Iran's wave of
arrests widens following pipeline explosion allegations
The Iranian regime has used a recent
militant attack on a pipeline to widen arrests of Ahwazi Arabs with at least
arrested this morning (18 November), including a prominent poet. The latest
arrests confirm that the attack is being used by the authorities to frame and
punish innocent people and non-violent activists, including those who use
traditional cultural means to express Arab sentiments.
Renowned Ahwazi Arab poet Abdulal
Aldoraghi, known as Abu Shaima, pictured, was among those taken from their
homes in Ahwaz City's Kut Abdullah district. He had attended the funeral of
another Ahwazi poet, Sattar al-Sayahi, who died in mysterious circumstances
after being released from custody for questioning. Mourners held protests at
the funeral, which attracted hundreds of Ahwazi Arabs.
Others arrested in Kut Abdullah on
18 November include:
- Mohammad Sayahi
- Kamal Moghadam
- Saud Sayahi
- Jasem Mazraeh (Mazreawi)
- Latif Torfi
- Hani Sawaedi
- Hossein Motairi
- Hatam Helalat
- Moslem Shejirat
- Kazem Bawi
- Jawad Neisi
Arrests of at least 17 other Ahwazi
Arabs were reported in Mashali, Darwishiya, Khozami and Hey-althowra on Sunday
morning.
In addition, Adel Mowla Atshani (25,
son of Ismaiel) was arrested by intelligence services in Hamidiyeh City on 12
November. According to recent reports, his family home has been raided and he
is being tortured. At least nine Arabs, mostly from the Ka'abi tribe, were also
arrested in the Khalaf Al-Moslem area near Shush this week on charges of
involvement in a recent gas pipeline attack, which security forces have blamed
on foreign governments.
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