Confirmation of the Arrest of Hossein Shanbehzadeh; This Translator and Editor's Call to His Family: I Will Come in Two or Three Days

Following reports from news sources regarding the possible arrest of Hossein Shanbehzadeh, a translator and editor, his brother, a well-known civil activist, announced on social media platform X that he "called" and confirmed that he has been "arrested." Abbas Shanbehzadeh wrote on Tuesday, June 5, after reporting the likelihood of his brother's arrest, that "Hossein called. He has been arrested and says he will come in two or three days." Hossein Shanbehzadeh's call to his family came after widespread news of his possible arrest circulated on social media. The brother of the detained civil activist stated that "my family and I—especially my mother—are waiting and worried," adding that the family of the detained civil activist is "encouraged" by public support. Earlier, Abbas Shanbehzadeh had announced that his brother "Hossein Shanbehzadeh was almost certainly" arrested during his trip to Ardabil in northwestern Iran. The brother emphasized that "Hossein's last tweet was not specifically published by him, and our attempts to contact him and his host in Ardabil have been futile." He also added: "My last contact with Hossein was earlier today, and after that, we have been unaware of his situation. Evidence supports his arrest." Additionally, the legal advisory group Dadban reported that "based on conversations some of Hossein Shanbehzadeh's friends had with his family," this social media activist was likely arrested in Ardabil. According to this report, in recent hours, "two suspicious tweets" along with an image of a "conversation" from Hossein Shanbehzadeh's account on X have been published, which "most likely were released by security agencies." Hossein Shanbehzadeh, who has previously been a political prisoner, was active on social media platform X and conducted polls on social and literary issues that were criticized by users close to the Islamic Republic. Pressure on civil and political activists in Iran has increased by the Islamic Republic in recent months. Previously, Pouran Nazemi, a human rights activist in Iran, told Voice of America about the increasing pressures from the Islamic Republic on claimants, prisoners, and civil and political activists, stating that the government has no intention of reform or retreat and that the security pressures currently being imposed on activists "are more than in all these years" and "it does not matter whether you are an environmental activist, a civil activist, or a political activist."