Ebrahim Rashidi, Journalist, Arrested in Meshkin Shahr

The Azerbaijani Political Prisoners Defense Association in Iran, ADAP, reported that Ebrahim Rashidi (Savalan), an Azerbaijani journalist and activist, was arrested by security forces of the Islamic Republic in Meshkin Shahr, Ardabil province, on Saturday, January 9. ADAP quoted Rashidi's acquaintances stating that eight plainclothes officers visited his home in Mirkandi, Meshkin Shahr, at noon on Saturday, and besides arresting him, they confiscated his laptop, books, and some other belongings. According to this report, the plainclothes officers told Rashidi's mother that they were from the Ardabil Intelligence Office but did not show any arrest warrant. In this regard, Rashidi's Instagram page reported that the Meshkin Shahr prosecutor's office informed Rashidi's family that they should visit the first branch of the prosecutor's office on Sunday morning, January 10, to follow up on his status. ADAP, quoting Rashidi's acquaintances, noted that all of Ebrahim Savalan's previous cases had been closed, and there was no reason for his arrest. Ebrahim Rashidi has been arrested multiple times in the past, and Amnesty International and Reporters Without Borders have called for his unconditional release. He has previously been a member of the editorial board of the monthly 'Bayram' and the banned weekly 'Navid Azerbaijan.' Ebrahim Rashidi has also served as the editor-in-chief of the student publication 'Ouldouz' and the editorial director of the student magazine 'Bolut.' Ashkan Saadatmehr, one of the detainees from the 2021 protests, was sentenced in absentia to 7 years in prison, while Javad Soodbar and Ali Babaei were temporarily released after 100 days of detention. Hadi Gholizadeh, a political activist, was also arrested.