According to reports received by the Karun Human Rights Organization, 14 Arab citizens arrested during the Iranian security forces’ raid on the Qaleh-Chanaan district of Ahwaz on 8 March 2026 were transferred to the quarantine ward of Sheiban Prison in Ahwaz on Wednesday, 22 July 2026, after spending four months and fifteen days in solitary confinement at a Ministry of Intelligence detention facility.
The Karun Human Rights Organization previously reported that during the violent raid on Qaleh-Chenan, at least two Arab citizens, Mahmoud Hasanian (Naseri) and Haidar Khayyatipour, were killed by direct gunfire from security forces, while 14 others were arrested.
According to local sources, the identities of the detainees confirmed by the organization are:
- Tareq Hasanian
- Bahader Zargani, 39, married, father of three
- Mansour Naseri,married, father of four
- Ahmad Bavifard
- Yousef Hasanian
- Amin Naseri
- Jassem Bavi,also known as “Milad”
- Mohammad Ali Bavi
- Towfiq Silawi, 30, married
- Mohammad Nissi, 40, married
- Hossein Silawi, 20, single
- Hamed Zuhairi, single
- Hamid Hasanian
(The identity of one of the 14 detainees has not yet been publicly confirmed.)
The operation was carried out during a widespread internet shutdown and under an intense security lockdown across the area. Throughout their detention, the detainees’ whereabouts and condition remained unknown, while security authorities refused to hand over the bodies of those killed to their families.
According to information received by the organization, the detainees’ case is being heard before Branch Two of the Karun County General and Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Montazeri. They face charges including “opening fire on security forces,” “blowing up oil pipelines,” “possession of improvised explosive devices,” “collaboration with the United States and Israel,” and “disrupting public order.”
In contrast, the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence claimed in an official statement issued in April 2026 ( that five people had been killed and ten arrested during the operation. The ministry accused the detainees of “forming an opposition group,” “bombing civilian infrastructure,” “carrying out armed attacks,” and possessing Starlink equipment, foreign currency, and propaganda materials.
The Karun Human Rights Organization stresses that such allegations are frequently used in security-related cases to fabricate charges, justify the repression of citizens, and obtain forced confessions under torture.
Despite their transfer to the quarantine ward of Sheiban Prison, the detainees’ families continue to be denied visitation rights, telephone contact, and access to independent legal counsel. Reports have also emerged that security authorities have summoned, threatened, and detained some of the detainees’ family members, apparently to increase pressure on both the detainees and their relatives and to facilitate the extraction of forced confessions.
