Continued Detention of Kurdish Citizens; Number of Detainees This Month Increases to 136

The number of detained Kurds in August has risen to 136 as the anniversary of the killing of Mahsa (Zhina) Amini approaches, amid increased security pressures and the arrest of four more individuals. According to human rights sources, Asghar Mahmoudi, Youssef Fathizadeh, Amir Sidi, and Afshin Saadmocheshi were arrested by the Islamic Republic's security forces on Monday and Tuesday, August 30 and 31, in four different cities. The Hengaw Human Rights Organization reported that Asghar Mahmoudi, 33, from the village of 'Ahmadabad Sofla' in Takab, and Youssef Fathizadeh, 34, from the city of Badreh in Ilam province, were arrested on Tuesday with violence. According to this report, Mr. Mahmoudi was arrested by the IRGC intelligence forces and Mr. Fathizadeh by the intelligence agency officers and transferred to an unknown location. Hengaw also reported that Amir Sidi, 26, from Mahabad, and Afshin Saadmocheshi, from the village of 'Khamsan' in Kamyaran, were also arrested on Monday. No news has been released about the charges against these four individuals or their status after detention, and the Islamic Republic officials have remained silent on this matter. Herana, the news agency of the human rights activists, also reported the arrest of Soleiman Ahmadi, a citizen from the village of 'Seyyedabad' in the Boukan region, on Tuesday. According to Herana, Mr. Ahmadi was previously a member of one of the opposition parties to the Islamic Republic. However, no news has been released about his charges or where he is being held. Recently, thirteen women’s rights activists and political activists in Gilan province were arrested on charges of 'conspiracy against national security' and 'propaganda against the regime.' Additionally, several civil activists have also been detained in Mahabad and Oshnavieh. The recent wave of arrests has faced widespread criticism, and human rights activists have warned about the government's efforts to prevent protests from forming on the anniversary of Mahsa Amini's death. Amnesty International also accused the Islamic Republic officials of using 'nefarious tactics' to silence the families of victims ahead of the one-year anniversary of the 'Women, Life, Freedom' uprising. The Mothers of Laleh Park also condemned the 'deprivations,' 'arrests,' and 'harassment' in a statement on Friday, August 27, demanding the unconditional release of all recent detainees and political prisoners. In part of their statement, the Mothers of Laleh Park emphasized the 'separation of religion from government,' demanding the right to freedom of dress and 'the right to control one’s body unconditionally.'