According to reports received by the Karoon Human Rights Organization, at least 18 Ahwazi Arab Sunni citizens have been arrested by security forces in recent days in Aboudeh Village, located on the road between Hamidiyeh and Ahwaz, as well as in the Mash’ali District of Ahwaz. The whereabouts and condition of several of those detained remain unknown.
Arrest of 10 Citizens in Aboudeh Village
According to the Karoon Human Rights Organization, forces from the Intelligence Organization of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC Intelligence) raided Aboudeh Village on Thursday, September 10, 2026, arresting at least 10 Ahwazi Arab citizens and transferring them to an undisclosed location.
According to information received, the detainees are followers of Sunni Islam, and their arrests appear to be related to their religious beliefs and activities. They were reportedly targeted during a raid while visiting the home of a friend.
As of the time of publication, the identities of nine of those arrested have been confirmed:
- Mostafa Cheldawi, resident of Ahwaz
- Kamal Batrani, resident of Pardis, Ahwaz
- Loghman Batrani, resident of Ahwaz Township
- Hadi Beit-Sheikh-Ahmad (Abu Kamal), 55, resident of Golestan, Ahwaz
- Reza Sawari, resident of Ahwaz Township
- Khaled Gharbawi, resident of Ahwaz Township
- Jafar Cheldawi, resident of Ahwaz Township
- Ebrahim Hamdani, resident of Ahwaz
- Ali Cheldawi, resident of Ahwaz Township
All of the identified detainees are married and heads of household. The Karoon Human Rights Organization is continuing to investigate and confirm the identity of another citizen who was arrested during the raid.
Concern Over the Condition of Majid Sharifi and Lafteh Heydari
Meanwhile, Majid Sharifi (Savari), an Ahwazi Arab Sunni citizen from Mash’ali District in Ahwaz, remains detained at the Ahwaz Intelligence Department detention facility.
According to reports received by the Karoon Human Rights Organization, Majid Sharifi, 44, suffers from kidney failure, and his family and relatives have expressed concern about his physical condition. Sources close to the family have also raised concerns about the possibility of mistreatment and pressure during his detention. These allegations require independent investigation.
Majid Sharifi has previously been arrested and imprisoned in connection with his religious activities.
According to information received, the other detainees in this case, together with his 17-year-old son, Erkan Sharifi, have been transferred to the quarantine ward of Sheiban Prison in Ahwaz.
The health condition of Lafteh Heydari, 36, another detainee from Mash’ali District, has also been reported as concerning. Before his arrest, he was the sole breadwinner of his family and supported them by operating a small stall selling cold drinks in Mash’ali District.
Identities of Those Arrested in Mash’ali District
According to reports received, forces from the Intelligence Department raided Majid Sharifi’s home in Mash’ali District on September 4, 2026, and arrested eight Ahwazi Arab citizens.
Their identities are:
- Razi Heydari, 50, resident of Mash’ali District, Ahwaz
- Hossein Heydari, 29, resident of Mash’ali District, Ahwaz
- Abdolhadi Asakereh, 30, resident of Mash’ali District, Ahwaz
- Majid Sharifi (Sawari), 44, resident of Mash’ali District, Ahwaz
- Erkan Sharifi, 17, resident of Mash’ali District, Ahwaz
- Lafteh Heydari, 36, resident of Mash’ali District, Ahwaz
- Hamzeh Seyahi, 34, resident of Mash’ali District, Ahwaz
- Mohammad Sawari, resident of Mash’ali District, Ahwaz
According to information received, the officers entered the home without presenting a judicial warrant and arrested those present. The house was also searched, and mobile phones were confiscated. Majid Sharifi’s vehicle remains in the possession of Intelligence Department forces.
Continued Lack of Information About the Detainees
Several days after the arrests, precise information remains unavailable regarding the whereabouts, legal status and health condition of some of the detainees.
The lack of information about the fate of those arrested, particularly individuals suffering from illnesses, heads of household and a 17-year-old citizen, has heightened the concerns of their families.
The Karoon Human Rights Organization condemns the arrest of citizens on the basis of their religious beliefs and activities, any beating or mistreatment of detainees, and their detention in undisclosed locations. The organization calls for the immediate disclosure of the whereabouts of all detainees, access to their families and lawyers, prompt access to medical care and necessary medication for those who are ill, and full respect for their legal and human rights.
