Continued Security Crackdown on Participants of a Virtual Conference; Abdollah Momeni Arrested

Following the arrest of Alireza Beheshti Shirazi and the summons of Ghorban Behzadian Nejad, Abdollah Momeni was also arrested on Thursday morning. This comes after the virtual conference titled 'Dialogue for the Salvation of Iran,' which included several domestic and international dissenting figures, leading to a new wave of arrests of political activists who participated in the event. In the latest case, Abdollah Momeni, a sociologist and political activist, was arrested by the security forces of the Islamic Republic. According to the human rights website 'Hrana,' on Thursday, the 7th of Ordibehesht, Abdollah Momeni was arrested 'by security forces' at his private residence and 'transferred to an unknown location.' The report states that Iranian security agents searched Momeni's home and confiscated 'some of his personal belongings,' with a source close to his family confirming the arrest. A group of political activists from inside and outside Iran held a two-day 'virtual meeting' on the social media platform 'Clubhouse' titled 'Dialogue for the Salvation of Iran' on Friday, the 1st of Ordibehesht. It was announced during this virtual meeting that of the 42 participants, 23 were from inside the country (nine of whom are currently imprisoned) and 19 were from abroad. Shortly before this meeting, Keyvan Samimi, the editor of Iran Farda magazine and president of the Association for the Defense of Press Freedom, who was one of the speakers at the meeting, was arrested by security forces in Tehran on the 31st of Farvardin, just three months after his release from prison. Samimi had recorded his remarks prior to his arrest, which were broadcast during the meeting despite his detention. Alireza Beheshti Shirazi, a political activist and advisor to Mir Hossein Mousavi, was also arrested by security agents on Tuesday, the 5th of Ordibehesht. Before his arrest, he stated at the virtual conference 'Dialogue for the Salvation of Iran' that the window for reforms is completely closed and Iran is on the brink of change. No information has been released regarding the reasons for his arrest, the detaining agency, or his condition. Additionally, according to the website Kalemeh, close to Mir Hossein Mousavi, security agents also visited the home of Ghorban Behzadian Nejad, a senior advisor to Mousavi, on Tuesday night, where they searched and confiscated some of his belongings, including electronic devices. The arrests of Abdollah Momeni and Alireza Beheshti Shirazi, as well as the summons of Ghorban Behzadian Nejad, occurred following their speeches at the virtual conference 'Dialogue for the Salvation of Iran.' The International Federation of Journalists has called for the release of Keyvan Samimi and other imprisoned journalists. The second day of the 'Dialogue for the Salvation of Iran' meeting emphasized the need to move beyond the current regime. Reports from the virtual meeting highlighted the participation of dozens of political and civil activists from Iran and abroad.