Hengaw: At Least Four People, Including a Journalist, Arrested in Kurdistan and Kermanshah Provinces

As the detention of civil and labor activists continues and pressure on the families of the victims intensifies on the second anniversary of the nationwide protests for 'Women, Life, Freedom,' at least four citizens, including a journalist, have been arrested in the Kurdistan and Kermanshah provinces. According to the human rights organization 'Hengaw,' Fardin Mostafai, a journalist from Saqez and the manager of the Telegram channel 'Saqez Roudav,' was arrested on Wednesday, September 28, in a café on the Baneh road. Last November, he was interrogated by the Cyber Police in Saqez following a complaint from the governor of Saqez for 'spreading falsehoods and disturbing public opinion.' No news has been published regarding the charges or the location of this journalist's detention. Hengaw reports that three others were violently arrested on Wednesday and Thursday, September 28 and 29, in the cities of Divandareh in Kurdistan province and Gilan-e Gharb in Kermanshah province. According to this report, Khalil Asghari and Pouria Hosseini were arrested in Divandareh, and Hossein Fattahi was arrested in Gilan-e Gharb. Fattahi had previously criticized the unemployment situation and the 'colonization of Gilan-e Gharb's coal mines' by a specific group on his Instagram page. No news has been published regarding the charges or the location of these three individuals either. In recent days, at least six citizens, including a 16-year-old teenager, have been arrested in the West Azerbaijan and Kurdistan provinces. Judicial and intelligence officials of the Islamic Republic have increased pressure on the families of victims and political and civil activists on the second anniversary of the killing of Mahsa Amini and the nationwide protests during which government forces killed at least 500 protesters. Furthermore, the arrest of political and civil activists and citizens in various regions of Iran has intensified in recent weeks, coinciding with the second anniversary of Mahsa Amini's death in police custody and the onset of nationwide protests. Simultaneously, on the second anniversary of Mahsa Amini's death, Abram Paley, the Deputy Special Representative of the U.S. for Iran, emphasized in an interview with the Persian section of Voice of America the continued support of the Biden administration for the people of Iran and efforts to hold the Islamic Republic accountable. Government forces blocked the roads leading to the grave of Nika Shakeri. The repression of Baha'i citizens in various cities of Iran continues; Negar Misaqian was arrested in Shiraz. Faezah Hashemi was released from prison; reactions indicate this is the result of 'repentance in exchange for remaining in the circle of power.' The U.S. has imposed new human rights sanctions against institutions and officials of the Islamic Republic.