Sardar Pashaei: My Brother, the Third World Youth Wrestling Champion, Has Been Arrested

In the ongoing pressure from the security and judicial authorities of the Islamic Republic on the families and close ones of activists outside Iran, Sardar Pashaei reports that his younger brother, Saman, has been arrested by "intelligence agents." There is no information available regarding the detaining agency or the reason for the arrest of Saman Pashaei, the "third world youth wrestling champion," who was arrested on Sunday. His brother, Sardar Pashaei, is an opponent of the Islamic Republic who operates outside Iran. On Tuesday, July 12, Sardar Pashaei tweeted about the arrest of his younger brother, stating: "Previously, agents had arrested and interrogated my family members, including my father and mother." The former world Greco-Roman wrestling champion and former national team coach, whose parents have passed away, added: "I am glad they are no longer in this world to suffer more from a cowardly government." The arrest of relatives of civil and political activists and journalists active outside Iran by the Islamic Republic has a precedent. In recent days, Amir Dadfarin and Mohammad Malazahi, the son and brother of Fariba Baloch, an activist residing in London, were arrested in Iranshahr. Mousa Barzin, a lawyer residing in Turkey, recently stated in an interview with the Persian section of Voice of America that these arrests occur while "families in Iran have no involvement in the activities of individuals abroad." He advised activists and journalists outside the country not to remain silent in the face of such arrests, as others may also be targeted. Mousa Barzin: Activists abroad should not be indifferent to the arrest of Sajjad Shahabi and should not remain silent.