Six Months in Legal Limbo: Nine Detained from Esfarayen Protests, Including a Teenager
While human rights organizations report a wave of arbitrary detentions following the December protests in Iran, nine citizens detained in Esfarayen, including a 16-year-old teenager, remain in detention without a final verdict or determination of their judicial status.
More than six months have passed since nine Esfarayen citizens were detained during the December 1404 protests, yet they remain imprisoned without their cases being resolved. Among the detainees is a 16-year-old teenager who is being held in the Bojnord Juvenile Correction and Education Center, a matter that has increased concerns among human rights organizations about the violation of detainees’ and children’s rights.
The continued prolonged detention of citizens without determination of their judicial status remains one of the most important concerns of human rights organizations regarding the situation of detainees from recent protests in Iran. The latest reports indicate that nine individuals detained during the December 1404 protests in Esfarayen County, after more than six months have passed, remain in legal limbo with no final decision announced regarding their cases.
According to published reports, “Mohammad Azari,” “Reza Rezapour,” “Hossein Mehrangiz,” “Sajad Shamsayi,” “Ali Bebri,” “Amirhossein Nazarzadeh,” “Sajad Sangsefidi,” and “Mostafa Rajbalizadeh” are being held in Esfarayen Prison. Additionally, “Amirhossein Sarban,” a 16-year-old teenager in this case, is imprisoned in the Bojnord Juvenile Correction and Education Center.
These individuals were detained in connection with the nationwide December 1404 protests and, despite months passing, remain deprived of judicial determination, public trial proceedings, or issuance of a final verdict.
The presence of a 16-year-old teenager among the detainees has doubled the concerns of child rights activists. According to international standards, detention of children should be a last resort and for the shortest possible duration. However, human rights organizations have repeatedly accused the Islamic Republic of prolonged detention of protesting children and teenagers.
The December 1404 protests in Esfarayen were accompanied by widespread suppression by security forces. Reports released by human rights organizations indicate that dozens were killed and hundreds detained during these protests. Following the end of the protests, a wave of widespread arrests continued in various cities, including Esfarayen.
Amnesty International also reported that the Islamic Republic’s authorities, following the protests, have attempted to prevent the expansion of protests through widespread arrests, forced disappearances, restrictions on families’ access to information, and pressure on detainees. The organization has also called for the release of all individuals arbitrarily detained.
Lawyers and human rights organizations believe that holding defendants for months without determining their case status, effective access to counsel, and swift judicial review could constitute a violation of fair trial principles.
Regarding these nine Esfarayen citizens, no official information has been released about charges, court hearing dates, or the status of judicial proceedings, a matter that has increased concerns among families and human rights activists.
As months pass since the December 1404 protests, the status of these nine Esfarayen detainees remains unclear. The continuation of their detention without announcing the results of judicial proceedings, particularly in the case of a 16-year-old teenager, raises serious questions about compliance with fair trial principles and the Islamic Republic’s international commitments regarding the rights of detainees and children. Human rights organizations have called on Iranian authorities to clarify the status of these individuals and ensure their legal rights, including access to counsel, fair trial, and swift and independent judicial review.
