Nearly three months past the November 2019 protests in Iran, civil activists and families of some of those arrested during the protests say of having absolutely no information on the fate of their arrested relatives.
Many families are extremely concerned that their children might be among those killed in the protests since they have not contacted home since when they were arrested.
A number of those arrested had been wounded during Iran protests in November 2019. They were abducted and taken to jail from hospitals including the Namazi Hospital of Shiraz and the Mo’arifizadeh Hospital in Shadegan, Ahvaz.
The majority of arrests were made by the IRGC Intelligence. According to reliable reports, those arrested are held in the detention centers of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
A large number of the detainees were arrested in the days following the protest after being identified by security forces in footage, video clips and recordings of closed circuit cameras. Intelligence Ministry and Judiciary officials introduce them as riot leaders.
Mohammad Hossein Aghassi is the defense attorney for a number of those arrested in November. He says there is no information on some of the arrested protesters. Their cases have not been filed with the court, their lawyers have not been able to take up their case.
Some of the arrested protesters who have been freed on bail speak of terrible psychological pressure as well as brutal beatings with batons and shockers during their detention to make false confessions about “having contacts with opposition networks abroad.”
It has been reported that more than 300 protesters are presently detained in a large container called Ward 5 of the Greater Tehran Penitentiary (aka Fashafouyeh). This is a newly-built ward without any facilities.
In the women’s prison of Qarchak in Varamin, the detainees are held in a place which used to be a basketball field, and has no ventilation or facilities. The detainees sleep on the floor in horrible conditions.
The spokesman for the National Security Committee of the mullahs’ parliament announced that more than 7,000 protesters were arrested during the protests which started in various cities on November 15, 2019 in protest to the sudden increase in the price of gasoline.
From official remarks, state media reports and other informed sources in various cities, Iran Human Rights Monitor estimates that the number of arrests to be much higher and at least 12,000, which includes children under 18 years of age.
The Telegram channel of Ammar Cyber Base, reported on the arrests and transfer of at least 116 minors under 18 years of age to rehabilitation centers, on November 24, 2019.
