Hojat Al-Mohammadi Arrested in Izeh

On May 23, 2023, Hojat Al-Mohammadi, a 38-year-old resident of Izeh, Khuzestan Province, was apprehended by security forces and taken to an undisclosed location.

According to an informed source who spoke with HRANA, Al-Mohammadi was arrested around four pm at his workplace. Since the arrest, he made two phone calls to his family, but he did not disclose his whereabouts during those conversations.
The allegations against him are also still unknown.

Eight Protesters Facing Serious Charges in Izeh

Eight individuals who were arrested during the nationwide protests in Izeh in 2022 have been indicted on charges of “enmity against God (Moharebeh)” and “spreading corruption on earth.” Their cases have been referred to Branch 4 of the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court for trial.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, in Izeh, eight protestors were indicted for charges carrying the potential for severe punishments.

An informed source told HRANA, that in one legal case, Bahman Bahmani, Mohsen Ahmadpour, Behrooz Salahshoor, Rasoul Bodaghi, Vahid Abbasi, Reza Arabpour, Sadegh Ghasemi and Esmail Mousavi were indicted for “enmity against God (Moharebeh)” and “spreading corruption on earth.”

It is currently unknown which actions led to the charges being filed against them.

These individuals were arrested by IRGC intelligence agents and imprisoned in Sheyban Prison in Ahvaz following their interrogation.

These charges are very serious, as was demonstrated when Abbas (Mojahed) Korkori, a resident of Izeh, was recently sentenced to death by the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court on similar charges.

About the 2022 Nationwide Protests

The arrest of Mahsa Amini by Tehran Morality Police for her improper hejab and her suspicious death on September 16 sparked protests sweeping across Iran. During the nationwide protests, about 19600 people, including journalists, artists, lawyers, teachers, students and civil rights activists, were arrested.

 

Foad Choobin Arrested in Izeh

On April 11, 2023, security forces arrested Foad Choobin in Izeh and took him to an undisclosed location. His nephew, Artin Rahmani, was killed by regime forces during the 2022 nationwide protests in Izeh.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on April 11, 2023, Foad Choobin was arrested in Izeh, Khuzestan Province.
Hengameh Choobin, his sister and Artin Rahmani’s mother, stated that the agents did not show any arrest warrant and arrested him violently.

The allegations against Choobin remain unknown.

Choobin’s relative, Artin Rahmani, was fatally shot in the head by security forces during the protests in Izeh.

About 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. During the nationwide protests, about 19600 people, including journalists, artists, lawyers, teachers, students and civil rights activists, were arrested.

Abbas Korkori Sentenced to Death

According to the news agency of Iran’s judiciary, Mizan, Abbas (Mojahed) Korkori, a resident of Izeh, has been sentenced to death by the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court on charges of  “enmity against God (moharebeh)” and “spreading corruption on earth.” Korkori was also convicted of the destruction of private and public properties, forming and participating in anti-regime groups, and armed rebellion against the regime.

The Revolutionary Court claims that Korkori was found guilty based on evidence obtained by CCTV cameras and Criminal Justice expert reports, which testify that the bullets that led to the death of 10-year-old Kian Pirfalak during protests in Izeh, were shot from the gun discovered with the defendant. Additionally, weapons, bullets, and Molotov cocktails were discovered at the defendant’s hideout, and the Governor of Izeh reported damages caused by the defendant and his associates to public and government properties.

“This verdict is not final and can be appealed to the Supreme Court,” the report asserts.

However, Pirfalak’s parents have repeatedly denied these accusations and claimed that their son was killed in a shooting by regime forces. Zeinab Molaei-Rad, Kian’s mother, said during his funeral, “On the way back home, the regime agents opened fire on our car.”

“As Kian’s mother, I will refute any claims that any regular citizen can be the murderer of my son,” his mother said in reaction to the accusations against Abbas Korkori and several others.

During the protest in Izeh, on November 16, 2022, at least seven individuals, including Kiran Pirfalak, were killed in the shooting by regime forces.

About the 2022 Nationwide Protests

The arrest of Mahsa Amini by Tehran Morality Police for her improper hejab and her suspicious death on September 16 sparked protests sweeping across Iran. During the nationwide protests, about 19600 people, including journalists, artists, lawyers, teachers, students and civil rights activists, were arrested.

 

 

Killed Protestor Milad Saeedianjoo’s Siblings Arrested

On March 1, 2023, Omid and Zahra Saeedianjoo, Milad Saeedianjoo’s brother and sister, were arrested in Izeh. Milad Saeedianjoo is one of the protestors killed by regime forces amid nationwide protests.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on March 1, 2023, Omid and Zahra Saeedianjoo were arrested in Izeh.

In a video published on social media, Saeedianjoo’s mother informed the public that her children were arrested during the commemoration ceremony of Milad Saeedianjoo at his burial place.

These siblings reportedly had invited people on social media for participating in a memorial gathering on their brother’s birthday.
On November 16, Milad Saeedianjoo, age 26, was shot dead by regime forces amid nationwide protests in Izeh.

About Iran Nationwide Protests 2022
The arrest of Mahsa Amini by Tehran Morality Police for her alleged improper hejab and her suspicious death on September 16 sparked protests sweeping across Iran. During these protests, at least about 19760 people, including journalists, artists, lawyers, teachers, students and civil rights activists, were arrested.

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Now is definitely not the time to stop reading!

Fifteen People Arrested in Izeh and Baghmalek

HRANA has identified fifteen people arrested by security forces during the protests in Izeh and Baghmalek, Khuzestan Province.

The list of these identified arrestees is as follows: (Notice the actual number of arrests is likely higher.)

In Izeh: 

• Mahmood Darvishi
• Masoud Mohammadi
• Amin Shirmardi
• Ahmad Gorooie

In Baghmalek:

• Sajjad Shafiee
• Hamzeh Shafiee
• Jamshid Ghasemian
• Jamal Ghasemian
• Sasan Zangeneh
• Shirin Mara’ashi
• Majid Yousefi
• Amin Amiri
• Salman Eyvazi
• Mehdi Mousavi
• Alireza Azarnoosh

 

According to an informed source, these individuals have been arrested in the last two days, and their whereabouts are still unknown.
Since the outbreak of nationwide protests, over 17400 people, including journalists, lawyers, teachers, students and civil rights activists, have been arrested. For more details and statistics on the nationwide protest across Iran, read HRANA’s comprehensive report here.
 

Report on Current Nationwide Protests: Hundreds Arrested; Dozens Killed and Injured

During the last two weeks, triggered by food price hikes, nationwide protests erupted in more than 31 cities across 10 provinces. HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, has recorded 53 demonstrations so far. 

According to HRANA, on Friday, May 6, 2022, following the government’s decision to cut subsidies on essential food items such as dairy products, flour, cooking oil, chicken, and eggs leading to soaring prices, the call for rallying against soaring prices went viral on social media. In the following days, several protests broke out in Khuzestan Province and soon swept through numerous cities across the country.

Prior to these protests, a series of protests and gatherings of teachers, labor workers and the retirees who had lost their pensions due to the government’s risky financial decisions had been sweeping across the country leading to dozens being arrested.

The new rounds of protests sparked initially in Susangerd City and other neighboring cities in Khuzestan Province. In the following days, at least 30 Arab-speaking citizens were arrested by security forces.

Soon after, the protests spread to other cities and provinces. The videos received from citizen journalists indicate that the protestors chanted slogans against inflation as well as the Iranian regime leaders, including President Ebrahim Raeisi and Supreme Leader Seyyed Ali Khamenei.

The map below shows the locations where the protests were.

As the map shows, the protests took place in the following cities: Izeh, Susangerd, Hamidieh, Ahvaz, Mahshahr, Masjed Soleiman, Shadegan, Jarahi Town Mahshahr, Dorud, Andimeshk, Dezful, Shahrekord, Junaqan, Fashafouyeh, Yasuj, Ardabil, Farsan, Khorramabad, Dehdasht, Borujerd, Suq, Yazd, Golpayegan, Cholicheh, Rasht, Neyshabur, Surshjan, Hafshejan, Babaheydar, Karevan Town and Pordanjan.

In total, 53 protests have been recorded. Moreover, 45 times, the attempts to start a protest were foiled due to the heavy presence of police and security forces in the streets. 

The map below shows the locations of 53 protests and the time periods.

During these protests, at least on 22 occasions in 14 cities, the police and security forces used tear gas, warning shots, pellet guns and in some cases heavy weapons against the protestors. In nine cities, tear gas and in 14 cities warning shots were used to scatter the crowds. In eight cities, security forces fired straight toward the crowds. Reportedly, security forces have used pellet guns, Kalashnikov assault rifles and paintball guns to disperse the protestors.

The map below shows the places where crackdowns and unrestrained shootings have been reported.

Since the beginning of the protests on Friday, May 6, the government disrupted the internet in several areas in Ahvaz in an attempt to prevent the protests. In the days that followed, Internet disruption was also reported in at least 10 cities.

In addition to intentional Internet disruption, the press was banned from covering the protests.

According to the reports obtained from local sources, at least 449 individuals were arrested during the protests.

So far, six people have been confirmed dead. These people have been identified as Pishali Ghalebi Hajivand (Dezful), Saadat Hadipour (Hafshejan), Jamshid Mokhtari Junaqani (Junaqan), Omid Soltani (Andimeshk), Hamid Ghasempour (Farsan City), and Behrooz Eslami (Babaheydar). HRANA can only confirm the reports on the death of the first two individuals mentioned above.

From all videos of protests which are circulating on social media, HRANA has verified the authenticity of 30 video reports which compilation you can watch below:

 

At Least Ten Citizens Arrested During Protests in Khuzestan

In Khuzestan Province, the officials have attempted to quell the ongoing unrest through tightening security measures, disrupting the internet and telephones, and blackouts. Following the call for protests in the media, at least ten individuals were arrested by security forces and transferred to an unidentified location.

Those individuals who were arrested in Susangerd have been identified as Saeed Dahimi, age 35, Ali Moghinmi, age 40, Hossein Maghinami, age 22, Jasem Bohrani, Hashem Bohrani, Mohammad Tarfi who have been arrested. Also, Adel Hamadi, Mostafa Chalavi, Abbas Chaldavi and Emad Savari were arrested in Ahvaz.

The reports indicate the tightening of security measures and the constant presence of police and security forces in the streets in high numbers. Reportedly, the police used tear gas to crack down on the protests in Izeh City.

One of the civil activists described the unrest: “on last Friday evening, the protests were sparked in Susangerd and a lot of people poured into the streets chanting slogans against the high level of inflation and difficult economic conditions. In the Arab regions of Ahvaz, we witnessed street protests and burning tires.”

In recent days, increased prices and rationing of bread have ignited protests and widespread backlash in Iran.

HRANA Recap: This Week’s Protests in Iran

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, a number of protests took place this week in Iran, many of which were continuations of ongoing movements.  Read our recap below for details, photos, and videos from the demonstrations.

 

Friday, September 3 and Saturday September 4

Several job applicants for Qeshm Refinery Heavy Oil, a group of job applicants for Literacy Movement Instructors in Tehran, a group of workers in Yasuj Municipal Services, a number of dismissed workers of Ahvaz Municipality, a group of shareholders of Cryptoland exchange in Tehran, a group of job applicants of Karname-Sabz, personnel of Kermanshah Jihad Nasr, and Khorramshahr municipal workers held protest rallies on Friday September 3, and Saturday September 4.

Job applicants for Qeshm Refinery Heavy Oil:

Instructor Job applicants of the Literacy Movement:

Workers of Yasuj Municipal Services:

Dismissed workers of Ahvaz Municipality:

Shareholders of Cryptoland exchange in Tehran:

Job applicants of Karname-Sabz:

Sunday, September 5

A group of job applicants of Karname-Sabz for the second day in a row in Tehran, a number of preschool teachers in Izeh city, a group of job  Literacy Movement Instructor applicants for the second consecutive day in Tehran, a number of Khorramshahr municipal workers, a group of Mehrafarin educators in Tehran, and independent contractor teachers in Yazd called on their demands to be addressed in protest rallies.

Job applicants of Karname-Sabz:

Instructor job applicants of the Literacy Movement:

Mehrafarin educators in Tehran:

Preschool teachers in Izeh city:

Monday, September 6

A group of job applicants of Karname-Sabz for the third day in a row in Tehran, a number of  shareholders of Cryptoland exchange in Tehran, a group of job applicants for Literacy Movement Instructors for the third day in a row in Tehran, a few workers of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-
Industry Co., a group of educators in Varamin, educators of Dezful city Literacy Movement, and a group of residents of Ghiazi village in Shadegan held protest rallies and called on their demands to be addressed.

 

Educators of Dezful City’s Literacy Movement:

Job applicants for Literacy Movement Instructors in Tehran:

Job applicants of Karname-Sabz:

Shareholders of Cryptoland Exchange in Tehran:

Workers of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry Company:

Educators in Varamin:

Villagers of Ghiazi in Shadegan:

Tuesday, September 7

A group of job applicants of Karname-Sabz for the fourth day in a row in Tehran and Bandar Imam Petrochemical staff rallied in protest this Tuesday.

Job applicants of Karname-Sabz:

Workers of Bandar Imam Petrochemical:

Wednesday, September 8

A group of telecommunication company personnel for a second consecutive day, several workers of oil and gas projects in Tehran, a group of shareholder drivers of the transport fleet modernization project, and a group of teachers from different cities in front of the parliament building in Tehran rallied this Wednesday. In Tehran, a group of citizens and civil activists rallied protests in front of the Pakistani embassy in support of the Afghan people.

Telecommunication company personnel:

Workers of oil and gas projects:

Shareholder drivers of the transport fleet modernization project:

Rally of teachers in front of the parliament building:

Thursday, September 9

For the sixth day in a row, a group of job applicants of Karname-Sabz in Tehran in protest rallies called for their demands to be addressed. Many citizens and civil activists held rallies reacting to the recent changes in Afghanistan in the cities of Tehran, Mashhad, Bushehr, and Kerman.

Job applicants of Karname-Sabz in Tehran:

Rallies of citizens in support of the people of Afghanistan and against Taliban:

Friday, September 10

A group of job applicants of Karname-Sabz for the seventh day in a row in Tehran in protest rallies called for their demands to be addressed.

 

HRANA Recap: This Week’s Protests in Iran

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the Khuzestan Water Crisis once again dominated this week’s protests in Iran. Since their start on June 15, citizens in over 41 cities have held rallies in protest of the mismanagement from officials that has led to water shortages throughout the province and the drying of the Karun river. A number of labor protests took place as well, and in some areas the ongoing oil protests continued. Workers of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry Company also continued their strike into a third week. Below is a recap of this week’s protests in Iran, along with footage from the demonstrations.

 

Saturday, July 24

A number of protests took place this Saturday, July 24. A group of farmers in Shoaibiyeh district of Shushtar protested in Ahvaz, several telecommunication workers of East Azerbaijan province, some telecommunication workers of Chaharmahal Bakhtiari province, and employees of Abadan Petrochemical Complex held protests. A group of workers of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry Company protested for the eleventh day in a row. A group of Shiraz city bus drivers went on strike and refused to work after their demands were not addressed. Citizens living in Tabriz also rallied and marched in support of the Khuzestan protests.

 

People of Tabriz:

 

Shiraz city bus drivers:

Farmers of Shoaibiyeh:

Telecommunication workers of East Azarbaijan:

Workers of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry Company:

 

 

Workers of Abadan’s Petrochemical Complex:

 

 

Sunday, July 25

A group of retirees of the Steel Companies of Isfahan and Khuzestan Provinces, several rural area telecom workers in the Hamadan region, and a group of workers from the Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry Co. for the thirteenth day in a row held protest rallies and called on their demands to be met.

 

Retirees of the Steel company in Isfahan and Khuzestan provinces:

 

 

Workers of rural area telecom in Hamadan:

 

 

Monday, July 26

A number of workers of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry Company for the fourteenth day in a row, several employees of Imam Khomeini Hospital in Karaj, a group of poultry farmers in Ilam, urban and rural water supply workers in Baghmalek and Izeh, a group of Isfahani citizens, a group of the retirees of IRIB in Tehran, and candidate students for the master’s degree entrance exam in Tehran all held protest rallies and called on their demands to be addressed. Also, in Tehran and Karaj people protested the current situation in the country by holding rallies and marches and chanting slogans.

 

Protesting people in Tehran:

 

 

Workers of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry Company:

 

 

Poultry farmers in Ilam:

 

 

Workers of rural water supply in Baghmalek and Izeh:

 

 

Students in Tehran:

 

 

Tuesday, July 27

Workers of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry Company protested for the 15th consecutive day this Tuesday. Additionally, a group of workers of Rudbar municipality in Gilan province, a number of cattle breeders of Yazd and Isfahan cities, several workers of natural gas fuel gas stations in Urmia, and many people in Abdanan in Ilam province held protest rallies. Also, a group of retirees in Tehran and Karaj rallied in support of the protests of the people of Khuzestan.

 

Workers of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry Company:

 

 

Workers of Rudbar Municipality:

 

 

Cattle breeders of Yazd and Isfahan:

 

 

Workers of gas stations in Urmia:

 

Citizens of Abdanan:

Retirees in Tehran and Karaj:

Wednesday, July 28

For the 16th day in a row, workers of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry Company protested. A group of workers from the Varamin Railway, a group of workers from the Rudbar Municipality for the second day in a row, and a number of truck drivers in Ahvaz all went on strike and called on their demands to be addressed.

 

 

Truck drivers in Ahvaz:

Workers of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry Co:

 

Workers from the Varamin Railway:

Workers of the Rudbar Municipality:

Thursday, July 29

On their 17th day of protesting, a group of workers of the Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry Company in the yard of the company and another group near the site’s alcohol factory called on their demands be addressed in protest rallies.

 

Friday, July 30

Workers of the Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry Company continued their strike for an 18th day in a row and gathered on the company’s site. The Haft Tappeh workers stated that their main demands are the payment of arrears, the return of fired colleagues, and access to Covid-19 vaccines. They also chanted slogans protesting the Islamic Parliament’s decision to block the Internet in Iran. Also, A number of mothers of those killed during the nationwide protest in November 2019 protests held a protest rally in Tehran’s Azadi Square.

 

Workers of the Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry Company:

Gathering in Tehran of mothers of those killed in the protests of November 2019: