Security forces violently raided Farzad Moazzami Goudarzi’s home in Borujerd, arresting his parents, Leila Saremi and Ahmad Moazzami Goudarzi, in a human rights violation.
Iran Human Rights Society, Tuesday, July 22, 2025 – Security forces violently stormed the Moazzami Goudarzi family home in Borujerd, Iran, on July 22, 2025. Seventeen plainclothes agents, arriving in five Peugeot vehicles, beat and arrested Leila Saremi and Ahmad Moazzami Goudarzi, parents of political prisoner Farzad Moazzami Goudarzi. The raid lacked any judicial warrant, signaling an alarming escalation in Iran’s crackdown on political prisoners’ families. Moreover, the agents confiscated communication devices, including laptops and phones, leaving the family in distress. This article delves into the raid, Farzad’s detention, and the broader context of human rights violations in Iran.
Violent Raid on the Moazzami Goudarzi Family Home
In the early hours of July 22, 2025, plainclothes security agents forcibly entered the Moazzami Goudarzi residence in Borujerd. They physically assaulted Leila Saremi and Ahmad Moazzami Goudarzi before transferring them to a security forces’ vehicle and taking them to an undisclosed location. Eyewitnesses described the agents’ aggressive tactics, which included searching the entire house and seizing personal items. Consequently, this unwarranted intrusion has sparked outrage among human rights advocates. The absence of a judicial warrant underscores the arbitrary nature of the operation, raising serious concerns about the safety of Farzad’s parents.
Who Is Farzad Moazzami Goudarzi?
Farzad Moazzami Goudarzi, born in 1998 in Borujerd, is a political prisoner detained since September 5, 2023. Security forces arrested him without a warrant, beating him and confiscating his belongings. Initially, they held him in solitary confinement, where he endured physical and psychological torture, including time in a cage. Farzad lacked access to a lawyer or regular family contact. Additionally, he suffered multiple nervous breakdowns due to inadequate medical care and lack of essential medications. On October 10, 2024, Branch 29 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced him to five years in prison for “assembly and collusion against national security.” Currently, Farzad remains in Fashafouyeh Prison under harsh conditions, facing ongoing pressure to silence his activism.
Why Are Security Forces Targeting Farzad’s Family?
Farzad is the cousin of Reza Moazzami Goudarzi, killed during the November 2019 protests in Iran. Since Reza’s death, Farzad and his family have actively sought justice, making them targets of security forces. The recent arrest of Farzad’s parents appears to be a retaliatory tactic to intimidate him into halting his justice-seeking efforts. Furthermore, this aligns with a broader pattern of repression against families of protest victims. For instance, security forces have increasingly targeted relatives of those killed in the 2019 uprising, aiming to suppress dissent and weaken protest movements.
Human Rights Violations in the Raid
The raid on the Moazzami Goudarzi family home violates both Iranian and international human rights laws. Specifically, the arbitrary detention of Leila Saremi and Ahmad Moazzami Goudarzi breaches Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which prohibits arrests without judicial oversight. Similarly, the violent intrusion into their home contradicts Article 12 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, protecting privacy and family life. Moreover, the physical assault on Farzad’s parents violates Article 7 of the International Covenant, which bans cruel and inhumane treatment. These actions highlight Iran’s disregard for humanitarian principles and its use of intimidation against political prisoners’ families.
Broader Context of Repression in Iran
The arrest of Farzad’s parents is part of a wider campaign of repression targeting justice-seeking families and political prisoners. In recent months, Iran has intensified raids and arrests to curb dissent, particularly as public protests grow. For example, the “Tuesdays Against Execution” campaign has gained momentum, challenging the government’s use of executions to silence opposition. Security forces likely arrested Farzad’s parents to instill fear and deter support for such movements. Additionally, similar raids on other families of political prisoners show a clear pattern of targeting those who speak out against injustice.
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