Reports received by the Karoon Human Rights Organization indicate that more than a month after the detention of Mahdi Nasseri, Aref Nasseri, Mahdi Khaledi, and Mohammad Al-Kaabi, four prominent Arab cultural activists from Ahwaz, their families remain unaware of their status and whereabouts.
The four cultural activists were arrested in September 2023 during a wave of security detentions targeting cultural, civil, and artistic activists in Ahwaz. According to previous reports from the Karoon Human Rights Organization, their arrests were carried out by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and no clear information has been released regarding the charges against them or their current location.
Detention Following Cultural and Civil Activities
Mahdi Nasseri, a poet and cultural activist from Ahwaz, had previously been detained in connection with his cultural activities and civil demands. He was involved in the production and dissemination of the patriotic anthem “From Karoon to Zaytoon,” which, according to published reports, was produced with the permission of the Ahwaz Department of Culture and Islamic Guidance but was subsequently removed from YouTube. Hossein Ahwazi and Mahdi Zaeri, two singers of this piece, were also summoned and threatened.
Aref Nasseri, known as “Abu Naif,” is a poet and cultural activist and a relative of Mahdi Nasseri. He was active in the “Asalah” program of the cultural collection “Voice of Thoughts.” According to the Karoon Human Rights Organization, Aref Nasseri was arrested on September 21, 2023, at his home in the Saadi area of Falahiyeh County (Shadgan). Security forces searched his home during the arrest, causing concern among his family members and children.
Mahdi Khaledi, a cameraman and cultural activist from the city of Testar (Shushtar), was also arrested by the IRGC on the evening of September 21, 2023, and taken to an unknown location.
Additionally, Mohammad Al-Kaabi, known as “Abu Idris,” from Shush (Susa), was targeted by security forces in this same wave of arrests.
Aref Nasseri’s Message from Detention
The Karoon Human Rights Organization reported in September that it had obtained a pre-recorded voice message from Aref Nasseri, in which he emphasized the continuation of peaceful advocacy for the demands of the people of Ahwaz.
In this message, Aref Nasseri described the demands of Ahwazi activists within the framework of cultural and civil activities, including the right to education in their mother tongue and the restoration of historical city names. He also criticized the discrimination and deprivation faced by the people of the region regarding their resources and facilities.
This message clarifies the context of this activist’s cultural and civil activities, which have been highlighted in the reports of the Karoon Human Rights Organization alongside the recent wave of detentions of Arab activists in Ahwaz.
Call for Clarity on the Fate of the Detainees
With over a month having passed since the detention of these four cultural activists, the ongoing ignorance of their families regarding their status and whereabouts has heightened concerns about their health, conditions of detention, and the respect for their legal rights.
The Karoon Human Rights Organization demands the immediate disclosure of the location and reasons for the detention of these four activists, transparent information regarding their legal status, guaranteed access to their families and lawyers, and an end to their uncertainty.
This organization also emphasizes that cultural activities and the peaceful expression of civil demands should not be used as a pretext to deprive individuals of their freedom and fundamental rights.
