Amnesty International to Iranian Officials: Immediately Release Human Rights Activists

Following the simultaneous and coordinated arrest of six human rights activists in Iran, including Shima Babaei and her husband Dariush Zand, Saeed Iqbal, Mahmoud Masoumi, and Behnam Mousivand, Amnesty International has called for the immediate release of these young civil activists. Reports indicate that on Thursday, February 1, at least five civil activists were arrested in the cities of Tehran, Behbahan, and Kermanshah, and the website Hrana also reported that Leila Faraji, a civil activist, was released after several hours of detention and interrogation on Thursday. The reason for the simultaneous arrests of these civil activists in various cities of Iran is unclear. Reports suggest that the arrest of Behnam Mousivand, a civil activist, was carried out 'violently' at his father's home in Tehran on Thursday. In a statement posted on Amnesty International's website on Friday, February 2, Magdalena Mughrabi, the organization's Deputy Director for North Africa and the Middle East, stated: 'These human rights defenders must be released immediately and unconditionally. They have committed no crime and have been arrested solely for their human rights activities. We are extremely concerned as these individuals are now at risk of torture or other ill-treatment.' 'The coordinated nature of these arrests confirms our serious concerns about the grim reality that human rights defenders face in Iran; a country where peaceful activism is suppressed and criminalized by authorities. These individuals are prisoners of conscience, detained solely for their peaceful support of human rights.' 'These arrests are the latest chapter in the long-standing repression of any human rights activity in Iran, aimed at eliminating the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly in the country. We urge Iranian authorities to stop their assault on human rights defenders and allow them to operate in a safe environment without fear of repression.' Following the protests in December, the Ministry of Intelligence and the IRGC Intelligence Organization had arrested several student activists, labor activists, and civil activists in various cities across Iran. Reports indicate that most of the detainees have been released, but several remain imprisoned. In this context, the simultaneous arrest of at least five civil activists in various Iranian cities is noted: the Iranian Teachers' Union protests against the 'suppression of teachers' by state security agencies, Amnesty International: 'Release Narges Mohammadi after a thousand days of unjust imprisonment.'