Iran’s regime steps up arbitrary arrests of activists

The Iranian regime’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) and the Revolutionary Guards Corps’ (IRGC) Intelligence Organization have been summoning and arresting many young activists, especially the supporters and families of the People’s Mujahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK).

This renewed attack on activists is because the regime has seen the expansion of the MEK Resistance Units’ activities and is terrified that it may spark a new wave of popular protests and even an uprising that could overthrow the regime.

Many of those arrested were sent to prison on trumped-up charges and only temporarily released on bail if they signed a form vowing not to participate in any anti-regime activities.

Those arrested have been subjected to hours of interrogation, torture, and mental pressure, with those who survived reporting that this was all focused on obtaining information about the MEK and the Resistance Units, including the detainees’ relationship with the MEK and why young people are attracted to the MEK.

Some examples of the torture that those arrested have been put under includes:

• a mock execution in Mashhad, which was designed to frighten ten young detainees into confessing
• attacks on female detainees in Tehran by the torturers and interrogators, which was an attempt to force them to confess on television

Witnesses reported that many of the detainees showed admirable resistance in the face of horrific torture.

These arrests took place in

• Tehran
• Mashhad
• Neyshabur
• Kermanshah
• Sabzevar
• Arak
• Kashan
• Mahshahr
• Bushehr
• Marvdasht
• Amol
• Ahvaz
• Andimeshk
• Rasht
• Behbahan
• Isfahan
• Gorgan
• Karaj
• Tabriz
• Shiraz

The MOIS, IRGC, or their plainclothes agents have been raiding the homes and offices of the arrested, confiscating their phones, computers, personal belongings, and valuable items.

This has been happening at the same time as the Nejat Organizations have been stepping up a demonization campaign against the MEK domestically and internationally.

Meanwhile, the regime’s intelligence services have also been trying to contact Iranian youth en-masse to intimidate them against having any connection with the MEK.

Maryam Rajavi, the President of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), has once again urged the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, the High Commissioner for Human Rights  Michelle Bachelet, Special rapporteur on violence against women, and global human rights groups to send international delegations to visit Iran’s prisons to meet with political prisoners and recently arrested people, particularly women.