Six months following an armed operation by security forces in the Qaleh Chanan area of Ahvaz, the family of Mahmoud Hosseinian (Naseri) remains completely uninformed of his fate; security and judicial authorities have provided no clear answer regarding his arrest, death, or detention location
Iran Human Rights Society, Saturday, September 12, 2026 – Six months after a violent and armed raid by security forces in the Qaleh Chanan neighborhood of Ahvaz, the fate of Mahmoud Hosseinian (Naseri) remains unknown. The family of this citizen—born in January 1996 and residing in Ahvaz—has pursued inquiries across security, judicial, forensic, and hospital institutions in Ahvaz for
months without obtaining any information regarding his status. They state that Mahmoud’s arrest has not been officially confirmed, nor has a body been delivered to the family.
Six Months of Incommunicado Status for Mahmoud Hosseinian
Mahmoud Hosseinian, born in January 1996 in Abadan and residing in Ahvaz, was targeted during a security operation on March 9, 2026, in the Qaleh Chanan area.
Six months after that event, the Hosseinian family remains in a state of absolute uncertainty, not knowing whether their son is alive, detained, or lost his life during the operation.
Mahmoud Hosseinian’s family has sought answers from various institutions. They have inquired at the Information Desk of the Ministry of Intelligence, IRGC Intelligence, authorities at Sheiban Prison in Ahvaz, the Forensic Medicine Organization, and local hospitals, but none of these entities have provided clear information regarding his fate.
Family: “We Only Want to Know What Happened to Him”
Continued silence has placed Mahmoud Hosseinian’s family in severe distress. They emphasize that even if he has died, they demand official notification of this fact and clarity regarding his burial site.
The Hosseinian family confirmed that throughout these six months, they have received no calls or clear communications from responsible authorities, and their continuous follow-ups have produced no results.
In addition to uncertainty over Mahmoud’s fate, this situation subjects his family to ongoing psychological torment, as they can neither visit him nor ascertain his physical condition or potential place of holding.
Qaleh Chanan Operation Under Security Conditions and Internet Blackout
The security forces’ raid on the Qaleh Chanan area of Ahvaz on March 9, 2026, occurred under intense security measures and a widespread internet blackout, severely limiting access to information and news dissemination.
Based on published reports regarding the operation, security forces utilized firearms, and several local residents were shot. Previous reports regarding the suppression in Qaleh Chanan, Ahvaz, noted the death of at least two residents and the arrest of 14 others during the operation.
That same report noted that families of the arrestees were kept uninformed of their detention locations, visitation rights, or phone contacts, while heavy charges were leveled against several of them.
Transfer of 14 Detainees to Sheiban Prison
According to updated information, the 14 citizens arrested on that same night were transferred to the quarantine ward of Ahvaz’s Sheiban Prison on July 22, 2026, after enduring approximately four months and 15 days in solitary confinement at the “Abolfazl al-Abbas” Intelligence Headquarters.
However, Mahmoud Hosseinian’s name was not among those transferred to Sheiban Prison. This exclusion has further compounded the ambiguity surrounding his fate.
In recent months, the Hosseinian family attempted to gain information through various avenues, including Sheiban Prison, forensic medical offices, and medical centers, but no results were obtained.
Heavy Charges and Ambiguity Surrounding Citizens’ Fate
In April 2026, the Ministry of Intelligence issued a statement claiming that five individuals were killed and 10 were arrested in the Qaleh Chanan operation, asserting charges such as opening fire on security forces, detonating oil pipelines, possessing Starlink equipment, and collaborating with the United States and Israel.
Despite these statements, no clear answer has been provided regarding the fate of Mahmoud Hosseinian. His family stresses that they have received no official confirmation regarding his arrest or death.
The continuation of this situation raises severe concerns regarding the potential enforced disappearance of Mahmoud Hosseinian, as his family remains without any knowledge of his fate or possible location after six months.
Information Box | Case Information at a Glance
| Subject | Information |
| Name | Mahmoud Hosseinian (Naseri) |
| Birth Date / Place | January 1996 (Age ~30) – Born in Abadan, Resident of Ahvaz |
| Event Date & Location | March 9, 2026 – Qaleh Chanan area, Ahvaz |
| Context | Armed operation by security forces during an internet blackout |
| Current Status | Unresolved / Potential Enforced Disappearance (6 months incommunicado) |
| Official Position | No official confirmation of arrest, death, or detention location |
| Family Inquiries | Inquiries at Ministry of Intelligence, IRGC Intelligence, Sheiban Prison, hospitals, & forensics yielded no response |
Legal Review of Mahmoud Hosseinian’s Case Based on Domestic Laws
The laws of the dictatorship ruling Iran have consistently been criticized due to conflicting with fair trial standards and restricting citizens’ rights. Reviewing this case based on domestic laws does not mean confirmation of these laws; rather, it demonstrates that even these internal regulations mandate observing the rights of individuals and their families.
Legal Ambiguities of the Case
- Article 32 of the Constitution: Mandates that arrests must follow strict statutory procedures and that charges and detention details must be promptly communicated.
- Articles 35 & 38 of the Constitution: Affirm the right to legal counsel and strictly prohibit torture or coercive practices.
- Withholding Information: Keeping a family completely unaware of an individual’s detention or fate directly violates statutory mandates governing due process and defendants’ fundamental rights.
Reviewing the Case from the Perspective of Human Rights and Violation of International Standards
Prolonged lack of information regarding an individual’s fate following a violent security operation—without official acknowledgment of detention or death—raises grave concerns regarding the violation of the right to life, personal security, and protection against enforced disappearance.
Human Rights Ambiguities of the Case
Refusing to provide information to family members about a missing relative following a state-led operation constitutes a severe form of cruel and inhuman treatment and aligns with the definition of enforced disappearance under international law.
Related International Documents
- Articles 3, 5 & 9 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Protect the right to life, prohibit cruel/inhuman treatment, and ban arbitrary detention.
- International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance: Prohibits state agents from concealing the fate or whereabouts of a detained or missing person, placing them outside the protection of the law.
See also the below articles:
- Issuance and Notification of Death Sentence for Hossein Rasouli
- Sudden Transfer of Parisa Kamali to Bandar Abbas Prison Without Prior Notice
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