Category: News

University of Essex Human Rights Centre Hosts Event on Pursuing Accountability for IRGC Violations

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News, Other
HRANA, irgc, Skylar Thompson

HRANA- In Colchester, UK, The University of Essex hosted a private lecture on Friday, January 30, 2026, examining pathways to accountability for serious human rights violations and alleged international crimes attributed to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and in light of ongoing events where it is clear the IRGC is the main perpetrator and where the Pasdaran Documentation Project (PDP) database has already established a preliminary assessment qualifying the IRGC as complicit in crimes against humanity. The lecture also drew on HRA’s and UpRights’ work on the Pasdaran Documentation Project and its Pathways to Accountability memo.

The event, titled “Pursuing Accountability for Serious Human Rights Violations and International Crimes Implicating Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC),” was held at the Colchester Campus and organized by HRA in collaboration with Essex Law School and the Human Rights Centre. It brought together legal experts, human rights practitioners, and members of the academic community to discuss documentation, legal strategies, and international mechanisms for justice.

The panel was chaired and moderated by Dr. Matthew Gillett, Senior Lecturer at the University of Essex Law School and United Nations Special Mandate Holder, serving as Vice-Chair and Rapporteur of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. In his opening remarks, Dr. Gillett emphasized the central role of credible, structured documentation in pursuing accountability where domestic remedies are unavailable. He noted that international legal processes increasingly depend on high-quality evidence and rigorous methodological standards.

Skylar Thompson, Deputy Director of Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA), introduced the Pasdaran Documentation Project (PDP), a long-term initiative developed by HRA with legal support from the organization UpRights. Thompson explained that PDP maps the IRGC’s institutional structure, operational units, and chains of command, and links this architecture to documented incidents of human rights abuses in Iran and abroad.

According to Thompson, the project is already being used by national jurisdictions to better understand the IRGC in support of prosecutorial processes, and it is designed to support investigations, legal analysis, and informed policy responses. “Accountability requires a sustained focus on grassroots documentation at the early stage,” she said, adding that PDP seeks to transform fragmented information into an integrated framework of institutional responsibility.

Valérie Gabard, Co-Director of UpRights, addressed the legal and practical challenges of pursuing accountability in the Iranian context. She outlined how international legal avenues, such as universal jurisdiction, targeted sanctions regimes, and UN mechanisms, can be activated when supported by systematic documentation. Gabard stressed that while accountability within Iran remains unrealistic under current conditions, external legal processes offer meaningful opportunities to advance justice for victims, while also noting their inherent difficulties.

Participants raised questions about data verification and the ethical challenges of documenting abuses in highly repressive environments.

The event concluded with reflections on the long-term nature of accountability work and the need for sustained international engagement. Speakers underscored that structured documentation initiatives such as PDP can play a critical role in ensuring that allegations of abuse are preserved and made usable for future legal and policy processes.

The gathering demonstrated interest in practical, evidence-based approaches to addressing alleged international crimes linked to the IRGC and reinforced the role of universities as key spaces for advancing research, dialogue, and accountability initiatives.

Learn more about the project and read the memo at IranPDP.org

Report on the Arrest of Three Family Members of Death Row Political Prisoner Babak Alipour

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News, Prisoners
Babak Alipour, Maryam Alipour, Omolbanin Dehghan, Roozbeh Alipour

HRANA – Roozbeh Alipour, Maryam Alipour, and Omolbanin Dehghan, members of the family of Babak Alipour, a prisoner sentenced to death, have been detained for five days, and there is still no information about their place of detention.

Based on information received by HRANA, on January 26, Roozbeh and Maryam Alipour, the brother and sister of Babak Alipour, along with Omolbanin Dehghan, his mother, were arrested while returning from a visit with him at Evin Prison. Despite the passage of five days since their arrest, no information has been obtained regarding their place of detention or the detaining authority. Roozbeh Alipour had previously faced judicial convictions due to his activities.

Babak Alipour, along with five others, was again sentenced to death in December of last year by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari. The death sentences of these individuals had been overturned by the Supreme Court in July of 2025, and their cases were referred to a parallel court branch.

Day 33 of the Protests: EU Designates IRGC as a Terrorist Organization as Repression Persists

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Freedom of Expression, News
Eskandar Momeni, EU, HRANA, Iman Afshari, irgc, Kaja Kallas, Mohammad Movahedi Azad

HRANA – According to the latest aggregated data compiled by HRANA on the thirty-third day since the start of the protests, the total number of confirmed deaths has reached 6,479. Of these, 6,092 were protesters, 118 were children under the age of 18, 214 were government-affiliated forces, and 55 were non-protester civilians. In addition, 17,091 cases remain under investigation. The number of injured civilians has been reported at 11,020, along with 281 cases of forced confessions and 11,027 summonses to security institutions. Furthermore, a total of 660 protest-related incidents have been recorded across 203 cities in 31 provinces.

Today, two parallel developments unfolded. On the one hand, external reactions and pressure, particularly in Europe, intensified, with a focus on designating the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization and imposing human rights sanctions. On the other hand, repression continued domestically following the street phase of the protests, taking the form of ongoing arrests, the presence of security institutions in schools, and increased pressure in detention centers and medical facilities.

Designating the IRGC as a Terrorist Organization and Sanctions Packages

In recent days, the European Union has pursued pressure on Iran’s repressive apparatus through two parallel tools: placing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on the list of terrorist organizations and expanding targeted human rights sanctions against individuals and entities involved in the crackdown. Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs, announced that EU foreign ministers had taken a “decisive” step by designating the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization, stressing that the repression of protesters would not go unanswered.

Simultaneously, the European Union sanctioned 15 individuals and 6 Iranian entities for their “involvement in or responsibility for human rights violations and the repression of protesters.” According to HRANA, these sanctions include asset freezes, travel bans to the European Union, and prohibitions on providing any financial or economic resources to the listed individuals and entities.

Among the announced cases are the names of several key figures and institutions. These include Eskandar Momeni (Minister of Interior), Mohammad Movahedi Azad (Prosecutor General), and Iman Afshari (judge of Branch 26 of Tehran’s Revolutionary Court), whom the Council of Europe has linked to roles in the “violent suppression of protests” and “arbitrary arrests.”

In the supplementary sanctions packages tied to digital repression, the Organization for the Regulation of Audio and Visual Media (SATRA), the IRGC’s Center for the Examination of Organized Crimes (Seraj Center), and the Working Group for Determining Criminal Content have also been named as entities playing a direct role in the “control, censorship, and suppression of communications and cyberspace.”

Experts believe that at the political level these measures go beyond mere “sanctions.” The formal redefinition of the IRGC as a terrorist actor in Europe carries broader implications: increasing the risks of financial and legal engagement with affiliated structures, strengthening the legal basis for accountability efforts, and at the same time raising the political cost of normalizing relations with institutions responsible for repression.

Reactions indicate that this process in Europe has moved beyond a purely “symbolic” or media-driven stance. Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, voiced support for the EU’s move to designate the IRGC as a terrorist organization, calling it “the right decision” and emphasizing the need to “stand firm.” Meanwhile, Hadja Lahbib (EU Commissioner) referred to the decision to impose new sanctions on individuals involved in the crackdown and spoke of the European Union’s support for investigations and fact-finding mechanisms into the killing of protesters.

Repression and Arrests: Security Agents’ Presence in Schools and Harsh Situation at Mashhad Detention Centers

Despite the subsiding of the street phase of the protests, field reports indicate that arrests and prosecution continue, and in some areas have been accompanied by new waves of mass arrests. According to HRANA, at least 706 citizens were arrested over the past 24 hours in the cities of Dezful, Yazd, Borujen, Borujerd, and Nur. In addition, the Public Security Police of FARAJA reported the arrest of 327 protesters nationwide since December 28, while the General Directorate of Intelligence of Hormozgan Province announced the arrest of 65 citizens in connection with the protests.

Individual arrests by security forces follow the street-level crackdown. HRANA has reported the detention and continued lack of information regarding several detained individuals: Maedeh Dowlatabadi (21) in Urmia, who is being held in a security detention facility; as well as Farhad Jangi-Zehi (Minab) and Ehsan Nedaei-Hour (Ramsar), who were arrested on different dates and remain in custody.

At the same time, arrests among students have also continued. HRANA has reported the detention of Amin Norouzi and Ilya Bakhshaie (two students in Yazd), as well as Yousef Yousefi, a student at Kharazmi University of Technology in Tehran, during the protests.

One indicator of the continuation of repression is the transfer of security pressure into schools. Reports indicate that security agents have been dispatched to schools and have spoken with students in an effort to impose the official narrative of the protests. An 18-year-old student from Bandar Abbas stated that in recent days, agents have been sent to schools and are attempting to promote the government’s official account.

Taken together, these data suggest that the policy of control has shifted from the “street” to universities, schools, and detention centers, aiming to prevent the re-emergence of protests through sustained pressure and the cultivation of lasting fear.

Crackdowns in Medical Facilities and Arrests in Hospitals

Reports related to the treatment of the injured most clearly reflect the intensity of pressure and repression, where seeking medical care can turn into a risk of arrest. According to an account from a source in Tehran, a large number of citizens with pellet-gun injuries to the eyes sought treatment at a specialized ophthalmology hospital in the city. After the protests ended, representatives from the medical sciences university and security institutions visited the hospital, extracted the names of all individuals hospitalized between January 8 and January 12, and took the information with them.

the Deputy for Nursing Affairs at Iran’s Ministry of Health said that if individuals seek treatment and provide a different name, “no one conducts an inspection,” and that identity verification is only required if insurance is used, a claim that effectively acknowledges the presence of fear and the issue of identity checks, even though it does not directly reference security forces entering hospitals. Abbas Abadi, the Ministry’s Deputy for Nursing Affairs, also warned about the consequences of delayed treatment, stating that postponement can lead to wound infections and the need for complex surgeries.

At the international level, the World Health Organization announced that amid the widespread crackdown on protesters, it has confirmed an attack on a hospital in Iran and emphasized the necessity of protecting healthcare facilities and ensuring unhindered access to medical services.

Taken together, these reports indicate that the “space of medical care” has also become part of the security arena, from extracting the names of the injured to heightened fear of seeking treatment, and multiple reports of the abduction or arrest of wounded individuals.

Teachers’ Statement and the Killing of Several Educators

The Coordination Council of Teachers’ Trade Associations of Iran stated in a communiqué that, alongside references to mounting security pressures, several teachers were killed during the protests: Kamran Akbari, Karamali A‘laei, and Reza Karimi-Far (Ansari-Far).

Updated (Aggregated) Statistics Through the End of Day 33 of the Protests

• Total protest locations/incidents in cities: 660
• Number of cities (non-duplicative): 203
• Number of provinces (non-duplicative): 31

• Injured civilians: 11,020
• Arrested children, adolescents, and students: 326
• Arrested students: 70
• Forced confessions: 281
• Summonses: 11,027

• Total protesters killed: 6,092

▪️ Including children: 118
▪️ Military/government-affiliated forces: 214
▪️ Non-protester civilians: 55

• Total deaths: 6,479

• Cases under review: 17,091 cases

Summary

Day 33 of the protests was marked by the continuation of post-crackdown repression, including ongoing arrests, an expanded security presence in schools, and sustained pressure on detention centers and medical facilities. At the same time, international developments, most notably the designation of the IRGC as a terrorist organization and the imposition of targeted European sanctions, underscore that the repression file remains active and is entering a phase of intensified diplomatic and human rights pressure.

Ahmad Alizadeh Arrested by IRGC Intelligence in Ilam

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Labor and Guilds, News
Abdanan, Ahmad Alizadeh, Fanuj, HRANA, irgc

HRANA – Yesterday, January 28, Ahmad Alizadeh, a high school physical education teacher in Abdanan County, was arrested by agents of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Intelligence in Ilam Province and transferred to an undisclosed location.

A source close to the family confirmed the arrest, telling HRANA that Ahmad Alizadeh was detained on Wednesday evening, January 28, 2026, by IRGC intelligence agents without the presentation of a judicial warrant. Following his arrest, he was transferred to an unknown location and has had no contact with his family so far.

As of the time of this report, no information has been obtained regarding the reasons for his arrest or the charges brought against him.

In February 2025, Ahmad Alizadeh had been sent to the city of Fanuj in Sistan and Baluchestan Province to serve a two-year sentence of compulsory residence.

He was previously arrested on October 17, 2022, in connection with the nationwide protests in Abdanan, Ilam Province, by security forces, and was later released on bail.

Ahmad Alizadeh, aged approximately 53, is an employee of the Abdanan Department of Education and a high school physical education teacher with more than 29 years of work experience. He has previously faced arrest and judicial action due to his activities.

Arbitrary arrests, transferring detainees to undisclosed locations, and leaving families in the dark about the fate of their loved ones are routine practices of the Iranian regime’s security agencies, such as the Ministry of Intelligence and the IRGC Intelligence Unit. This pattern of behavior stands in clear violation of the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, known as the Nelson Mandela Rules.

Nationwide Protests: At Least 1,098 Citizens Arrested

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Freedom of Expression, News, Other
Borujen, Borujerd, Dezful, Faraja, Hormozgan, mass arrest, Nur, Yazd

HRANA – During the nationwide protests, at least 706 citizens were arrested in the cities of Dezful, Yazd, Borujen, Borujerd, and Nur. In addition, the Public Security Police of FARAJA reported the arrest of 327 protesters nationwide since December 28. The General Directorate of Intelligence of Hormozgan Province also announced the arrest of 65 citizens in connection with the protests in the province.

According to IRNA, the Lorestan Police Information Center claimed that an individual accused of killing a Basij member named Seyed Mohammad Javad Monavvar and injuring his son, Seyed Mohammad Naeim Monavvar, in the city of Borujerd, had been identified and arrested. It was alleged that the accused confessed to the killing during interrogations.

In another report, IRNA announced the arrest of 13 protesting citizens in Nur County, claiming that a large number of bladed weapons were confiscated from them and that they were accused of damaging public property.

IRNA also reported the arrest of 452 protesting citizens in Dezful County. According to this report, 19 individuals were arrested under the charge of being “main leaders of the protests,” and 21 others for being “responsible for spreading protest calls.”

The Dezful police commander claimed that firearms, bladed weapons, and incendiary materials were discovered and confiscated from the accused.

Meanwhile, the state broadcaster reported that the Public Security Police of FARAJA had arrested 327 protesting citizens nationwide since December 22, 2025. The media outlet claimed that these individuals were members of 57 organized networks and were accused of damaging public property. Allegations of discovering weapons and incendiary materials were also raised in connection with these arrests.

Additionally, the broadcaster reported the arrest of 27 citizens in Yazd on charges described as “filming and sending content to hostile media outlets.”

Ahmad Negahban, the commander of Yazd Province’s law enforcement forces, claimed that these individuals had filmed and photographed damage to public property and sent the images to Persian-language media outlets based outside the country.

In another report, the state broadcaster announced the arrest of 213 protesting citizens in Borujen, stating that 30 of them were detained under the charge of being “main leaders of the protests.”

The General Directorate of Intelligence of Hormozgan Province also announced, in a statement, the arrest of 65 citizens in connection with the protests. These individuals were accused of “setting fire to mosques, public and service facilities, buses, and attacking military and law enforcement centers in the province.”

These reports do not mention the identities of the detained citizens or their places of detention.

It should be noted that gatherings and strikes by shopkeepers and bazaar merchants began in Tehran on Sunday, December 28, 2025, and after two days spread beyond bazaars and commercial centers. With the participation of students, citizens, and various social groups, these protests have become one of the most widespread demonstrations in recent years. For more information, readers can refer to HRANA’s detailed report published last night on the thirty-second day since the start of the protests.

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Nationwide Protests: Nine Citizens Arrested in Bandar Abbas

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Freedom of Expression, News
Ali Akbar Javidan, Bandar-Abbas, iran protests

HRANA – The Commander of Hormozgan Province’s Law Enforcement Forces announced the arrest of 9 protesting citizens, including two women, in Bandar Abbas.

According to  IRNA, the Hormozgan police commander stated that those arrested include seven men and two women who had taken part in the popular protests in Bandar Abbas. Ali-Akbar Javidan also claimed that incendiary materials were discovered at the residences of these citizens.

Chanting slogans, disobeying officers, and setting fire to and damaging public property were cited as among the reasons for the arrests.

Javidan added that after judicial cases were opened and preliminary investigations were completed, the detainees were transferred to prison by order of judicial authorities and following the issuance of legal detention orders.

This report does not mention the identities of the detained citizens or their place of detention.

It is worth noting that gatherings and strikes by shopkeepers and bazaar merchants began in Tehran on Sunday, December 28, 2025, and after two days spread beyond bazaars and commercial centers. With the participation of students, citizens, and various social groups, these protests have become one of the most widespread demonstrations in recent years. For more information, readers can refer to HRANA’s detailed report published last night on the thirty-second day since the start of the protests.

At Least 11 Prisoners Executed on Murder and Drug-Related Charges

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Executions, News
Bushehr, Chabahar, Damghan, Esfarayen, HRANA, Kashmar, Mahabad, Malayer, Mashhad, Sabzevar, Shahrekord, Shiraz

HRANA – At dawn yesterday, Wednesday, January 28, the death sentences of 11 prisoners, previously convicted on charges related to drug offenses and murder, were carried out in the prisons of Mahabad, Esfarayen, Sabzevar, Shiraz, Malayer, Damghan, Chabahar, Mashhad, Kashmar, Shahrekord, and Bushehr.

According to information received by HRANA, Fuad Amini was executed in Mahabad Prison; Sajjad Khani in Esfarayen Prison; Farhad Namazi in Sabzevar Prison; Nima Afshari in Malayer Prison; Khosrow Pezeshki in Damghan Prison; Darvish Abbas Yadegari in Kashmar Prison; Hossein Mousavi in Shahrekord Prison; and Mokhtar Hassani in Bushehr Prison. All had been sentenced to death on murder charges, and their sentences were carried out.

Additionally, Arshia Changi in Shiraz Prison, Armin Aghapour in Mashhad Prison, and one Afghan national in Chabahar Prison were executed on charges related to drug-related crimes.

Further details, including the identity of the prisoner executed in Chabahar Prison, are currently under investigation by HRANA.

As of the time of this report, the executions have not been officially announced by prison authorities or relevant institutions.

According to HRA’s annual report on the human rights situation in Iran, at least 2,063 people were executed in Iran during the one-year period from January 1, 2025, to January 1, 2026. Based on this data, executions increased by 119% compared to 2024. In many of these cases, due to secrecy, prisoners were deprived even of the right to a final visit with their families.

Day 32 of Protests: Limited Internet Access, Ongoing Arrests, and Growing International Pressure

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Freedom of Expression, News
European Parliament, iran protests, irgc

HRANA – According to HRANA’s latest aggregated data on the 32nd day since the start of the protests, the total number of confirmed fatalities has reached 6,373. Of these, 5,993 were protesters, 113 were children under the age of 18, 214 were forces affiliated with the government, and 53 were non-protesters/civilians. The number of deaths currently under review has been reported as 17,091.
The total number of arrests has reached 42,486. The number of severely injured individuals stands at 11,018, the number of broadcast forced confessions has been reported as 270 cases, and 11,027 people have been summoned to security institutions. Additionally, a total of 658 protest-related incidents have been recorded across 202 cities in 31 provinces.

Current developments focus on the continuation of communication control policies, including the limited restoration of internet access, the ongoing wave of arrests, and post-crackdown pressures marked by the imposition of heavy bail requirements on detainees, alongside international reactions and emerging positions on designating the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization.

Continued Communication Restrictions; Limited Internet Restoration

On the 32nd day since the start of the protests, restrictions and security control over communications remain in place. After nearly three weeks of internet shutdown or severe disruption, data and field accounts now suggest that international internet access has been partially restored for some users. However, access patterns have not returned to “normal,” and many users continue to face heavy filtering, intermittent outages, and selective access. This situation has effectively led to the formation of a “tiered access” system, in which certain services are available only to specific groups or through limited pathways, while the majority of users experience persistent restrictions.

The economic and social consequences of these communication disruptions have also been reported. Online business operators have described a significant drop in sales and the paralysis of order processing, payment, and distribution cycles, particularly for businesses that rely primarily on social media platforms, online payment gateways, and direct customer communication. Alongside economic damage, communication shutdowns have also heightened security risks for the injured and their families. Restrictions on contact and access to information have made it more difficult to track the status of detainees, coordinate aid efforts, and even seek medical care, while further expanding an atmosphere of fear of surveillance and arrest.

International Reaction; France’s Support for Designating the IRGC as a Terrorist Organization and the Position of the European Parliament President

International reactions to the protests on this day focused on Europe’s political stance toward the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its role in the crackdown on the protests.

On one side, French officials have explicitly spoken of Paris’s support for placing the IRGC on the European Union’s list of terrorist organizations, while simultaneously emphasizing the use of sanctions tools, including travel bans and asset freezes, against those responsible for the repression. This stance has been accompanied by demands such as a halt to executions, an end to digital restrictions, and the facilitation of international fact-finding mechanisms.

On the other side, the President of the European Parliament has also adopted a clear position, describing the designation of the IRGC as a terrorist organization as a “historic duty” for Europe, framing it within the context of international accountability for the repression and killing of protesters. At the same time, some reports have pointed to claims of a broad consensus among EU member states on this issue. Taken together, these positions indicate that the debate over accountability and international pressure mechanisms remains at the center of attention.

Continued Arrests and Repression: Lack of Information on Detainees and Heavy Bail Requirements

Despite the end of the street phase of the protests, data from Day 32 indicate that the cycle of arrests and case-building continues, often accompanied by lack of information about detainees’ whereabouts, transfers to security detention facilities, and pressure on families. Aggregated reports from multiple cities point to group arrests of citizens, ranging from multi-defendant cases in Tehran, Qaen, and Mashhad to larger lists of detainees in various other cities. Alongside these accounts, official and semi-official reports have also referred to the arrest of dozens of individuals in several provinces and cities in connection with the nationwide protests. The practical outcome of this trend is the maintenance of a repressive, police-state atmosphere: arrests continue to be used as a tool of social control and to prevent the resurgence of protests, even after public gatherings have subsided.

Some individuals are also targeted for repression due to the performance of their professional and occupational duties. As an exmaple, reports have emerged of the arrest of a physician in Isfahan on charges related to assisting injured protesters. At the same time, narratives have surfaced regarding the risks faced by injured individuals when seeking hospital care, a situation that can disrupt treatment processes and extend fear of prosecution into the healthcare sphere. There have also been reports of arrests and summonses within the cultural community (including filmmakers), as well as increased security pressure inside prisons, indicating efforts to silence prominent social figures and suppress voices expressing solidarity and alignment with the protests.

Alongside arrests, heavy bail requirements have become one of the main pressure points on detainees’ families. Reports indicate a sharp increase in bail amounts, in some cases reaching unusually high levels by nonstandard criteria. Families face not only severe financial strain but also bureaucratic obstacles and exhausting procedures to post bail. This policy effectively serves two simultaneous functions: on the one hand, it renders temporary release impossible for many detainees; on the other, it draws families into a cycle of economic and psychological distress. Under such conditions, even when bail is formally granted, the practical possibility of release is not necessarily ensured, as posting bail, converting deeds, or having guarantees accepted is often met with multiple layers of restriction and delay.

Updated (Aggregated) Statistics Through the End of Day 32 of the Protests

• Number of recorded gatherings/protests: 658

• Number of cities involved (no duplicates): 202

• Number of provinces involved (no duplicates): 31

• Total arrests: 42,486

• Arrests of individuals under 18: 326

• Arrested students: 70

• Broadcast forced confessions: 270 cases

• Summonses to security institutions: 11,027 cases

• Severely injured individuals: 11,018

• Confirmed fatalities: 6,373

▪️ Protesters: 5,993
▪️ Children (under 18): 113
▪️ Government-affiliated forces: 214
▪️ Non-protesters/civilians: 53

• Fatalities under review: 17,091

Summary

The 32nd day since the start of the protests concluded with widespread communication controls still in place, despite a limited restoration of internet access, and with their economic and social impacts continuing. At the same time, arrests and security pressures have entered a post-crackdown phase, while heavy bail requirements have become an effective tool for wearing down families and restricting the possibility of temporary release for detainees.On the international front, new positions adopted by Europe and France regarding the designation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization and the need for accountability indicate that the issue of repression and demands for international responsibility remain active, and increasingly intensified, at the diplomatic and media levels.

Report on the Arrest of Ghazaleh Ra’yat, a Baha’i Citizen in Mashhad

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News, Religious Minorities
Baha'i citizen, Ghazaleh Ra'yat, Mashhad, Vakilabad prison

HRANA – Ghazaleh Ra’yat, a Baha’i citizen residing in Mashhad, was arrested by security agents in mid-January and is being held in an uncertain legal status at Vakilabad Prison in this city.

Based on information received by HRANA, Ms. Ra’yat was arrested at her workplace in Mashhad in mid-January, following a search of her home, was transferred to the local Intelligence Office. She is currently being held without formal charges at Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad. As of the time of this report, no information has been obtained regarding the reasons for her arrest or the charges brought against her.

It is worth noting that gatherings and strikes by shopkeepers and market traders began in Tehran on Sunday, December 28 and after two days expanded beyond markets and commercial centers. With the participation of students, citizens, and various social groups, these protests became one of the most widespread in recent years. For more information, readers may refer to HRANA’s detailed report on the 31st day of the protests, published last night.

Report on the Arrest of Hossein Zarabian, a Specialist Physician in Isfahan

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Freedom of Expression, News
Babak Zarabian, Hossein Zarabian, HRANA, Isfahan

HRANA  – Hossein (Babak) Zarabian, a specialist in infectious diseases, has been arrested by security forces at his private residence in Isfahan for more than two weeks, and no information has so far been obtained regarding his place of detention.

A source familiar with the case told HRANA that the arrest of this specialist physician took place on January 14 at his home in Isfahan and was due to his assistance to injured protesters. According to the source, there has been no information to date about Mr. Zarabian’s whereabouts. His relatives have visited security and judicial authorities to follow up on his case, but despite expressing readiness to post bail and requesting information about his place of detention, they have not received any clear response.

As of the time of this report, no information is available regarding the charges brought against this citizen.

Hossein (Babak) Zarabian holds a doctorate in medicine and is a specialist in infectious and tropical diseases. Prior to his arrest, he was working at Milad Hospital in Isfahan.

It is worth noting that gatherings and strikes by shopkeepers and market traders began in Tehran on December 28 and after two days spread beyond markets and commercial centers. With the participation of students, citizens, and various social groups, these protests became one of the most widespread movements in recent years. For further information, readers may refer to HRANA’s detailed report on the 31st day of the protests, published last night.