Arrest of ‘Afarin Mohajer’ and Case-Making Against Her Despite Lacking the Ability to Survive

The arrest of ‘Afarin Mohajer’ is yet another sign that the Islamic Republic shows no mercy in case-making against the elderly, the sick, or political opponents.

In the latest example of the Islamic Republic’s cruel treatment of dual-national citizens and political critics, ‘Afarin Mohajer,’ a 70-year-old Iranian-American citizen, was arrested by security forces at Imam Khomeini Airport upon her return from Iran to the United States, without any notification, transparency, or minimal respect for human rights.

This behavior once again demonstrated that the Islamic Republic shows no consideration not only toward political opponents, but also toward religious minorities including Christians, Bahai’s, Yarsan followers, and even elderly sick individuals.

‘Reza Zarrabi,’ a political activist and son of Afarin Mohajer, explained in an interview yesterday on November 19, corresponding to Aban 28, with Radio Farda that his mother was arrested by the Revolutionary Guards’ Intelligence Organization and described the action as “abduction.” He stated that his family had no news of his mother’s condition for 43 days, and some people even accused them of “victimization,” while his mother was being held in silence and complete isolation in Ward 209 of Evin Prison for women.

Afarin Mohajer has been a resident of the United States for over three decades, and according to her son, she suffers from cancer and a very dangerous brain tumor, a disease that is difficult to treat even in the best American hospitals and requires specialized medications. Before her arrest, doctors had told Afarin that she “does not have much time to live.” Despite these circumstances, the Islamic Republic has kept her in custody without adequate medical care and without access to necessary medications.

For Christian observers and human rights activists, this behavior is reminiscent of dozens of similar cases in which Christian prisoners, elderly sick individuals, or even teenagers under 18 years old have been subjected to pressure and torture, as if moral and human boundaries have long disappeared for Iran’s security apparatus.

According to Zarrabi’s statements, the charges brought against his mother include “forming an opposition group,” “membership in an opposition group,” “propaganda against the system,” “insulting the leadership,” and “insulting sacred values,” the same clichéd and ready-made list that has been used for years against opponents, Christian citizens, journalists, and even social media users.

Zarrabi emphasizes that his mother had no political activities and was targeted solely because of her association with him; a pressure that according to him has reached the point of torture and threats to force him to shut down his council. However, he clarified that “he will not shut down this council.”

For the Christian community, this case is reminiscent of dozens of other examples: “the arrest of home church pastors, the suppression of Christian citizens, heavy sentences for worship ceremonies, and the creation of a permanent climate of fear for anyone who breathes outside the framework of the government’s ideology, for political activists, opponents of the system, social media activists, and …”

Now, the arrest of a 70-year-old woman with cancer shows that the policy of repression in Iran recognizes neither age, nor illness, nor religious belief, nor even basic human rights. Zarrabi suggests that the government may likely use his mother as a tool to pressure the United States; the same approach that has been taken repeatedly against dual nationals in recent decades.

He also points out that despite warnings from the U.S. government about dual citizens traveling to Iran, his mother had traveled to Iran for personal matters after his father’s death. While she now faces the possibility of trial and sentencing, the U.S. State Department has only confirmed receipt of Zarrabi’s letter, but no action has been announced yet.