Reports received by the Karoon Human Rights Organization indicate that Iranian security forces have continued their crackdown on Arab activists and the repression of religious minorities. On Monday, October 25, they arrested two Sunni activists residing in Ahwaz and transferred them to an undisclosed location.
The identities of the two detained citizens have been confirmed as Abbas Tamimi (21 years old) and Hamid Ghazlavi (25 years old), both Sunni Arab activists living in the Malashieh neighborhood of Ahwaz.
According to informed sources, security forces stormed the homes of these two young men in Malashieh early on Monday, October 25, detaining them without presenting any judicial warrant.
Initial inquiries by the families of Tamimi and Ghazlavi regarding the status of their children have so far been fruitless, and there is no clear information available regarding the charges against them or their exact location of detention.
The pressure, summons, and arbitrary arrests of Sunni citizens and activists in the Ahwaz region (especially in areas like Malashieh) have a documented history.
The Iranian intelligence and security apparatus has consistently approached issues of religious conversion and ideological activities with a security lens, attempting to suppress fundamental religious freedoms in the region through intimidation and the fabrication of cases.
The Karoon Human Rights Organization strongly condemns the arbitrary and unlawful detention of Abbas Tamimi and Hamid Ghazlavi and expresses concern for their safety and the risk of torture against these two young men in security detention facilities. The organization calls for an end to the secrecy of the security agencies, immediate clarification regarding the status of these detainees, assurance of their right to contact and visit with family, access to independent legal counsel, and their unconditional release.
