Widespread Arrests of Protesters Across Iran Intensify Human Rights Concerns

Recent wave of arrests targets protesters, students, and teenagers in Iranian cities like Yasuj, Shiraz, and Gilan. Security forces continue crackdowns amid spreading demonstrations.

Iran Human Rights Society, Tuesday, January 6, 2026 – As protests spread in various cities, a new wave of arrests of citizens, youth, teenagers and family members of the plaintiffs has been reported. Information received shows that security forces in several provinces have arrested dozens of people in connection with street protests and transferred them to unknown locations.

Mass Arrests in Yasuj, Gachsaran, and Surrounding Areas

Protests erupted strongly in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province. Security forces detained dozens of youths in Yasuj. Similar operations occurred in Gachsaran and Bahmai. Authorities published some names of arrested individuals. The list includes many young men. Examples are Aria Sabzpour, Ilia Akonian, and Ali Ahmadzadeh. Other detainees include Amir Bakhtiari and Omid Khodarahmi. Women also faced arrests in large numbers. Names such as Sara Rahmati and Elaheh Hosseinnejad appear frequently. Additional women include Mozhgan Forouzan and Parichehr Ansari. The diversity of detainees proves broad targeting. No specific group escapes the security sweep. Families suffer collective punishment in many cases.

Arrests Spread to Other Provinces and Cities

The wave reaches beyond Kohgiluyeh province. Police commanders in Isfahan confirmed two arrests. Qazvin authorities reported five detentions. Yasuj and Dehdasht saw fifteen more citizens detained. Names include Ahmadreza Madani and Alireza Oveisi. Behbahan recorded arrests of Abolfazl Azarian. Security forces acted in Gachsaran and Ilam too. Eight individuals, including one teenager, faced detention there. Cities like Kermanshah and Tehran also report arrests. The geographical spread highlights nationwide unrest.

Targeting Families of Previous Victims in Jhunqan

Reports from Jhunqan in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province indicate the arrest of members of Dadkhah families. “Behnam Mokhtari Jhunqani”, brother of “Jamshid Mokhtari Jhunqani”, one of the victims of the livelihood protests of Ordibehesht 1401, was arrested on Monday morning, January 5, 2026, when security forces raided his private home.

Also, in the past two days, “Saadat Mokhtari” and “Mohammad Mokhtari”, relatives of Jamshid Mokhtari, have been arrested, along with “Mehdi Rezavian”, “Ali Rezavian”, “Mohammad Rezavian”, “Omid Rezavian”, “Ali Akbar Mokhtari” and his son “Hossein Mokhtari” and “Sajjad Heidari”.

In this regard, “Parviz Sabzikar”, the father of the plaintiff “Iman Sabzikar”, has also been arrested by security forces and transferred to an unknown location.

Arrest with physical violence

According to separate reports, “Benyamin Naqdi” was arrested in Shiraz after being severely beaten. Also, “Abolfazl Jamshidi” was arrested in Foladshahr on January 4 after being brutally beaten by officers.

Arrest of students in Tehran and Birjand

In recent days, Soha Elbeigi, a student at the University of Tehran, was arrested in connection with the protests. Also, Shaida Namjoo and Zeinab Evani, two students of Birjand University, were arrested last evening and transferred to the Birjand Intelligence Department detention center.

Citizens arrested in Sonqor, Dareh Shahr, and Kermanshah

Faezeh Shamayli and Javad Estavari, citizens of Sonqor, were arrested on Monday, January 5. Nima Naseri, a citizen of Dareh Shahr, was arrested on Sunday, January 5. Ehsan Vinay, a citizen of Kermanshah, was also arrested on Sunday, January 5 during the protests in this city.

Protesters arrested in Yasuj

Mehdi Hatami, Shahin Yousefi, Ali Ahmadi, Hossein Ahmadi, Afshin Najafi, Ramin Mohammadizadeh, and Mohammad Reza Heydari, a 17-year-old teenager, were arrested yesterday by security forces in Yasuj city in connection with the protests.

Arrests in Ilam and Khomeini Hospital

On Sunday, January 5, Amin Yousefi and Amir Hossein Tamamkari were arrested in Ilam. Also on Monday, January 5, Reza Doostinejad and Artin Sohrabi, a 17-year-old teenager, were arrested by security forces in this city. On Sunday evening, January 4, Amirali Abdian, 16, Firuz Faraji, and Mohammad Sadra Mansouri were arrested by security forces at Khomeini Hospital in Ilam.

Arrests in Dehloran, Sarabela, Karzan, and Badreh
On Sunday, January 4, Alireza Paryab was arrested in Dehloran, Mohammad Amin Mahmoudian and Mohammad Hossein Moradi in Sarabela and Ahmad Reza Mohammadian in Karzan.
Also, on Monday, January 5, Arman Dadfar was arrested in Badreh and Milad and Misagh Seyedmoradi, twin brothers, were arrested by security forces in Dehloran.

Arrests in Western Provinces and Gilan

Western regions report continued operations. Sonqor saw detention of Faezeh Shamayli. Javad Estavari faced arrest there too. Kermanshah detained Ehsan Vinay during protests. Ilam recorded multiple arrests recently. Amin Yousefi and Amir Hossein Tamamkari got detained. Gilan province joined the list. Amlash witnessed arrests of Mehran Amin Amlash. Soroush Ghadiri and Rezvan Reyhani also faced detention. Some detainees endured beating before transfer.

Human Rights Violations in the Detention of Protesters

The detention of protesters, students, and adolescents in connection with protests, accompanied by violence and arbitrary detention, represents a systematic violation of fundamental human rights.

Right to Freedom of Expression | Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights – The detention of individuals for expressing their protest and opposition to the status quo violates freedom of expression.
Right to Peaceful Assembly | Article 20 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights- The suppression of protest gatherings and the detention of participants violate the right to peaceful assembly.
Right to Liberty and Security of Person | Article 9 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights- Arbitrary detention and transfer to unknown locations undermine the personal security of citizens.
Prohibition of Torture and Inhuman Treatment | Article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights- Reports of beatings of detainees constitute inhuman and degrading treatment.
Rights of the Child | Article 37 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child- The detention of minors under the age of 18 during protests is contrary to international obligations towards children.

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