On Saturday, October 4, 2025, six Arab political activists in Ahwaz named
Ali Majdam, Moein Khanfari, Seyed Salem Mousavi, Mohammadreza Moghadam, Adnan Alboshoka (Ghabishawi), and Habib Daris
were executed by security and judicial bodies affiliated with the central government. This action was not based on justice but carried out as part of a systematic policy to suppress and silence the voices of Ahwazi Arab protesters.

These political activists had been detained since 2018 and 2019, during which time they were deprived of access to a fair trial and independent legal counsel. Under continuous psychological pressure and torture, they were forced to give confessions that were later used as the basis for their death sentences.

The Ahwaz Human Rights Center – UK firmly states:
If these individuals had committed any crimes, why was the execution of their sentences delayed for more than five years? Why, contrary to the usual practice of security agencies in cases related to security charges, was this verdict postponed for such a long time?

To clarify the issue, it is necessary to refer to the treatment of defendants during the 12-day war between Iran and Israel. In those cases, suspects accused of espionage were executed without fair trials and within a very short time. Therefore, the question remains: why did it take so long to execute the death sentence for these six individuals? This clear discrepancy indicates that the case was fabricated and the confessions were forced under torture.

The Ahwaz Human Rights Center – UK, based on international human rights standards and criminal law, considers the execution of these six political activists not a judicial ruling but an organized crime aimed at political retaliation and creating terror and fear in Ahwaz.

This center calls upon independent and impartial international bodies to urgently conduct a thorough investigation into this case and similar incidents in Ahwaz. The international community’s silence in the face of these crimes only encourages further repression by the regime’s security apparatus.

The Ahwaz Human Rights Center – UK stands with the families of the victims and will exert all efforts to document, pursue, and refer these crimes to international judicial authorities.

4 October 2025 / 12 Mehr 1404
Ahwaz Centre for Human Rights – UK
https://acfh.info

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According to credible sources, six Arab political activists in Ahwaz were executed yesterday without prior notice to their families. These individuals had previously been tried and sentenced to long-term imprisonment by judicial authorities affiliated with the central government, following procedures lacking transparency and fairness.

The Ahwaz Centre for Human Rights – UK condemns this action and reports, based on conversations with the families of the executed prisoners, that the authorities have so far refused to release the bodies to their relatives for proper burial and mourning ceremonies. The families’ continuous efforts over the past 48 hours to obtain information about the burial locations of their loved ones have remained unanswered.

Field reports from local sources indicate that, following the executions, security forces intensified pressure on the families and tribal leaders in Ahwaz. According to these reports, security agencies summoned them to intelligence offices, where they were threatened and warned against holding any mourning gatherings, religious ceremonies, or public assemblies in mosques or other public spaces.

Furthermore, the use of loudspeakers to broadcast Quranic recitations, poetry, or any other cultural or religious rituals—an integral part of the traditions of the Arab people of Ahwaz—has been officially prohibited. Authorities have extracted written pledges from the families and tribal leaders, warning that any contact with media outlets or international human rights organizations would result in serious consequences and security-related reprisals.

The Ahwaz Centre for Human Rights – UK considers these actions a grave violation of human rights and a systematic attempt to suppress the Arab community in Ahwaz. The Centre calls for immediate international accountability, including from the United Nations Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial executions and the UN Human Rights Council.

5 October 2025 / 13 Mehr 1404
Ahwaz Centre for Human Rights – UK
https://acfh.info

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Based on information
obtained from local sources by the Ahwaz Human Rights Center – Uk, Lirki, the judicial officer of Branch 13 of the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office, operating under the administrative structure of the central authority based in Ahwaz, extended the imprisonment of five Ahwazi Arab detainees for one more month on Tuesday, 15 Mehr 1404 / 7 October 2025. These individuals are currently held in Ward 5 of Sheiban Prison.

The individuals named in this case are: Mokhtar Alboshukeh, Mostafa Helichi, Reza Hezbavi, Abbas Saedi, and Amer Majassabeh. According to available information, this latest decision comes after several previous extensions of their imprisonment without the presentation of clear legal documentation, while they remain incarcerated in Ward 5 of Sheiban Prison.

On Monday, 31 Shahrivar 1404 / 23 September 2025, the five individuals participated via video link to present their final statements regarding the charges brought against them, which are allegedly related to affiliation with opposition groups.

According to reports, Mostafa Helichi and Reza Hezbavi, known cultural figures within the Ahwazi Arab community, were arrested in Azar 1403 / December 2024 by security forces affiliated with the Special Police (FARAJA) without an official judicial warrant and transferred to undisclosed detention facilities. After a period of detention without access to legal representation or communication with their families, they were transferred to Sheiban Prison.

Credible sources confirm that during their time in custody, the five individuals have been subjected to severe physical and psychological torture. Internal reports warn of the inhumane conditions in which they are held and the lack of access to adequate medical care. As a result of this treatment, their health has deteriorated significantly, and they have been transferred multiple times to the prison infirmary for medical attention. Reports also indicate that the torture was carried out with the aim of extracting forced confessions.

The Ahwaz Human Rights Center – UK has strongly emphasized that what is happening to these five Ahwazi Arab prisoners is not an isolated judicial error, but part of a deliberate and escalating campaign aimed at the repression of the Ahwazi Arab community. Their continued incarceration under degrading conditions, forced confessions under torture, and denial of basic legal rights, all point to a systematically orchestrated policy.

Reported by:
Feisal Asakereh
Date: 17 Mehr 1404 / 9 October 2025
Ahwaz Human Rights Center – UK
https://acfh.info

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Verified information received by the Ahwaz Centre for Human Rights – UK indicates that an Arab cultural activist was arbitrarily arrested in the city of Toster (Shushtar), located in the Ahwaz region, in clear violation of fundamental rights.

In the early hours of October 7, 2025 (15 Mehr 1404), security forces affiliated with the central authority, stationed in Toster, raided the home of Fares Kaab Karmallallah without presenting any legal warrant or prior notice. He was arrested and taken to an unknown location. The operation created fear and panic among family members, especially children. Witnesses report that he was not even given the opportunity to dress properly before being taken away.

According to eyewitnesses and local sources, during the search of the house, officers confiscated personal belongings, including a camera, mobile phone, computer, and other professional equipment.

Fares Kaab Karmallallah, 30, is married with two children and lives in the Gorieh area of Shoaibiyeh district in Toster. He has worked as a local photographer and videographer, documenting cultural, religious, and social events. Through sharing visual content on social media, he actively contributed to preserving Arab culture and identity. He was also independently engaged in agricultural work.

Several days after the arrest, no official information has been provided to his family regarding his whereabouts, health condition, or any charges brought against him. Some sources speculate that he may have been transferred to an intelligence facility based in Ahwaz.

This incident takes place amid an increasingly tense security atmosphere in Ahwaz. Notably, following the execution of six Arab political activists on October 4, 2025 (12 Mehr 1404), there has been a wave of arrests, summons, and intimidation against civil, cultural, and political activists — pointing to a systematic escalation in pressure on Arab community actors.

The Ahwaz Centre for Human Rights – UK expresses deep concern over the ongoing suppression of Arab cultural, civil, and political figures. The Centre calls for immediate clarification of Fares Kaab Karmallallah’s legal status, his access to legal counsel, and accountability from the authorities for this arbitrary detention.

The Centre further urges international human rights organizations and UN Special Rapporteurs to take immediate and effective action regarding the worsening human rights situation in Ahwaz. The Iranian regime, increasingly isolated for its repeated violations of international human rights obligations, must be held accountable and pressured to uphold its commitments.

Report by:
Feisal Asakereh
10 October 2025 / 18 Mehr 1404
Ahwaz Centre for Human Rights – UK
https://acfh.info

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The Ahwazi Centre for Human Rights is closely monitoring with deep concern the situation of Hussein Ahwazi, a well-known and beloved Ahwazi Arab artist, who was recently detained in the Republic of Iraq.

According to received reports, Mr. Hussein Ahwazi was arrested by the authorities after attending a cultural event in the city of Basra and while attempting to leave Iraq, due to issues related to incomplete travel documentation.

Sources close to the artist’s family have stated that legal follow-up is currently underway and it is hoped that the matter will be resolved peacefully in the coming days. Mr. Hussein Ahwazi — whose surname “Ahwazi” reflects his cultural and national identity as an Ahwazi Arab — is expected to be released soon.

The Ahwaz Centre for Human Rights – UK expresses its concern over the treatment of Arab communities, particularly the sons and daughters of the Ahwazi Arab nation, who in some regional countries face arbitrary arrests, legal restrictions, or discriminatory practices. The Centre stresses that access to fundamental rights — including freedom of movement, human dignity, and fair legal procedures — must be upheld for all, without discrimination.

In a message addressed to his people, Mr. Hussein Ahwazi stated:

Honourable people of the Ahwazi Arab nation, my love, respect, and deepest gratitude are dedicated to you. Without you, I would not exist. My identity, culture, and character all stem from the heart of the Ahwazi Arab nation. You are my strength and my true source of support. I kindly ask for your prayers so that this legal issue — which is beyond my control and has arisen in the Republic of Iraq — may be resolved as soon as possible. The world is never free of hardship, but with trust in God and your prayers, I believe I can overcome this situation.

The Ahwaz Centre for Human Rights – UK urges the Iraqi authorities to adhere to international human rights standards and principles of fair trial, and to handle Mr. Ahwazi’s case with transparency and urgency. The Centre calls for the swift resolution of the documentation issue and the prompt release of Mr. Hussein Ahwazi.

13 October 2025 / 21 Mehr 1404
Ahwaz Centre for Human Rights – UK
https://acfh.info

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The Ahwaz Centre for Human Rights – UK strongly condemns the issuance of heavy prison sentences against seven Ahwazi Arab Sunni prisoners of conscience held in Sheyban Central Prison in Ahwaz. According to credible reports, on Monday, 13 October 2025 (21 Mehr 1404), prison authorities—operating under the control of Iran’s central security apparatus—formally notified these detainees of sentences handed down by the Ahwaz Revolutionary Court. These rulings were issued under the direct influence of state-affiliated intelligence agencies and lack any form of judicial independence. They were passed without adherence to fair trial standards and under clear political and security pressure.

These individuals, all Arab activists residing in Ahwaz, were targeted solely for their civic, cultural, and social activities. They were subjected to arbitrary arrest and violent treatment. The names of the prisoners and the sentences issued are as follows:

1. Khalil Khazraji (single) – 5 years in prison
2. Ali Khazraji (married) – 5 years in prison
3. Ali Barwayeh (married, father of two) – 5 years in prison
4. Abbas Hammadi (single) – 5 years in prison
5. Hussein Silawi (married, father of two) – 5 years in prison
6. Abdulmajid Hashemi (married) – 3 years in prison
7. Younes Gharbawi (married, father of three) – 3 years in prison

These activists were arrested in March 2025 (Esfand 1403) by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) without a court order or any legal warrant. During their detention, they were held in security detention centres where they were subjected to physical and psychological torture. They were later transferred to Ward 8 of Sheyban Prison. It is worth noting that these arrests occurred only weeks after they had participated in peaceful cultural and social activities in Ahwaz in January 2025 (Dey 1403).

The Ahwaz Centre for Human Rights – UK stresses that these sentences—based on confessions extracted under torture and issued without due process—constitute a flagrant violation of fundamental human rights, including the right to freedom of expression, freedom of thought, conscience and religion, and the right to a fair trial.

14 October 2025 / 22 Mehr 1404
Ahwaz Centre for Human Rights – UK
https://acfh.info

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Critical Condition of Hussein Sahagi, Ahwazi Arab Political Prisoner in Sheiban Prison; Deliberate Deprivation of Specialized Treatment

According to reports received by the Ahwaz Human Rights Center – UK, Hussein Sahagi, an Ahwazi Arab political prisoner, is in a deeply concerning state of mental health following prolonged physical and psychological torture, as well as intense pressure while in the custody of security agencies.

Hussein Sahagi, son of Ibrahim, has been held for over a year in Block 5 of Sheiban Prison, alongside fellow Ahwazi Arab political prisoner Jassim Loimi. He was initially arrested by the cyber police (FATA), and during his detention—particularly at a facility under the control of the Ministry of Intelligence in Ahwaz—he was subjected to severe physical abuse and psychological mistreatment. These abuses have caused significant damage to his mental health.

As his condition deteriorated, Sahagi was briefly transferred to a psychiatric facility. However, before completing his treatment and without any clear improvement in his condition, he was returned to prison. According to sources inside the facility, Sahagi now exhibits acute psychiatric symptoms and is nearing a full psychological breakdown.

Despite this, authorities have denied him access to proper medical care or transfer to an independent psychiatric institution. Instead, prison officials have reportedly responded to his condition with humiliation and mockery. Khosrow Tarfi, the warden of Sheiban Prison, reportedly told Sahagi:

“If this were the 1980s, I would’ve let you sing and speak your mind.”

This statement, along with the ongoing denial of treatment, highlights the deep cruelty and institutional disregard for the life and health of Ahwazi Arab political prisoners.

Although Sahagi spent one week under observation at the psychiatric center overseen by prison doctor Fouad Mazra’e, the lack of resources, absence of independent medical oversight, and the oppressive conditions within the prison worsened his mental state rather than improving it.

The Ahwaz Human Rights Center – UK warns that the continued mistreatment of Hussein Sahagi represents a flagrant violation of fundamental human rights and human dignity. It further underscores the structural indifference of Iranian state institutions toward the most basic humanitarian standards in their treatment of Ahwazi Arab political prisoners.

2 October 2025 / 10 Mehr 1404
Ahwaz Human Rights Center – UK
https://acfh.info

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Information received by the Ahwazi Centre for Human Rights indicates that prisoners in Sheiban Central Prison – which is under the supervision of Iran’s central authorities – have been deprived of the right to in-person visits with their families for over two months.

Based on reliable information obtained through cooperating human rights organizations, and considering serious security concerns regarding the families of political prisoners in Ahwaz that prevent the disclosure of the source’s identity, the Ahwazi Centre for Human Rights has learned that:

According to this source, no clear reason has been provided for this prohibition, and many prisoners, including a close relative of the source, have been prevented from seeing and embracing their young children.

This testimony was provided by a member of a political prisoner’s family, who has also previously been imprisoned in Sheiban Prison, Ahwaz. He emphasized that this prohibition, especially under the difficult physical and mental conditions of the prisoners, has caused severe psychological pressure, increasing anxiety, longing, and feelings of loneliness among them.

According to this source, the ban has caused widespread psychological distress among prisoners, and this decision is undoubtedly another one of the repressive policies implemented by Khosrow Tarafi in managing the prison.

He further stressed that Khosrow Tarafi has previously been known for harsh behavior, disrespect for prisoners’ rights, and issuing punitive orders, and that his decisions now mostly harm prisoners and exacerbate inhumane conditions within the prison.

The Ahwazi Centre for Human Rights, expressing deep concern over the ongoing violation of the human rights of prisoners in Sheiban Prison, which is controlled by Iran’s central authorities, calls for:

The immediate end to the prohibition of in-person visits,

The restoration of the legal right of all prisoners to family visits,

Accountability of prison officials regarding arbitrary decisions that violate human rights.

This center also reminds that, according to international law, especially the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, maintaining contact with family, including through in-person visits, is a fundamental right of prisoners that no authority or institution can arbitrarily violate.

30 September 2025 / 8 Mehr 1404
Ahwazi Centre for Human Rights

https://acfh.info

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On the Role of Judge Ehsan Adibimehr in Issuing Repressive Sentences Against Arab Political Prisoners in Ahwaz

The Ahwaz Centre for Human Rights – UK, citing credible human rights reports, expresses deep concern over the direct and ongoing role of Judge Ehsan Adibimehr, known to be closely linked to state security agencies, in issuing harsh and unjust sentences against Arab political prisoners in Ahwaz.

Judge Adibimehr, who presides over Branch 1 of the Ahwaz Revolutionary Court, has in recent years been responsible for dozens of death sentences and long-term prison rulings targeting Arab political detainees. These verdicts have been issued in proceedings that blatantly violate fair trial standards, relying on confessions extracted under torture—both physical and psychological—denial of access to independent legal counsel, and closed-door court sessions.

Judge Adibimehr has become a symbol of judicial repression. Among the Arab people of Ahwaz, he is widely seen not as a figure of justice, but as one emblematic of cruelty, severity, and haste in punishing those whose only demand is the recognition of their basic human rights, dignity, and cultural identity.

According to verified documentation, dozens of young Ahwazi Arabs have been prosecuted on vague, sweeping security charges. Without upholding basic human rights, Judge Adibimehr has issued death sentences and prison terms extending beyond 10, 15, and even 35 years. Moreover, detainees have been forced to attend sessions designed not for rehabilitation, but to instill fear, undermine their identity, and coerce them into renouncing their beliefs and legitimate demands. These sessions function as psychological tools of repression aimed at silencing Arab political prisoners.

These actions are not isolated violations by an individual judge, but rather part of a broader, systemic and deliberate policy targeting Arab political prisoners in Ahwaz. A structure in which the judiciary and security institutions are used as instruments to silence independent voices, intimidate the younger Arab generation, and reinforce political and cultural domination over the Ahwazi Arab nation.

Judge Ehsan Adibimehr has knowingly and willingly transformed himself into a machinery of repression. He bears direct responsibility for issuing punitive sentences that have devastated the lives of countless Ahwazi Arab families and turned Ahwaz into a deeply securitized and suffocating environment.

The Ahwaz Centre for Human Rights – UK stresses that the continued presence of such individuals at the head of judicial institutions in Ahwaz legitimizes systematic injustice and poses a grave concern.

The Centre calls on all international human rights bodies, the United Nations, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran, and international legal institutions to:

Officially designate Judge Ehsan Adibimehr as a violator of human rights for his leading role in the structural abuse against Arab political prisoners in Ahwaz.

Add his name to international lists of serious human rights violators.

Take urgent legal and political action to stop the unjust and repressive judicial processes taking place in Ahwaz.

What is happening in Ahwaz is not confined to a single region; it reflects a broader pattern of structural discrimination and targeted repression that the international human rights community cannot afford to ignore.

14 September 2025 / 23 Shahrivar 1404
Ahwaz Centre for Human Rights – UK
https://acfh.info

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Based on verified information received, the Ahwaz Centre for Human Rights – UK has learned that five Arab political prisoners from Ahwaz, namely Mukhtar Al-Boushouka, Mostafa Helichi, Reza Hezbawi, Abbas Saedi, and Amer Mechasbeh, currently held in Ward 5 of Sheyban Prison in Ahwaz, delivered their final defenses via video conference on 21 September 2025 (31 Shahrivar 1404 in the Iranian calendar). They faced charges of membership in political movements opposed to the central government. Following the session, the case was referred to the Ahwaz Revolutionary Court, which operates under the control of security institutions, for the final verdict.

According to the reports received, Mostafa Helichi, son of Jamal, and Reza Hezbawi, son of Ramazan — both well-known Arab poets and civil society activists — were arrested in Azar 1403 (December 2024) by security agencies affiliated with the central authorities, which exercise full control over Ahwaz. The two were initially held in an undisclosed security detention facility before being transferred, after approximately one month, to Sheyban Prison, which is directly administered by the central government.

The Ahwaz Centre for Human Rights – UK had previously reported that all five prisoners were subjected to severe physical and sexual torture during their detention and are being held in inhumane conditions. Due to the deterioration of their health, they have been transferred multiple times in recent months to the prison infirmary.

Independent sources have also confirmed that Mukhtar Al-Boushouka, Abbas Saedi, and Amer Mechasbeh were transferred from Sheyban Prison to a security detention center one week after the arrest of Helichi and Hezbawi, where they too were subjected to extreme torture and ill-treatment.

It is noteworthy that Mukhtar Al-Boushouka has been imprisoned since 2011 without a single day of furlough, first in Karoon Prison and later in Sheyban Prison. He has recently been diagnosed with a hernia, and according to reports, the recent intensification of torture has led to infection and further deterioration of his physical condition.

The Ahwaz Centre for Human Rights – UK expresses its serious concern over the health, safety, and legal status of these political prisoners and urges international bodies, particularly the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Ahwaz, to exert effective pressure on the central authorities to end the systematic and widespread human rights violations against Arab activists in the region. The Centre also calls for independent, transparent, and accountable investigations into the reported cases of torture, detention conditions, access to healthcare, and the overall fairness of judicial proceedings.

21 September 2025 / 1 Mehr 1404
Ahwaz Centre for Human Rights – UK
https://acfh.info

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