On December 30, Azerbaijani-Turk activist Ebrahim Rashidi was arbitrarily apprehended by security forces in Meshginshahr and subsequently transported to an undisclosed location.

The arrest unfolded at Rashidi’s father’s residence in a village situated in Meshginshahr County, Ardabil province. The motives behind Rashidi’s arrest and his current whereabouts remain unknown at this time. It is worth noting that Rashidi has previously experienced other arrests and legal confrontations due to his activism.

In 2023, the Department of Statistics and Publications of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) recorded 329 reports, citing the arrest of 324 citizens linked to ethnic and national rights. Notably, 156 of these arrests occurred without the issuance of a judicial warrant.