships in 2023

10: Separation of arrested citizens according to nationality and ethnicity

11: The arrest of Kurdish citizens in 2023

12: Conclusion

 

Introduction

One of the most common and obvious examples of flagrant violations of human rights in Iran is the practice of arrest and imprisonment under any pretext. The Islamic Republic of Iran's sharia and criminal laws, coupled with its authoritarian framework that was founded on the violation of human rights from the outset, give it the ability to handle its own laws in a political and selective manner. To that end, the Islamic Republic of Iran has created a number of internal security frameworks, and a significant portion of its criminal and legal systems are proof of violations of human rights.

 

A summary of the statistical report of the arrests in 2023

In 2023, at least 2,352 citizens, whose full identities have been verified for Hengaw, were arrested by security institutions of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

At least 216 children and teenagers were arrested, which is equivalent to 9% of the total number of arrested citizens.

In 2023, at least 325 women were arrested, which is equivalent to 14% of the total number of arrests.

At least 101 Sunni Muslim activists and 80 Baha'i citizens were arrested.

In 2023, at least 45 student activists were arrested; 17 of them were female students.

At least 65 teachers were arrested in 2023. Nine of the arrested teachers were female. Also, 43% of the arrested teachers were Kurdish.

The highest number of arrests was recorded in Sistan and Balochistan provinces with 588 cases, and Kurdistan province with 449 cases.

At least six foreign nationals and two people with dual citizenship were arrested.

The most arrest cases were of Kurdish citizens, which is equivalent to 44% of the total cases.

 

The arrest of 216 children under the age of 18 in 2023

Based on the statistics registered in the Statistics and Documents Center of the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, at least 216 minors and teenagers under the age of 18, whose full identities have been verified for Hengaw, were arrested by the security institutions of the Islamic Republic of Iran. This amounts to over 9% of all the arrests that occurred in the previous year.

There were 201 boys and 15 girls among the total number of children who were arrested; the majority of the children were students. Some of the children were as young as 2, 3, 4, and even 6 years old.

This report states that at least 144 of them—or 66.5% of the total cases—were Baloch minors who were arrested by Iranian security agencies. There were 124 cases reported in Zahedan, 8 in Khash, 4 in Rasak, 3 in Iranshahr, and 1 in each of the following cities: Jask, Chabahar, Saravan, Ramian, and Torbat Heydarieh.

Furthermore, 56 cases last year—or 26% of all arrests—were Kurdish. Most of them were arrested by Iranian security agencies in the following cities: 12 cases in Javanroud; 10 cases in Sanandaj; 8 cases in Piranshahr; 5 cases in Mahabad; 3 cases in each of Qorveh, Bukan, and Oshnavieh; 2 cases in each of Abdanan and Miandoab; and 1 case in each of Bulblan Abad, Takab, Dehloran, Saraboleh, Sarpol Zahab, Saqqez, Kamiyaran, and Naghadeh.

In other Iranian cities, at least 16 minors were arrested; 6 of these cases were reported in Karaj, 3 in Tehran, and one each in Larestan, Mashhad, Nowshahr, Izeh, and Bojnord.

 

The arrest of at least 325 women in 2023

Based on the statistics registered in the Statistics and Documents Center of the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, in 2023, at least 325 women were arrested in different cities of Iran by the security institutions of the Islamic Republic of Iran, whose full identities have been confirmed. This amount corresponds to 14% of all arrests made in the previous year.

Kurdish women accounted for 92 cases, or 28.5%, of all the women detained by the security services of the Islamic Republic of Iran in 2023. Not only that, but last year at least 52 Baha'i women activists were arrested—that is, 16.5% of all women arrested.

Last year, Tehran had the highest number of arrests of female activists (68 cases), followed by Sanandaj (36 cases), Isfahan (22 cases), and Karaj (20 cases). Additionally, the security institutions of the Islamic Republic of Iran arrested 17 female activists in Rasht city, 13 in Saqqez, 10 in Mashhad, 7 in Shiraz, Hamadan, and Bukan, and 5 in Ilam and Izeh.

As per the report, Iranian security agencies arrested 18 female students, 17 journalists and media activists, 10 artists and actresses, and 7 female teachers in the previous year.

 

The arrest of at least 207 religious activists in 2023

Based on the statistics registered in the Statistics and Documents Center of the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, in 2023, at least 207 religious activists (Sunni, Baha'i, Yarsan, Christian, Armenian, Darvish Gonabadi, and Yamani) were arrested by the security institutions of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which is equivalent to 9% of the total number of arrests last year. 

At least 55 of the 207 religious activists who were arrested last year were female, making up 26.5% of the total number of arrested religious activists. 3 of the women who were arrested were Christians and Kurdish and Arab Sunni Muslims, while 52 of the women were Baha'i faith adherents.

According to Article 12 of the Constitution of Iran, the official religion of Iran is Islam, and the doctrine followed is that of Ja'afari (Twelver) Shiism. However, in the same principle, it recognized other Islamic schools of thought (Shafi'i, Maliki, Hafi'i, Hanbali, and Zaidi), and in principle 13, it supported Zoroastrianism, Judaism, and Christian religions as the only recognized religious minorities. Other religions and sects, like Baha'i and Yarsanism (of which over 90% of adherents are Kurds), on the other hand, are not recognized by the government of Iran, and as a result, their adherents routinely suffer from human rights violations.

As per the report, there were 101 arrests of Sunni Muslims last year, out of which 42 were Baloch Sunni activists, 21 were Kurdish Sunni activists, and 28 were Arab Sunni activists. Sunni Islam is also officially recognized by the Islamic Republic of Iran.

With at least 88 cases in various Iranian cities, Baha'i adherents accounted for the majority of arrests in 2023, following Sunni Islamists. In addition, seven Christian activists and six Yarsan activists were also arrested.

Separation of arrested citizens by religion;

Sunnis: 101 cases

Baha’i followers: 88 cases

Christians: 7 cases

Yarsanis: 6 cases

Darvish Gonabadis: 3 cases

Yamani Movement followers: 2 cases

 

 

The arrest of at least 45 student activists in 2023

Based on the statistics registered in the Statistics and Documents Center of the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, in 2023, at least 45 students, whose full identities have been verified for Hengaw, were arrested by the security institutions of the Islamic Republic of Iran in various cities.

These figures show that 17 of the students who were arrested—or 39% of all cases—were female students.

The highest number of students who were arrested last year, with 22 cases, equal to 48% of the total cases, were Kurdish student activists. At least six Turkish student activists and four Baloch activists were arrested by the Iranian security services during this time.

Most student activists were arrested in Kurdistan province with 12 cases, and following that, the highest number of arrests of students were recorded in Tehran province. There were 6 cases in West Azerbaijan (Urmia) province, 5 cases in Sistan and Balochistan province, 4 cases each in Kermanshah and East Azerbaijan provinces, and one case in each of Ilam, Alborz, Fars, Lorestan, Khuzestan, and Khorasan provinces.

 

The arrest of at least 65 university professors and teachers in 2023

Based on the statistics registered in the Statistics and Documents Center of the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, in 2023, at least 60 teachers and 5 university professors were arrested in different cities of Iran by the security institutions of the Islamic Republic.

In 2023, female teachers accounted for at least 9 of the teachers who were arrested, or 14% of all teachers arrested.

In the provinces of Ilam, Kermanshah, Lorestan, Kurdistan, and Urmia (West Ajerbaijan), there were 43% (28 cases) of Kurdish teachers arrested out of the total number of teachers arrested.

Kurdistan province recorded the highest number of teacher arrests, with 21, followed by 10 cases in Fars, 6 cases in Tehran, 4 cases in Kermanshah, and 3 cases in each of the provinces of Ilam, Khorasan Razavi, and Khuzestan. There were two teacher arrest cases reported in each of the following provinces: Mazandaran, Sistan and Balochistan, Yazd, Lorestan, Kerman, Isfahan, and Ardabil; there was one case reported in each of Bushehr, North Khorasan, Gilan, and Markazi.

 

Separation of arrested citizens in 2023 by province

Based on the statistics registered in the Statistics and Documents Center of the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, in 2023, out of a total of 2,351 citizens who have been arrested and whose full identities have been verified, the highest number with 588 cases (about 24% of all cases) was registered in Sistan and Balochistan province, with a population close to 3 million. This figure is followed by Kurdistan Province, with a population of 1,600,000 people, where 449 arrests were registered, equivalent to 20% of the total arrests. With a population of nearly 600,000 people, Ilam province is considered to be the least populated province in Iran, where 97 citizens were arrested. After the provinces of Sistan and Balochistan, Kurdistan, Urmia (West Azerbaijan), Tehran, and Kermanshah, it was placed sixth on the list.

Hengaw's statistics show that Sistan and Balochistan provinces had the highest number of arrested citizens in 2023 (588 cases) whose full identities had been registered. This figure is followed by Kurdistan province with 449 cases, western Azerbaijan province (Urmia) with 368 cases (358 Kurdish citizens and 10 Turkish citizens), Tehran province with 177 cases, Kermanshah province with 112 cases, Ilam with 97 cases, and Khuzestan with 68 cases.

In addition, 59 cases were reported from the province of East Azarbaijan; 51 cases from the province of Alborz; 48 cases from the province of Isfahan; 42 cases from the province of Razavi Khorasan; 40 cases from Gilan; 36 cases from the provinces of Fars, Kohgiluyeh, and Boyar Ahmad; 29 cases from Bushehr; 23 cases from Mazandaran; 17 cases from Golestan; 14 cases from Lorestan and Hamadan; 12 cases each in Qazvin; 9 cases from the provinces of Hormozgan, Markazi, and Yazd; 7 cases from the provinces of Kerman, Zanjan, and Ardabil; 6 cases from Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari; 5 cases from the provinces of North Khorasan and Semnan; and 3 cases from the provinces of South Khorasan and Qom.

 

The arrest of 8 foreign citizens and 2 people with dual citizenships in 2023

Based on the statistics registered in the Statistics and Documents Center of the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, in 2023, at least 8 foreign nationals or dual citizens were arrested by the security institutions of the Islamic Republic of Iran, four of whom were citizens of Afghanistan, including two Armenian and Turkish citizens and two Iranian-Dutch and Iranian-British citizens.

The identities of the arrested citizens are:

1: Najibullah Alizahi, 24 years old and a citizen of Afghanistan, was arrested on January 25, 2023, in Khash city of Sistan and Balochistan province.

2: Molavi Abdul Razzaq Naqshbandi, a citizen of Afghanistan, was arrested by the Iranian security forces in Zahedan on May 12, 2023.

3: Barhodar Bayram, a Kurdish documentary maker and citizen of Turkey, was arrested on July 27, 2023, in the city of Mahabad.

4: Saeed Farahani, an Iranian-Dutch citizen, was arrested by the Iranian security forces in August 2023.

5: Hakup Kojomian, a citizen of Armenia, was arrested by the Iranian security forces in Tehran on August 15, 2023.

6: Mahmoud Derakhil, 17 years old and a citizen of Afghanistan, was arrested on August 24, 2023, in Khash city.

7: Shahram Namavar, a British-Iranian citizen, was arrested by the Iranian security forces in August 2023 in Abadan city.

8: Teymur Hosseini, a Christian convert and a citizen of Afghanistan, was arrested in Tehran on December 11, 2023.

 

Separation of arrested citizens according to nationality and ethnicity

Based on the statistics registered in the Statistics and Documents Center of the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, 44% of those arrested in 2023, which is equivalent to 1029 people, were Kurdish citizens. Also, 607 of them were Baloch citizens, equivalent to 26% of the total cases, and 403 were Persian citizens, equivalent to 17% of the total cases. 

Kurdish citizens: 1029 cases, equivalent to 44% of the total cases.

Baloch citizens: 607 cases, equivalent to 26% of the total cases.

Persian citizens: 404 cases, equivalent to 17% of the total cases.

Lur and Bakhtiari citizens: equivalent to 4% of the total cases.

Turkish citizens: 89 cases, equal to 4% of the total cases.

Gilak and Mazazdarani citizens: 74 cases, equal to 3% of the total cases.

Arab citizens: 35 suspended cases, 1.5% of the total cases.

Turkmen citizens: 12 cases, equal to 0.3% of the total cases.

Foreign citizens with dual citizenships: 8 cases, equal to 0.2% of the total cases.

 

 

Detention of Kurdish citizens in 2023

Based on the statistics registered in the Statistics and Documents Center of the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, in 2023, at least 1029 Kurdish citizens were arrested in various cities of Kurdistan and Iran by the security institutions of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which is equivalent to 44% of the total arrests in Iran. .

With 449 cases, Kurdistan province had the highest number of arrests reported. Subsequently, the provinces of western Azerbaijan (Urmia) accounted for 358 cases, Kermanshah (112) cases, Ilam (97 cases), Khorasan Razavi and Lorestan (five cases each), Hamedan (two cases) and Gilan (one case).

A minimum of 56 Kurdish minors were arrested in Iran in 2023, making up 26% of all arrested minors in Iran. Also, 92 Kurdish women, equivalent to 28.5% of the total women arrested last year, were arrested by the security institutions of the Islamic Republic of Iran. At least 22 Kurdish students (48% of all arrested students) and 28 Kurdish teachers, equivalent to 42% of all arrested teachers, were arrested by the Iranian security institutions.

 

Conclusion

Following the Women, Life, Freedom (Jin, Jiyan, Azadi) movement, a significant number of citizens have been arrested by the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Islamic Republic of Iran's attempt to impose terror in order to quell protests is one of the main causes of these arbitrary and unlawful arrests.

At least 2,352 citizens, including at least 216 minors, were arrested in 2023. Arresting and imprisoning children and teenagers is contrary to international human rights standards. Statistical analysis shows that the highest number of arrests occurred in Sistan and Balochistan provinces with 588 cases and Kurdistan province with 449 cases, which indicates the suspension of the rule of law in these areas.

88 Baha'i citizens and at least 101 Sunni citizens were reportedly arrested, according to this report. Furthermore, 234 were arrested last year. These statistics indicate that the Islamic Republic of Iran has engaged in flagrant violations of human rights, with religious, sexual, gender, and ethnic minorities experiencing the highest number of unlawful arrests.