The Islamic Republic not only engaged in an unprecedented massacre and committed war crimes against its own people during the nationwide protests of December 2025/ January 2026 (Dey 1404), but it has since refused to cease the arrest and harassment of the families of those killed, attempting in every way possible to silence their voices for justice. Many families have been prohibited from holding public ceremonies, speaking with the media, or announcing the names of their loved ones under threats and intimidation. In some cases, families have reported that a lack of cooperation with security agencies has resulted in consequences such as summons, arrests, or social deprivations.
Fact: The Family of Abolfazl Paydar
Abolfazl Paydar, a child protester, was one of the youngest victims of the December 2025/ January 2026 protests who fell in Sabzevar. His family’s efforts to keep his memory alive, including organizing a birthday ceremony, have been met with repression, turning him into one of the symbols of the justice-seeking movement in Sabzevar and beyond.
Abolfazl Paydar; The 17-Year-Old Youth Killed in the January 2026 Uprising
Abolfazl Paydar, a 17-year-old from Sabzevar, was one of the victims of the nationwide protests in December 2025/ January 2026. He was killed by live ammunition fired by security forces during the crackdown on protests in Sabzevar.
Crackdown on the Birthday Ceremony and Arrest of the Family
On May 5, 2026 (15 Ordibehesht 1405), the family and friends of Abolfazl Paydar intended to hold a birthday ceremony for him in Sabzevar. Security forces launched a violent raid on the gathering, using tasers and batons to prevent the ceremony, and arrested several family members and close associates. Some reports indicate that at least 9 people were detained in the attempt to hold this ceremony. Security agents intervened before the start of the event to prevent it from taking place.
Among the detainees, the following names have been confirmed:
- Amirhossein Paydar – Brother
- Farzaneh Parvaneh – Mother
- Saeid Parvaneh – Uncle
- Elham Parvaneh – Aunt
Informal Exile of the Detainees
Following their arrest, these individuals were transferred to Torbat-e Heydarieh Prison and have since been held without access to a lawyer or clear information regarding the status of their cases. To date, further details about the condition of other detainees, potential charges, or their exact location of detention have not been obtained, and investigations into the identities of other arrested individuals are ongoing. The transfer of the detainees from Sabzevar to Torbat-e Heydarieh Prison—a distance of 250 kilometers—constitutes double harassment and the forced relocation of detainees, aimed at creating obstacles for other family members seeking information on the status of those arrested.
Violations of International Human Rights Law in the Case of the Paydar Family
- Violation of the Child’s Right to Life (Convention on the Rights of the Child): As a 17-year-old youth, Abolfazl Paydar was protected under the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Killing him with live ammunition is a flagrant violation of the right to life (Article 6 of the Convention).
- Violation of the Right to Peaceful Assembly (Article 20 of the UDHR): Raiding a birthday ceremony and preventing mourning and commemoration of the deceased.
- Prohibition of Arbitrary Detention (Article 9 of the ICCPR): Arresting family members without a legal warrant and solely for their pursuit of justice.
- Violation of the Right to a Fair Trial (Article 14 of the ICCPR): Holding detainees in a state of uncertainty and denying them access to legal counsel.
- Harassment of Justice-Seeking Families (Article 17 of the ICCPR and Article 12 of the UDHR): These articles explicitly emphasize the “right to protection of privacy, family, and correspondence.” Systematic harassment, summoning, and detaining families for following up on the status of their loved ones is a direct violation of these articles and constitutes “arbitrary interference with family life.”
Urgent Action
We demand the following immediate actions:
- Unconditional Release: An official request to judicial authorities for the immediate release of all members of the Paydar family and other detainees from the Sabzevar ceremony.
- Cessation of Harassment of Justice-Seekers: International pressure on the Iranian government to end the policy of intimidation and arrest of the families of those killed in the December 2025/ January 2026 uprising.
- Accountability for the Killing of a Minor: Requiring security agencies to be held accountable for the direct shooting of Abolfazl Paydar (a 17-year-old youth) in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child, to which Iran is a signatory.
- Registration in Periodic Reports: Immediate submission of the report on these chain arrests to the UN Fact-Finding Mission as part of the ongoing repression following the January 2026 uprising.
