Dadban: Mashallah Karami, Father of Executed Protester, Arrested

A legal group active on social media reported that Mashallah Karami, the father of executed protester Mohammad Mehdi Karami, and his lawyer were arrested on Tuesday, August 22, 2023, just before the anniversary of Mahsa Amini's death. An informed source also confirmed in an interview with the Persian section of Voice of America that Mashallah Karami's mobile phone is 'not accessible' and he has likely been 'arrested.' According to the source, 'the phone of Mrs. Monijeh, Mohammad Mehdi's mother, is also turned off.' According to the legal group 'Dadban,' Mashallah Karami, the father of executed protester Mohammad Mehdi Karami in the 'Karaj Highway' case, and Amir Hossein Kouhkan, the family's lawyer, were arrested on Tuesday. The report states that Mr. Karami's arrest occurred 'with a raid by security agents on his home,' and the security forces 'took electronic devices such as laptops and mobile phones belonging to the Karami family' and his relatives 'have not heard from him since noon today.' The Dadban legal group states that after the arrest of Mashallah Karami, 'agents also arrested the family's lawyer.' As the anniversary of Mahsa Amini's death approaches, pressure on civil activists and families seeking justice has increased, and the father of one of the deceased told Voice of America that they have been compelled to promise that if they are seen outside and in public places during the anniversary of Mahsa, there will be severe consequences.