Serious concerncs about the safety of Kouhyar Goudarzi

Iran Human Rights, August 16: More than two weeks after human rights defender Kouhyar Goudarzi’s abduction by unidentified plainclothes agents, there is still no official confirmation on his situation and whereabouts.

On August 6th, Iran Human Rights (IHR) published a reportabout the possible arrest of Kouhyar Goudarzi and his mother, Parvin Mokhtare.

A few days later, according to a report by the Committee of Human Rights Reporters (CHRR), Parvin Mokhtare’s sister had visited her in the Kerman central prison where she was being held with ordinary (criminal) prisoners. According to reports, during the short visit, Parvin Mokhtare told her family that, on August 1st, four plainclothes agents had entered her house after climbing the wall and arrested her without presenting an arrest warrant. She was transferred to the women’s ward of the Kerman central prison. Kouhyar Goudarzi’s mother added that the Kerman security agents had told her Kouhyar is jailed in Evin prison.

According to unofficial sources Kouhyar Goudarzi is being held in solitary confinement in ward 240 of Tehran’s Evin prison. However, there is no official news about his whereabouts and the reason for his arrest.

IHR strongly condemns the unlawful arrest and abduction of Kouhyar Goudarzi and his mother Parvin Mokhtare.

Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, the spokesperson of IHR expressed serious concern about Kouhyar Goudarzi’s situation. He said, “We fear for Kouhyar’s safety and urge the international community to act immediately for the release of Kouhyar Goudarzi and his mother.” He added, “The world community must condemn the arbitrary arrests by the Iranian authorities.”