Illegal Detention and Transfer to Lakan Prison in Rasht
In the final days of the Persian year of 1403, Karim Khojasteh, an industrial activist and former political prisoner, was arrested by security forces under the heavy and vague charge of “baghi” and transferred to Lakan Prison in Rasht. This arrest took place on March 13, 2025, while Khojasteh was at his workplace in the city of Khomam. Without providing any explanation or new evidence, he was directly taken to the prosecutor’s office and then transferred to prison.
The charge of baghi, which in the legal discourse of the Islamic Republic is typically used against armed insurgents, not only lacks legal basis and clear documentation in the case of Karim Khojasteh, but has also been raised without any new interrogation—relying solely on an old case against him.
A Reopened Case
Karim Khojasteh had previously been arrested in July 2024 due to his critical and peaceful activism, facing the charge of “propaganda against the regime.” After spending about four and a half months in temporary detention, he was released on bail on November 29, 2024, with a heavy bond of 5 billion rials (approximately 500 million tomans). However, this freedom was short-lived. Less than four months later, without any progress or developments in the case and without undergoing the necessary legal procedures, a heavier charge replaced the previous one.
Nowruz: A Time for Increased Pressure
The timing of Karim Khojasteh’s arrest is viewed by human rights observers as a deliberate move to increase psychological pressure. On the eve of Nowruz, when government and judicial offices are typically in a semi-holiday state, the arrest and legal limbo of the accused effectively hinder his access to legal counsel and human rights organizations. This longstanding tactic is one of the well-known methods used by the Islamic Republic to increase pressure on political activists and their families during holiday periods.
