Seven months after a violent crackdown by Iranian security forces in the ‘Qaleh Chanan’ area of Ahwaz on March 9, 2023, the situation for dozens of detainees and victims in this case has escalated to a critical level, with charges that could lead to the death penalty being leveled against them.
Documented investigations by the Karoon Human Rights Organization reveal that judicial and security officials in Iran are advancing a deadly security scenario aimed at suppressing Arab activists and citizens in Khuzestan through unlawful practices, brutal torture, complete denial of access to legal counsel, and the hostage-taking of deceased victims’ bodies.
New Death Penalty Charges and Complete Denial of Fair Trial
A source informed the Karoon Human Rights Organization that in recent days, the Second Investigative Branch of the Karoon Court (case number 1404379200005917518) has added three severe and unfounded charges to the indictments against the accused. These charges include: ‘1. Disturbing public order through creating conflict and chaos,’ ‘2. Waging war against God by shooting at Basij resistance bases,’ and ‘3. Armed rebellion against the regime (baghi).’
The introduction of these dangerous charges comes on top of previous accusations such as ‘exploding oil pipelines,’ ‘possessing homemade bombs,’ and ‘collaborating with the U.S. and Israel.’ All detainees in this case have been completely deprived of their right to access independent legal counsel since the very first moment of their detention.
Security interrogators have explicitly warned families that they have no right to hire lawyers for their children. This deliberate obstruction aims to eliminate any legal oversight, cover up the torture inflicted, and pave the way for death sentences based on ‘forced confessions’ by hardline judges such as Judge Vadi Nejad (successor to Judge Hossein Montazeri).
Enforced Disappearances of Victims and Psychological Torture of Families
During the crackdown on March 9, which coincided with widespread internet outages, at least five young men were killed or severely injured by direct gunfire from intelligence forces. Despite the passage of seven months, security agencies have refused to provide any clear answers to families or to return the bodies of these individuals.
The Karoon Human Rights Organization considers this concealment and hostage-taking of bodies as a clear instance of ‘enforced disappearance’ and ‘systematic psychological torture’ of the families seeking justice.
Complete Isolation and Death Threats in Sheiban Prison
After months of detention in solitary confinement, the detainees were transferred to Ward 2 of Sheiban Prison on July 22, 2023. Prisoners such as ‘Tariq Hosnian’ and ‘Mohammad Ali Bavi’ have not had a single phone call in the past seven months. ‘Hamid Hosnian’ (father of two) has also been subjected to severe torture and, in his only brief call, stated: ‘They have beaten me so much that it feels like they want to kill me.’
Detainees Charged with Waging War
1. Tariq Hosnian (42 years old, married, 3 children): under torture, in complete isolation, without contact. 2. Hamid Hosnian (42 years old, married, 2 children): under severe torture, visitation banned, facing death threats in prison. 3. Mohammad Ali Bavi (son of Jaber): without contact and in complete isolation. 4. Tawfiq Silavi (30 years old, married). 5. Mohammad Nissi (40 years old, married). 6. Hossein Silavi (20 years old, single). 7. Hamid Zahiri (single). 8. Bahador Zargani (39 years old, married). 9. Mansour Nasseri (40 years old, married). 10. Ahmad Bavi Fard (son of Shahab/Jaber). 11. Youssef Hosnian (son of Khalil). 12. Jasim Bavi (known as Milad, son of Mohammad).
The Karoon Human Rights Organization strongly condemns this entirely unlawful judicial process and the imminent threat of death sentences for the accused, deeming the handling of case number 1404379200005917518 as lacking any legal legitimacy. The organization calls on international bodies and human rights advocates to take immediate action to clarify the fate of the deceased, halt the security-driven case-making, end torture, and ensure that all detainees have access to independent legal counsel.
