Lack of Information on Condition of Four Political Prisoners after Ten Months

The families and the lawyer of Mohsen Mazloum, Pezhman (Pejman) Fatehi, Vafa Azarbar, and Hazhir (Hajir) Faramarzi remain uninformed about the well-being and legal status of these political prisoners, causing growing concern.

On July 23, 2022, Iran Police Intelligence (FARAJA) arrested them in the Sumay-ye Beradust District of Urmia County.

Despite repeated inquiries from families and lawyers, the whereabouts of these individuals and the specific charges against them remain unknown. Families have sought answers from various prisoners and judicial authorities in Kurdistan, Isfahan, and Tehran, but have faced threats, disrespect, and coerced confessions broadcasted on Iran state TV instead.

Security-institution-affiliated news agency, Tasnim, reported the arrest of “a network of Israeli spies,” referring to these individuals. Tasnim also claimed that they possessed operational and communication equipment, as well as explosive materials, and had crossed into the country from the Kurdistan region with the intention of carrying out unprecedented terrorist operations in secure-sensitive locations.

Approximately 80 days after their arrest, Iran’s state TV aired their coerced confessions, accusing them of spying for foreign intelligence and stating that they had been apprehended in sensitive sites in Isfahan.

In response, Komalah (CPI-a Kurdish oppositional political party) issued a statement denying all these allegations and warned about intelligence institutions’ conspiring against detainees who have been accused of being members of the party.

Four Political Prisoners Coerced to Make TV Confession

Recently, Iran’s state TV broadcasted coerced confessions of four political prisoners Mohsen Mazloum, Pejman Fatehi, Vafa Azarbar and Hajir Faramarzi. On July 23, 2022, these individuals were arrested in Urmia County. After three months of detention, their lawyer is still denied access to the clients and legal case documents.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Iran’s state TV broadcasted a forced confession video of four political detainees, raising concerns about their conditions and subsequent severe punishments.

After 136 days of detention, these individuals’ families are not informed about their whereabouts and the charges. They have also been denied any access to their lawyer.

On July 23, 2022, security-institution-affiliated news agency Tasnim reported the arrest of “a network of Israeli spies” referring to these individuals. Tasnim also claimed that “having operational and communication equipment and explosive materials, they crossed into the country from the Kurdistan region to carry out unprecedented terrorist operations in some secure-sensitive locations.”

In response, Komalah (CPI-a Kurdish oppositional political party) issued a statement denying all these allegations and warned about intelligence institutions’ conspiring against detainees.

One of the detainees’ wife told HRANA: “Since the arrest, we have been worrying about torturing them to extract confessions. As of yet, we do not even know if they are alive or dead.”