According to reports received by the Karoon Human Rights Organization, on the evening of Friday, September 4, 2026, forces from the Ahwaz Intelligence Department raided the home of Majid Sharifi (Sawari) in the Mash’ali neighborhood of Ahwaz without presenting a judicial warrant and arrested more than 10 people who were present at the residence.
Among those arrested was Arkan Sharifi (Sawari), a 17-year-old teenager and the son of Majid Sharifi. Arkan, who works at a metalworking workshop, had returned home only a few minutes before the security forces entered the residence.
Majid Sharifi, 44, who owns an automotive front-end repair workshop, had recently returned from a trip to northern Iran and was hosting several friends when security forces surrounded the house and forcibly entered, arresting him and his guests.
According to the report, after entering the residence, the security forces conducted a thorough search of the house and confiscated the mobile phones of those present. Majid Sharifi and several others were also reportedly beaten, while his vehicle was seized by the authorities. The detainees were transferred to an undisclosed location while blindfolded.
The identities of several of those arrested, all residents of the Mash’ali and Akhar Asphalt neighborhoods of Ahwaz, have been reported as follows:
- Razi Heydari, 50, who has a medical condition
- Hossein Heydari, 29
- Abdolhadi Asakereh, 30
- Majid (Abdolmajid) Sharifi (Sawari), 44
- Arkan Sharifi (Sawari), 17
- Lafteh Heydari, 36
- Hamzeh Sayahi, 34
- Mohammad Sawari
Relatives of Arkan Sharifi, citing his young age and reports of violent treatment by intelligence forces, have expressed concern about his physical and psychological condition during detention.
According to Ahwaz human rights activists, on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, several of the detainees were transferred to the quarantine section of Sheiban Prison, also known as Ahwaz Central Prison. Majid Sharifi, however, remains detained at the Intelligence Department detention facility.
Majid Sharifi has previously been summoned, arrested, and imprisoned in connection with his religious activities. Approximately one year ago, intelligence forces raided his home during his child’s birthday celebration and arrested him and his guests. He was subsequently summoned and threatened on several occasions.
In recent months, there have been reports of an increase in the summoning and arrest of Sunni citizens in Ahwaz, with dozens of individuals reportedly summoned or arrested by forces from the Intelligence Department and IRGC Intelligence.
As of the publication of this report, the detainees’ exact whereabouts and any charges against them remain unknown.
The Karoon Human Rights Organization condemns the raid on citizens’ homes without judicial warrants, the mass arrests, the reported use of violence, and particularly the detention of a 17-year-old teenager. The organization calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all individuals detained solely because of their religious and civil activities. It also calls for clarification of the detainees’ status and guarantees of their access to their families and legal counsel.
