At Least Seven Arab Sunni Religious Activists Arrested in Ahvaz and Shaur
At least seven Arab Sunni citizens and religious activists were arrested during raids by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) intelligence forces and the Ministry of Intelligence on their homes in Shaur and Ahvaz, and were transferred to undisclosed locations. Reports indicate that officials entered without presenting court orders, beat several family members, and confiscated personal belongings of those arrested.
According to reports from human rights organizations on Friday, 30 October, at least seven Arab Sunni citizens and religious activists were arrested in two separate operations in Khuzestan Province. These arrests took place in the city of Shaur, a jurisdiction under Karkhe County, and in the Mellashieh neighborhood of Ahvaz.
According to Hengaw’s report, on the morning of Thursday, 29 October 2026, forces from the IRGC Intelligence Organization raided the homes of five Sunni religious activists in the Bitrashg area of Shaur city without presenting court orders.
The identities of these five citizens have been reported as: Hossein Nowaseri, 20 years old; Ali Dooshi, 25 years old; Ali Shwaihi; Amin Shwaihi, 20 years old; and Jawad Kanani, 27 years old.
According to the report, during the operation, officials searched the homes of these citizens and, by creating an atmosphere of terror and intimidation, beat several of their family members. Following their arrest, these five individuals were transferred to an undisclosed location.
The Hrana news agency also confirmed in a separate report the arrests of Sunni citizens in Shaur. However, Hrana reported the arrest of six people in this operation and announced that the identities of five have been established while the identity of the sixth person is still under investigation.
In a separate operation on the morning of Monday, 25 October 2026, officials from the Intelligence Agency raided the homes of two Sunni religious activists in the Mellashieh neighborhood of Ahvaz and arrested them. These two citizens have been identified as Abbas Tamimi, 21 years old, and Hamed Ghazlavi, 25 years old.
According to reports, during the arrest of these two individuals, officials treated them in an insulting and humiliating manner and also confiscated some of their personal belongings. Following their arrest, these two citizens were also transferred to an undisclosed location.
As of the time of this report’s publication, despite the families’ follow-ups, no clear information has been released about the reasons for the arrests, possible charges, and the exact location of detention of these citizens.
The transfer of arrested individuals to undisclosed locations and keeping families uninformed about their condition raises concerns about detainees’ access to lawyers, the possibility of contact with family, and enjoyment of legal safeguards during detention.
Freedom of religion and belief, including the right to religious conviction and the practice of religious rituals, is recognized in Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, a covenant to which Iran is also a party.
The arrest of these citizens is reported at a time when multiple cases of arrests of Arab Sunni citizens in Khuzestan have been documented in recent months. However, until the reasons for the arrests and the legal status of these seven individuals are clarified, a definitive comment cannot be made about their possible charges.
Currently, the most important concern regarding these seven citizens is the families’ lack of information about their place of detention and their health status; an issue that highlights the necessity for transparent disclosure of the fate of those arrested.
