Seven Arrested in Arak and Miandoab by Government Agents

A human rights source reported on Sunday that the intelligence agencies of the Islamic Republic arrested seven citizens in the cities of Arak and Miandoab. According to the report from the fifth of Esfand by HRANA, the media organ of human rights activists in Iran, Mohammad Soltani, a political activist and former political prisoner, was arrested by agents of the IRGC intelligence in Arak and is currently being held in one of the IRGC's detention centers. The report states that Mohammad Soltani was arrested on Friday, the third of Esfand, in one of the streets of Arak, and although the reason for his arrest and the charges against him are unclear, this political prisoner stated in a phone call with his family on Saturday that he has been transferred to the IRGC intelligence detention center. Mohammad Soltani was arrested in Mordad 1402 after participating in a ceremony at the grave of Mehrshad Shahidi, one of the victims of the nationwide protests of 1401 in Arak. The judicial authorities of the Islamic Republic formed a case against Mr. Soltani and seven other citizens in Shahrivar of last year, and the second criminal court of Arak sentenced this political activist to six years in prison and 74 lashes in public during Friday prayers at the Arak mosque. Mr. Soltani was released from Arak prison on the ninth of Mehr 1402 after posting bail. Additionally, according to another report from the Kurdpa news agency, the intelligence agents of the Islamic Republic arrested six citizens from the city of Miandoab in West Azerbaijan province on Sunday, the fifth of Esfand. The names of those arrested in this report are "Sadiq Abbasnejad, Behzad Barjasteh, Keyvan Barjasteh, Shahab Tavan, Nima Ghorbanzadeh, and Khalagh Rahimi," and the reason for their arrest and their place of detention are unclear. Pressure on civil and political activists by the Islamic Republic in Iran is increasing, and in this context, Golara Abbasi, a civil and political activist, was arrested by government forces at her home in western Tehran on Wednesday, the first of Esfand. The reason for her arrest was reported to be her attempt to sell handicrafts produced by political prisoners. Also see: Arrest of Golara Abbasi, political and civil activist, in western Tehran. The situation of unknown prisoners; exclusive interview of VOA with Zahra Kohnekar. A one-year prison sentence with an electronic bracelet was issued to Daniel Moghadam. Ehsin, a young rapper, was released on a 500 million Toman bail. The uncertain status of Mohammad Ali and Hedi Mehrganfar in Adelabad prison in Shiraz. The arrest of Salar Taher Afshar, a civil activist, in Urmia. The fourth day of the hunger strike of Kianoush Cheraghi, a political prisoner, in Ilam prison.