132 arrested by security forces of Islamic Republic of Iran in May 2025

Hengaw: Tuesday, June 3, 2025

According to data registered by the Statistics and Documentation Center of Hengaw
Organization for Human Rights,at least 132 people whose full identities have been confirmed
were arrested across Iran by security forces in May 2025, . This figure marks a 6% decrease
compared to the same period last year, when at least 141 people were arrested.

Among those detained were at least 9 women’s rights activists, 4 children, 54 Kurds, 29
Balochs, and 6 Baha’i activists. The highest number of arrests occurred in Sistan and
Baluchistan Province, with 29 documented cases.

Geographical distribution of arrests:

The highest number of arrests was recorded in Sistan and Baluchistan Province with 29
cases, followed by Kurdistan (Sanandaj) and West Azerbaijan (Urmia) Provinces each with 24
cases. In Tehran province at least 20 cases were recorded.
• Sistan and Baluchistan: 29 cases
• Kurdistan (Sanandaj): 24 cases
• West Azerbaijan (Urmia): 24 cases (23 Kurds, 1 Turk)
• Tehran: 20 cases (17 Fars (Persian), 1 Kurd, 1 Qashqai, 1 unspecified)
• Khorasan Razavi: 10 cases (5 Sistani, 5 Fars)
• Kermanshah, Ardabil, Fars: 4 cases each
• Gilan: 3 cases
• Hamedan: 2 cases (1 Kurd, 1 Fars)
• Qazvin: 2 cases (both Turks)
• East Azerbaijan, Alborz, Khuzestan, Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad, Kerman: 1
case each

Breakdown of arrested by national and ethnic minorities

At least 54 Kurds were arrested by the governmental institutions of the Islamic Republic of
Iran during the month of May, accounting for 41% of all arrests across Iran during the past
month. Additionally, at least 29 Balochs (22%) were also arrested during the same period.

• Kurds: 54 (41%)
• Balochs: 29 (22%)
• Fars: 28
• Turks: 9
• Sistanis: 5
• Gilaks: 3
• Lors: 2
• Qashqais: 1
• Unknown: 1

Arrests of Religious Minorities:

At least 6 Baha’i activists, 2 Sunni Muslims, and 5 followers of the Yamani movement were
arrested in May. Their names are as follows:

Baha’i Activists:
• Arshia Rouhani (Isfahan)
• Hamid Manzavi (Isfahan)
• Arash Nabavi (Isfahan)
• Sheyda Rouhani (Tehran)
• Sheida Tavakoli (Tehran)
• Sheila Tavakoli (Tehran)

Sunni Activists:

• Nawaz Dahani (Mehrestan)
• Barzan Maleki (Sanandaj)

Yamani Followers:
• Hossein Davoudi, Ali Davoudi, Hassan Davoudi, Hadi Aghaei, Kazem Ghavidel
(all from Kashmar)

Arrest of at least 4 children under the age of 18 in May 2025

At least 4 children were arrested in May—accounting for 3% of all arrests that month. The
youngest was just 14 years old. They are:
• Milad Naseri, 17 (Bukan)
• Saleh Bahramzehi, 14 (Sarbaz)
• Mani Dahani, 16 (Sib and Soran)
• Rezvan Taraz, 17 (Rask)

Nine Women activists arrested in May

Nine women were arrested, making up 7% of total detentions in May. Five were Kurdish
women activists, and three were Baha’i women. Their identities include:
• Tehran: Sheyda Rouhani, Sheila Tavakoli, Sheida Tavakoli
• Urmia: Rana Khorran, Rozhan Khorran
• Kermanshah: Mahsa Zarei
• Bukan: Bafrin Maroufi
• Baneh: Farzaneh Rashidi
• Isfahan: Fahimeh Soltani

Arrest of Teachers and Students:

The crackdown on educators continued in May, with at least 7 teachers and university
professors and 2 students arrested:

Teachers:
• Vali Mirza Seyedi, Ahmad Heydari, Mehdi Farahi Shandiz, Sadeghi (Tehran)
• Hossein Ebadian (Malayer)
• Reza Moslemi (Hamedan)
• Abolfazl Ranjbari (Tabriz)

Students:
• Fahimeh Soltani (Isfahan)
• Farzaneh Rashidi (Baneh)

Arrest of media activists in May

Last month, Azhdar Piri, a Kurdish journalist from Urmia, was arrested by security forces in
the city of Karaj.Arrest of writers and artists:

Arrest of writers and artists

At least three writers were detained: Azhar Piri (Urmia), Moslem Zarei (Kermanshah), and
Abolfazl Ranjbari (Tabriz). No arrests of artists were recorded.

The identities of all these 132 cases have been recorded in the Statistics and Documents
Center of Hengaw Organization for Human Rights.The use of these statistics is permitted
with proper source attribution.