The local sources of Ahwaz Human Rights Organisation (AHRO) reported that the mass arrests in Ahwaz city and other cities in Khuzestan province, southwest of Iran, continued and more than 600 Ahwazi Arabs were detained, until this report of 30 Oct 2018. The people that were detained included political and cultural activists as well as a number of women and ordinary citizens.

At the end of the article the names of some of the detainees are mentioned, most of whom are from Ahwaz, Muhammarah (Khoramshahr), Abadan, Falahiya (Shadegan), Khafajiah (Susangerd).

The authorities of the Islamic Republic of Iran , through arbitrary arrests are attempting to exploit the armed attack on the parade of the armed forces in Ahwaz which took place on September 22th of this year and justify the suppression of Arab citizens in Iran. This widespread wave of arrests occurs despite the fact that IS claimed the responsibility for the attack.
While the authorities admitted in 24 September 2018 that 22 people were arrested for alleged links to the perpetrators, local activists and sources confirmed that the number of detainees has exceeded 600 in the past two months including women, activists, intellectuals and ordinary citizens.

While the details of the attack which the terrorist organization” IS ( Daesh)” has claimed responsibility for, and those behind it remain unclear, there is a growing skepticism about the involvement of the government, especially the IRGC intelligence apparatus, in complicity in this attack for political reasons related to internal and external crises. Read it again, this is quite unclear.

The authorities have been carrying out a massive campaign of intimidation in the province of Ahwaz, which has been witnessed since the beginning of this year following the peaceful protests in Ahwaz and all over Iran. Protests were focused on pressing demands such as expensive and scarce drinking water, unemployment, dust storms, the spread of pollution and the transfer of water out of region.
The Iranian government as in the past exploited similar attacks in order to militarize the region and start a new campaign of suppression , which includes executions, and arrest of political and peaceful cultural activists to eliminate the occasional demonstrations against the government's discriminatory policies and racism against the Arab people.
The Ahwaz Human Rights Organisation (AHRO) while reaffirming its condemnation of all forms of violence and terrorism, reiterates its firm position of principle of peaceful and democratic activity, strongly condemns the systematic state terrorism practiced by the Iranian government against the Ahwazi people and all peoples in Iran.


The Iranian government attempts to link every internal movement with foreign conspiracies in order to justify repression and escape from the entitlements of the masses demanding their rights, which includes stopping government spendings on regional wars and expansionist ambitions and the protection of their rights to freedom and decent living.


On the background of such a situation the Ahwaz Human Rights Organisation (AHRO) , while condemning the repressive practices and arrests carried out by the Iranian authorities, declares that it stands by the Arab Ahwazi detainees and warns against the consequences of torturing them to earn forced confessions, as the Iranian security services have always practiced.


It also calls on the international community, organizations and bodies, especially those under the umbrella of the United Nations, to condemn these arrests and to exert all their humanitarian efforts to stop these mass arrests and violations of human rights and to prevent the Islamic Republic of Iran from succeeding in its plans to eliminate the voices calling for social justice.

Ahwaz Human Rights Organisation (AHRO) calls for an immediate and unconditional release of detainees. Moreover, it warns against potential physical and mental torture to obtain compulsory confessions from detainees.


Human rights activists have not been able to monitor all the names of the detainees because many families fear retaliation by the Iranian authorities and do not disclose the news of the detention of their children. The following is a list of 172 detainees confirmed by local sources:
  1. Ahmad Amin Ghezzi( Qays Ghezi), researcher and cultural activist from Ahwaz city
  2. Saeed Ali-Raza Nazari 63 years old,from Al-Safi neighbourhood, Ahwaz city
  3. Sajad Silawi,25 years old, from Al-Safi neighbourhood, Ahwaz city
  4. Jawad Badawi,26 years old, from Malashiah neighbourhood, Ahwaz city
  5. Shani Shmosi from Malashiah neighbourhood, Ahwaz city
  6. Khalil Silawi from Malashiah neighbourhood, Ahwaz city
  7. Jamil Silawi from Malashiah neighbourhood, Ahwaz city
  8. Sadegh Silawi from Malashiah neighbourhood, Ahwaz city
  9. Fares Shamosi from Malashiah neighbourhood, Ahwaz city
  10. Ali Mazrah from Malashiah neighbourhood, Ahwaz city
  11. Samir Silawi from Malashiah neighbourhood, Ahwaz city
  12. Riaz Shamosi from Malashiah neighbourhood, Ahwaz city
  13. Ali Heydari ,Shayea’s son, from Malashiah neighbourhood, Ahwaz city
  14. Yousef Khasrgi, from Malashiah neighbourhood, Ahwaz city
  15. Jawad Hashemi, from Malashiah neighbourhood, Ahwaz city
  16. Ali-Raza Deris ,from Malashiah neighbourhood, Ahwaz city
  17. Maher Masodi, from Malashiah neighbourhood, Ahwaz city
  18. Riaz Zahyri, from Shahrak-Aahwaz neighbourhood, Ahwaz city
  19. Khaled Silawi, from Malashiah neighbourhood, Ahwaz city
  20. Mokhtar Masodi, from Malashiah neighbourhood, Ahwaz city
  21. Ali Albaji, from Albaji village, arrested in Malashiah neighbourhood, Ahwaz city
  22. Mohammad Masodi,from Malashiah neighbourhood, Ahwaz city
  23. Jader Afrawi, from Malashiah neighbourhood, Ahwaz city
  24. Aghil Shamosi, from Malashiah neighbourhood, Ahwaz city
  25. Saeed Jalil Mosawi, from Malashiah neighbourhood, Ahwaz city
  26. Aisa Badawi, from Malashiah neighbourhood, Ahwaz city
  27. Hadi Abidawi, from Malashiah neighbourhood, Ahwaz city
  28. Saeed Sadgh Mosawi, from Malashiah neighbourhood, Ahwaz city
  29. Ahmad Heydari, from Malashiah neighbourhood, Ahwaz city
  30. Milad Afrawi, from Malashiah neighbourhood, Ahwaz city
  31. Aadel Zahyri, from Malashiah neighbourhood, Ahwaz city
  32. Abdolah Silawi, from Malashiah neighbourhood, Ahwaz city
  33. Abas Badawi, from Malashiah neighbourhood, Ahwaz city
  34. Mohsan Badawi, from Malashiah neighbourhood, Ahwaz city
  35. Farhan Shamosi, from Malashiah neighbourhood, Ahwaz city
  36. Mohamad Amori, 26 years old, from Malashiah neighbourhood, Ahwaz city
  37. Naeem Heydari 24 years old, from Malashiah neighbourhood, Ahwaz city
  38. Araf Ghazlawi, Hanon’s son, from Malashiah neighbourhood, Ahwaz city
  39. Kazam Ghazlawi ,Hanon’s son, from Malashiah neighbourhood, Ahwaz city
  40. Ali Alhyee, from Malashiah neighbourhood, Ahwaz city
  41. Shaker Sawari 29 years old, from Malashiah neighbourhood, Ahwaz city
  42. Saeed Ghasam Mosawi, from Malashiah neighbourhood, Ahwaz city
  43. Fazal Shamosi, from Malashiah neighbourhood, Ahwaz city
  44. Sohrab Mojadam,27 years old, from Darwishiah, Kot-Abdolah, Ahwaz city
  45. Karim Mojadam, from Kot-Abdolah
  46. Jafar Hazbawi, 28 years old, Aneed’s son, from Kot-Abdolah
  47. Ahmad Hazbawi, 28 years old, from Kot-Abdolah
  48. Araf Naseri ,30 years old, Aeedan’s son, from Kot-Abdolah
  49. Osameh Temas, 26 years old, from Shakareh neighbourhood, Ahwaz city
  50. Ahmad Temas,28 years old, from Shakareh neighbourhood, Ahwaz city
  51. Mohamad- Moamani  Temas, 55 years old, from Shakareh neighbourhood, Ahwaz city
  52. Saeed Jasem Rahmani(Mosawi), 33 years old, from Alawi(Hai-Althawra) neighbourhood, Ahwaz city
  53. Majed Kaldawi, Sadon’s son, from from Alawi neighbourhood (Hai-Althawra), Ahwaz city
  54. Saeed Hamod Rahmani(Mosawi), from Alawi neighbourhood (Hai-Althawra), Ahwaz city
  55. Hatam Sawari, from Alawi neighbourhood (Hai-Althawra), Ahwaz city
  56. Jasam Kroshat, 45 years old, from Alawi neighbourhood (Hai-Althawra), Ahwaz city
  57. Nori Neissi, from Alawi neighbourhood (Hai-Althawra), Ahwaz city
  58. Hossein Heydari, from Alawi neighbourhood (Hai-Althawra), Ahwaz city
  59. Adnan Sawari, from Alawi neighbourhood (Hai-Althawra), Ahwaz city
  60. Mohammad Heydari,25 years old, from Alawi neighbourhood (Hai-Althawra), Ahwaz city
  61. Majed Sawari, from Alawi neighbourhood (Hai-Althawra), Ahwaz city
  62. Ali Sawari, from Alawi neighbourhood (Hai-Althawra), Ahwaz city
  63. Mohammad Sawari, Sabah’s son, from Alawi neighbourhood (Hai-Althawra), Ahwaz city
  64. Ali Mazbani-Nasr(Sawari), from Alawi neighbourhood (Hai-Althawra), Ahwaz city
  65. Ahmad Kroshat, Kazam’s son, from Ahwaz city
  66. Jafar Aobidawi, from Zahireh(Goldasht) neighbourhood, Ahwaz city
  67. Ahmad Bawi, from Zahireh(Goldasht) neighbourhood, Ahwaz city
  68. Ali Shejairat (Abo-Farogh), from Amoelha, Ahwaz city
  69. Mahmod Dorghy, from Amoelha, Ahwaz city
  70. Aziz Hamidawi, from Amoelha, Ahwaz city
  71. Amoid Bachari, from Amoelha, Ahwaz city
  72. Ramin Bachari, from Amoelha, Ahwaz city
  73. Jamil Ahmad-Pour, from Azizeh neighbourhood(Kheshair), Ahwaz city
  74. Fahad Neissi , from Shahrak-Ahwaz, Ahwaz city
  75. Jamil Heydari, 33 years old, from Kampolo, Ahwaz city
  76. Majed Heydari, 25 years old, from Kampolo , Ahwaz city
  77. Ahmad Hemri, 29 years old, bachelor , from Mandali neighbourhood, Ahwaz city
  78. Ali Sawari, 23 years old, Chaseb’s son , from Azizeh neighbourhood(Kheshair), Ahwaz city
  79. Danial Adel Amjad, 43 years old, from Mashali neighbourhood, Ahwaz city
  80. Mosa Mazraeh, from Abo-Hmaza , Khafajeh city
  81. Abdul-Rahman khasreji, 32 years old, from Kot-Saeed-Naeem,Khafajeh city
  82. Mahdi Mazraeh, 22 years old, Aziz’s son ,from Abo-Hmaza , hospital employee, Khafajeh city
  83. Ahmad Swedi, from Hajeh village , Khafajeh city
  84. Adnaan Mazraeh , from  Khafajeh city
  85. Mrs Sahba(Lamia) Hamadi, from Koi-Abozar neighbourhood, Khafajeh city
  86. Hassan Harbawi, from Khafajeh city
  87. Ali Swedi, from Hajeh village Khafajeh city
  88. Faiz Afrawi, 30 years old, Married from Al-Boafri village, Khafajeh, he arrested with his mother
  89. Mohammad-Amin Afrawi, 37 years old, from Al-Boafri village, Khafajeh city, he arrested with his mother
  90. Abas Moghinami, 26 years old from Hajeh village, Khafajeh city
  91. Mortiza Bit-Sheikh-Ahmad,24 years old, Naser’s son, from Hajeh village, Khafajeh city
  92. Mortiza Moghinami , 22 years old, from Hajeh village, Khafajeh city
  93. Aref Moghinami, 27 years old, from Hajeh village, Khafajeh city
  94. Hamdan Afrawi, Abas’s son, from Al-Boafri village, Khafajeh city
  95. Amir Afrawi, Fazel’s son, from Al-Boafri village, Khafajeh city
  96. Ali Afrawi, Hamad’s son, from Al-Boafri village, Khafajeh city
  97. Mohammad Mohamadi( Abiat), 22 years old, from Hamidiyeh city, arrested with plastered feet
  98. Ghasem Kabi(Kabawi), 24 years old, from Hamidiyeh city
  99. Mahdi Saedi, 27 years old, from Hamidiyeh city
  100. 100.Lami Shamosi, from Hamidiyeh city
  101. 101.Aadel Afrawi, from Hamidiyeh city
  102. 102.Mahdi Koti, from Hamidiyeh city
  103. 103.Ali Koti, from Hamidiyeh city
  104. 104.Satar Koti, from Hamidiyeh city
  105. 105.Ali Mansori, from Hamidiyeh city
  106. 106.Ali Saki, Amrawah’s son, from Howeyzeh city
  107. 107.Abas Saki, Abad-Ali, from Howeyzeh city
  108. 108.Abo-Shalan Saki, from Howeyzeh city
  109. 109.Khazal Temimi(Fazeli),30 years old, from Shiban area, Ahwaz city
  110. 110.Ali Sawari,30 years old, Sahi’s son, from Shakareh neighbourhood, Kot-Abdolah
  111. 111.Mostafa Sawari,25 years old, Sahi’s son, from Shakareh neighbourhood, Kot-Abdolah
  112. 112.Khaled Abidawi, 25 years old, from Shakareh neighbourhood, Kot-Abdolah
  113. 113.Abas Heydari, 23 years old, from Shakareh neighbourhood, Kot-Abdolah
  114. 114.Mortza Amiri, from Darwisheh neighbourhood, Kot-Abdolah
  115. 115.Yasin Amiri, 23 years, from Darwisheh neighbourhood, Kot-Abdolah
  116. 116.Sadegh Heydari,28 years old, Ghasem’s son, from Malashiah neighbourhood, Ahwaz city
  117. 117.Jalal Nabhani, from Ameri neighbourhood, Ahwaz city
  118. 118.Khaled Hazbawi, 40 years old, married, from Kanteks( Majd) neighbourhood, Kot-Abdolah
  119. 119.Mohammad Hazbawi, 30 years old, Abdul-Karim’s son, from Kanteks( Majd) neighbourhood, Kot-Abdolah
  120. 120.Raza Batrani, 34 years old, from Kanteks( Majd) neighbourhood, Kot-Abdolah
  121. 121.Tareq Amiri, 24 years old, from Darwisheh neighbourhood, Kot-Abdolah
  122. 122.Jamal Mojadam , 25 years old, from Darwisheh neighbourhood, Kot-Abdolah
  123. 123.Mosa Mazraeh, 25 years old, Studying in university, from Khafajeh city
  124. 124.Rashid Kroshat, from Mandely neighbourhood, Ahwaz city
  125. 125.Hakim Kroshat , Manan’s son, from Ahwaz city
  126. 126.Mrs Zodeh Afrawi, 55 years old, from Al-Boafri village, Khafajeh city
  127. 127.Mrs Qaisiah Afrawi, 60 years old, from Al-Boafri village, Khafajeh city
  128. 128.Jawad Mahnapour(Afrawi), from Al-Boafri village, Khafajeh city
  129. 129.Ali Moghinami, from Hajeh village, Khafajeh city
  130. 130.Hossain Hamodi( Sabhani),25 years old, from Azizeh neighbourhood (Khashair), Ahwaz city
  131. 131.Yahiah Borwieh, from Ahwaz city
  132. 132.Naji Salimy( Kabi), Salman’s son, from Bit-Mahmed village, Shush city
  133. 133.Yahiah Salim, Naji’s son, from Bit-Mahmed village, Shush city
  134. 134.Azim Shawerdi, Abed’s son, from Khanafreh village , Falaheh( Shadegan) city
  135. 135.Ibrahim Shawerdi, 31 years old, Kanan’s son, from Khanafreh village , Falaheh( Shadegan) city
  136. 136.Khaled Albokhanfar, Saed’s son, from Khanafreh village , Falaheh( Shadegan) city
  137. 137.Ahmad Shawerdi, 24 years old, Abdoljalil’s son, from Khanafreh village , Falaheh( Shadegan) city
  138. 138.Mahdi Shawerdi, 17 years old, Hasan’s son, from Khanafreh village , Falaheh( Shadegan) city
  139. 139.Adnan Khanafreh, from Khanafreh village , Falaheh( Shadegan) city
  140. 140.Moslem Farajolah, married, from Shushtar city
  141. 141.Anwer Ashory, 26 years old, Derchal’s son, from Bit-Ashor village, Falaheh(Shadegan)
  142. 142.Mohamad-Raza Jalali,26 years old, Hasan’s son, from Koi-Abozar, Khafajiah city
  143. 143.Rahim Amin-Por ( Heydari) ,from Zaheriah( Goldasht), Ahwaz city
  144. 144.Mahdi Aobidawi, 25 years old, from Khafajeh city
  145. 145.Mostafa Jalali, 29 years old, married, from Khafajeh city
  146. 146.Loghman Sharafi( Khasraji), married , from Tasfeh area, Ahwaz city
  147. 147.Yousef Marawna , 18 years old, Aasi’s son, from Malashiah neighbourhood, Ahwaz city
  148. 148.Abdolah Haiati , Kazam’s son , from Saeed-Khalaf neighbourhood, Ahwaz city
  149. 149.Nader Haiati , Kazam’s son , from Saeed-Khalaf neighbourhood, Ahwaz city
  150. 150.Mostafa Basirey , Azat-Alah’s son , from Kyan-Abad neighbourhood , Ahwaz city
  151. 151.Kazam Sayahi , Faleh’s son , from Hamidiyeh city
  152. 152.Mansor Askari , from Koi-Alawi, Ahwaz city
  153. 153.Yahia Aobidawi , 28 years old, from Hamidiyeh city
  154. 154.Ghasam Aobidawi , 26 years old , from Hamidiyeh city
  155. 155.Jafar Aobidawi , 28 years old , from Hamidiyeh city
  156. 156.Hassan Bit-Said , 30 years old, from Hamidiyeh city
  157. 157.Ali Mazraeh , 29 years old , from Hamidiyeh city
  158. 158.Adel  Zabi , from Koi-Alawi neighbourhood , Ahwaz city
  159. 159.Araf Abiat , from Koi-Alawi neighbourhood , Ahwaz city
  160. 160.Nader Sharifi , 50 years old, from Malashiyeh neighbourhood, Ahwaz city
  161. 161.Najem Heydari , 30 years old, from Koi-Alawi neighbourhood , Ahwaz city
  162. 162.Rasoul Chaldawi , 27 years old, from Koi-Alawi neighbourhood, Ahwaz city
  163. 163.Saeed-Fahad  Alawi , 24 years old , Abolhail’s son, from Shawoor , Shush city
  164. 164.Abdul-Hamid Kanani , 25 years old , from Shawoor, Shush city
  165. 165.Amin Solimani , 27 years old, Naser’s son , from Shawoor, Shush city
  166. 166.Mohammad Aobidawi , 26 years old, Aisa’s son , from Shawoor , Shush city
  167. 167.Walid Haiawi , 28 years old, Mahmod’s son, from Shawoor , Shush city
  168. 168.Hassan Berisam ( Kanani), 24 years old, from Shawoor , Shush city
  169. 169.Jasem Ghanami Sowidi , 27 years old, Married , from Hajeh village, Khafajeh city
  170. 170.Halim Sawari , 46 years old, from Khafajeh city, arrested with two of his children
  171. 171.Aghil Sawari, 20 years old, Halim’s son , from Khafajeh city
  172. 172.Raza Sawari , 17 years old, Halim’s son , from Khafajeh city