number of arrests of Ahwazi

The number of arrests of Ahwazi Arabs continues to climb amid a crackdown on dissent ahead of the eighth anniversary of the 2005 Ahwazi intifada. Teacher Mohammad Amara Moramazi was arrested on 27 March in Al-Houwayzeh (Hoveizeh), according to local sources. This week, Ali Gharbawi and Ali Moramazi were arrested in Khafajiyeh (Susangerd) and their whereabouts is unknown.

Meanwhile, the Ghenaidrah (Dezful) revolutionary court has convicted three Ahwazi Arabs from Shawor near Susa (Shush). The poet Ahmad Ali Kaabi (27), who was arrested on 8 September 2012, has been sentenced to prison in Masjid Soleiman. Abdullah Abbas Srayeh Kaabi (31), who was arrested on 19 August 2012, was sentenced to three years imprisonment. His brother Hassan Abbas Srayeh Kaabi (23) was also given a prison sentence.

The Ahwaz Human Rights Organisation (AHRO) reported earlier this week that scores of Ahwazi Arabs had been arrested in the crackdown. In an appeal, it lists the names of 161 Arabs who have been arrested for political crimes. Since the publication of its report, five more have been arrested.

AHRO said: "These random arrests threaten the freedom of civilians in Ahwaz province and breach international law and human rights. AHRO condemns these arbitrary arrests among Ahwazi Arabs and appeals to the international community and human rights organisations for their urgent attention tosupport Ahwazi Arab detainees and stop further physical and mental torture. We also appeal for further pressure on the Iranian government to respect the rights of all detainees as set down in International Law and to reveal where they are detained so their families can visit them. We appeal for the prisoners to be freed without any conditions."

Ahwaz Human Rights Organisation

06/04/2013