The Islamic Republic’s security forces arrested dozens of Sunni cultural and civil activists in southern Khorramshahr over the past two days, human rights sources report.
Among those detained was Amin Matouri, 38, who previously served a four-year prison sentence and three-year exile on alleged propaganda charges.
Other arrestees include Hassan Ghani, Abbas Ne’ami, Ahmad Sharifi, Sajjad Ja’alaveh, Mohammad Matouri, and Samir Khanfari, according to the Karun Human Rights Organization.
The arrests are part of a broader crackdown that began in mid-December 2024.
Ahvaz’s prosecutor confirmed the arrest of 182 individuals labeled as “security disruptors,” as reported by the ISNA news agency.
Fourteen human rights organizations issued a joint statement on January 20 condemning the arrests as an attempt to suppress the cultural identity of Khuzestan’s Arab community.
They raised concerns about detainees being held in undisclosed locations, citing an increased risk of mistreatment.
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