Widespread Arrests in Ahvaz Amid Concerns from Human Rights Organizations

Fourteen human rights organizations expressed concern over the "widespread wave" of recent arrests in Ahvaz in a statement published by the Kurdistan Human Rights Network. They emphasized that the aim of the Islamic Republic's government with these arrests is to "weaken the cultural, social, and political identity" of the Arabs in Khuzestan and systematically violate their fundamental rights. The organizations noted that transferring detainees to unknown locations and the lack of access to information about their status increases the risk of torture and mistreatment. Additionally, see: A political prisoner's account of "psychological and physical torture" in Ahvaz. These fourteen human rights organizations stressed that the crackdowns are a clear violation of human rights and Iran's international obligations. They called on international human rights defenders and the global community to take immediate action for the unconditional release of the detainees. Saeed Hafezi, a journalist from Khuzestan residing in Europe, announced on Thursday, January 20, on the social media platform "X" that "more than 19 Arab artists, poets, and social activists" have been arrested in Khuzestan province and "about one hundred others" have been summoned by the province's intelligence agencies, citing "local sources" regarding the "severe beating" of some detainees. The "Karun Human Rights Organization," which monitors events in Khuzestan province, previously reported that since the beginning of this month, about 30 Arab citizens have been arrested in various cities of the province, including Ahvaz, Shadgan, Ramshir, Shushtar, Khorramshahr, and Susangerd. According to the state-run news agency ISNA, the public prosecutor of Ahvaz acknowledged the arrest of 182 citizens, labeling them as "security disruptors." Additionally, see: The arrest of Ismail Saeed Mazraeh, a writer and researcher in Ahvaz. The news agency of the Iranian Human Rights Activists Group reported on January 6 that government forces arrested 2,749 citizens in 2024 due to civil, ideological, or political activities. This total includes 23 cases of professional arrests, 240 ethnic-minority arrests, 85 religious-minority arrests, 1,585 for thought and expression, 34 in the children's sector, 11 in the environmental sector, 2 in the cultural sector, and 11 for workers. In total, over 33,442 months of prison sentences have been issued for government critics. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights expressed concern over executions in Iran, and a European Parliament representative called for action against human rights violations in Iran. Human Rights Watch stated that the repression of women, dissenters, and minorities in Iran continues. Female prisoners in Lakan Prison in Rasht condemned the issuance of death sentences. The Tehran Bus Workers' Syndicate called for an immediate halt to the execution of death sentences. The UN Special Rapporteur expressed concern over the confirmation of the death sentence for Pakhshan Azizi. Amnesty International called for the immediate cancellation of the death sentences for Behrouz Ehsani and Mahdi Hasani.