On September 5, 2023, Safa Aeli, the uncle of Mahsa Amini, was apprehended by security forces and subsequently transported to an undisclosed location.

A source informed HRANA that today, at approximately 13:00, ten intelligence agents in three vehicles came and arrested Aeli at his residence. Additionally, this source provided details regarding the mounting pressure and threats faced by Mahsa Amini’s family from security institutions.

Presently, the specific grounds for Aeli’s detention and his current whereabouts are unknown. Safa Aeli is a Saqqez resident and the maternal uncle of Mahsa Amini.

Background on the 2022 Nationwide Protests

The arrest of Mahsa Amini by Tehran Morality Police for her improper hijab and her suspicious death on September 16 sparked protests sweeping across Iran. Protesters came to the streets with the central slogan “Women, Life, Freedom” in protest against the performance, laws, and structure of the regime. During the nationwide protests, thousands of people, including journalists, artists, lawyers, teachers, students, and civil rights activists, were arrested.