Iranian Calligrapher Arrested in Mashhad, Whereabouts Unknown for 10 Days

Iranian security forces arrested a calligrapher at his workplace in Mashhad 10 days ago, and his whereabouts remain unknown, a human rights organization reported on Thursday.

Sadegh Mansouri, a member of the Khorasan Calligraphers Association, was detained on July 1 during a class he was teaching at the association’s premises, according to the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights.

The Coordinating Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations said both Mansouri and his wife, Zahra Akbari - a teacher in Mashhad - were serving court-issued sentences under electronic monitoring at the time of his arrest.

Despite repeated inquiries by his family over the past 10 days, authorities have provided no information about Mansouri’s condition or detention location.

The charges against Mansouri and details of his case remain unknown.

Forced disappearances and arbitrary detentions are common tactics used by Iranian security forces against activists, artists, and educators.

Human rights groups regularly document cases in which authorities refuse to disclose detainees’ whereabouts to their families.