On the eve of the anniversary of the killing of Zhina Amini and the start of last year’s nationwide protests, pressures on civil activists and families of victims have intensified throughout the country. Threats, summons, and detentions of activists in various cities are alarming.
On Sunday, August 27, 2023, eight activists from the Turkish community, named Zulikha Ghazizadeh, Shahin Barzegar, Mohsen Ebrahimi Dinour, Peyman Ebrahimi Dinour (residents of Tabriz), Mehrdad Sheikhi, Habib Negahban, and Iraj Shirzad (residents of Ardabil), and Mohammad Sheikh ol-Islami (resident of Mianeh), were detained by government forces. These individuals, detained in different cities, were subjected to physical assault and beatings during their arrest by security forces.
According to an informed source, these Turkish citizens have been detained in connection with the widespread protests by citizens regarding the drying of Lake Urmia and the government’s failure to address the situation of the lake.
According to reports received by Iran Human Rights Monitor, on Sunday, August 27, 2023, special guards and security forces were present and stationed at some intersections and squares in Tabriz, Ardabil, Mianeh, and other cities.
According to reports received by Iran Human Rights Monitor, on Sunday, August 27, 2023, special guards and security forces were present and stationed at some intersections and squares in Tabriz, Ardabil, Mianeh, and other cities.
According to the informed source, in addition to the official security forces and guards, plainclothes personnel were also monitoring the people’s movements in the neighborhoods of Tabriz. They conduct inspections on individuals they find suspicious, and security and intelligence forces have a heavy presence in the cities.
As of the time this news is being reported, there is no precise information available regarding the specific charges attributed to these detainees, as well as their location and conditions of detention.
