ABC blog

(Original report from Karim Dahimi, Iranian Arab human rights activist)

Since the onset of popular demonstrations among ethnically Arab citizens of Ahvaz, Khuzestan, more than 400 arrests have been made in the city. Those arrested have been sent to facilities operated by the Information Ministry, the Revolutionary Guards, Operation Karun, and law enforcement. As of Saturday, April 7, 250 of them were set to be transferred to Sheyban Prison (the vocational training center in Ahzaz) and others to Sepidar Prison. Other arrestees were transferred to other cities.

Arrests spiked following a fire at the Al-Navares coffeehouse in Ahvaz’s Kianshahr market in which 11 were killed and a number of young people wounded. A majority of those affected were young people who had taken part in demonstrations: some had even been released on bail at the time. Some locals believe the fire was started by security forces seeking to distract from peaceful protests and provoke violence.

Among those arrested are dozens of women, adolescents, and young people between the ages of 16 and 25. Some have sustained wounds. Family members of some arrestees have themselves been taken into custody while attempting to seek information from authorities.

Neither officials, government organizations, nor official media have commented in the number of arrests or the whereabouts of those arrested. Following protests over the arbitrary arrests of citizens in the streets, Seyyed Mohammad Ali Mousavi Jayzari, Assembly of Experts member and representative of the Supreme Leader’s office in Ahzaz’s Ku-ye Siahi district, gave assurance that all those arrested will be freed. Some citizens have regarded Jayzari’s statements as an effort to pacify widespread discontent.

According to reports from human rights activists, the majority of arrests were made in the Ahvaz city, Kot Abdollah, Abadan City, Mollashiah, Ain 2, and Mahshahr Port areas.

The protests were geographically more widespread than previous actions. The city of Amidineh witnessed protest activity for the first time. Peaceful protests also took place in central Ahvaz, Ku-ye Zavieh, Ku-ye Alavi, Kot Abdollah, Ain 2 (Seyyed Karim), Mollashiah, the Shayban area of Bavi County, Hamidiah City, Amidieh, Abadan, Mahshahr, and villages neighboring Ahwaz.