Ruhollah Karki’s arrest in Andimeshk highlights ongoing pressure on a justice-seeking family.
Iran Human Rights Society – Wednesday, August 5, 2025 – In Andimeshk, Iran, the justice-seeking family of Ruhollah Karki faces relentless persecution for demanding accountability. On August 4, 2025, plainclothes agents, reportedly linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), arrested Ruhollah while he was with his young daughter. This incident marks another chapter in the family’s struggle for justice following the suspicious death of their brother, Amin Karki, in 2018. The Karki family’s story exposes a pattern of arrests, torture, and intimidation aimed at silencing their pursuit of truth. This article explores their ordeal and the broader human rights violations in Iran.
A Justice-Seeking Family Under Siege
Ruhollah Karki’s arrest is the latest blow to a family already battered by years of security pressures. On August 4, 2025, agents in plain clothes detained him as he left home with his daughter, leaving her in tears. The family remains in the dark about his whereabouts, with conflicting reports suggesting he may be held in Andimeshk or transferred to a security facility in Ahvaz. Sources indicate the arresting forces came from Ahvaz, but no clear information about his health or location has emerged. This lack of transparency fuels fear and uncertainty for the justice-seeking family.
Amin Karki’s Death: The Root of the Struggle
The Karki family’s fight began with the tragic death of Amin Karki in 2018. Born in 1987, Amin was arrested during the January 2018 protests and died in custody shortly after. His body bore visible signs of torture, contradicting the official claim of suicide. The family, along with close associates, firmly believes security forces killed him under torture and fabricated the suicide narrative to evade accountability. Their pursuit of justice for Amin has made them targets of relentless harassment by Iran’s security institutions.
Torture and Hunger Strikes: Sirous and Kamin Karki’s Plight
Ruhollah’s brothers, Sirous and Kamin Karki, faced similar persecution for seeking justice. Arrested in 2022, Sirous endured grueling interrogations in Evin Prison’s Wards 240 and 209. To protest, he undertook hunger strikes, one causing stomach bleeding. In December 2022, he sewed his lips shut in a desperate act of defiance. Prison authorities responded with threats, psychological torture, and solitary confinement, cutting him off from his family. Now held in Gohardasht Prison, Sirous faces a one-year sentence from Branch 29 of the Revolutionary Court, with another case pending.
Kamin Karki, a father of two, also suffered severe torture in Evin’s Ward 209. His only crime was raising awareness about Amin’s death. After a hunger strike, authorities exiled him to Ward 4 of Greater Tehran Prison, where he faced pressure to end his protest. Kamin received a three-year sentence and two years of exile from Branch 2 of the Ba’athat Criminal Court, with an additional unresolved case in the Revolutionary Court. The brothers’ ordeal highlights the brutal tactics used to silence this justice-seeking family.
Systematic Suppression of Justice-Seekers
The Karki family’s case reflects a broader pattern of suppressing justice-seeking families in Iran. Authorities criminalize their efforts, charging them with “propaganda against the state,” “collusion and assembly,” and “insulting sanctities.” Instead of investigating suspicious deaths like Amin’s, security forces intensify pressure through arrests and torture. This creates an atmosphere of fear, discouraging families from speaking out. The Karki family’s resilience in the face of such oppression underscores their determination to seek truth and accountability.
Human Rights Violations in Focus
The treatment of the Karki family violates multiple international human rights standards. Arbitrary detention without judicial warrants breaches legal norms. Denying access to lawyers and fabricating charges contravenes Article 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The physical and psychological torture of Sirous and Kamin, coupled with death threats, violates Article 7 of the same covenant. Persecuting the family for raising awareness infringes on Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Moreover, the arrests of Ruhollah and Kamin, both fathers, jeopardize their children’s well-being, contradicting Articles 23 and 25 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
A Call for Urgent Action
Ruhollah Karki’s arrest escalates the pressure on this justice-seeking family, signaling an attempt to silence their voice. The international community, including the United Nations and human rights organizations, must act swiftly. They should demand the immediate release of Ruhollah, Sirous, and Kamin Karki and hold Iran’s security and judicial institutions accountable. Independent media can amplify the family’s story, shedding light on these violations. By supporting the Karki family, the global community can challenge the systematic suppression of justice-seekers in Iran and advocate for human rights.
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