According to information received by the Hana Human Rights Organization, Saro Sadeqzadeh, a 17-year-old from Baneh, remains held at a security detention facility in Sanandaj, eight days after his arrest by Intelligence Department forces. He continues to be denied contact with and visits from his family, as well as access to a lawyer.
The teenager was arrested on Saturday, October 17, 2026, without the presentation of a judicial warrant and transferred to Sanandaj. To date, no clear explanation has been provided regarding the reasons for his arrest, the possible charges against him, or the judicial authority responsible for handling his case.
Detaining a minor at a security detention facility without access to family or legal counsel is inconsistent even with the Islamic Republic of Iran’s own criminal procedure regulations. Under Articles 285 and 304 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, proceedings involving individuals under the age of 18 are subject to special juvenile justice procedures. Article 287 of the same code also permits the temporary detention of juveniles only under specified conditions and by order of a judicial authority, in a juvenile correction and rehabilitation centre, rather than a security detention facility.
This situation also contravenes Article 37 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, to which Iran is a party. The article stipulates that the detention of children must be used only as a measure of last resort and for the shortest appropriate period. It also emphasizes their right to maintain contact with their families, obtain prompt access to legal assistance, and challenge the legality of their detention before a court.
The Hana Human Rights Organization calls for the release of Saro Sadeqzadeh if there is no lawful basis for his continued detention, and urges the authorities to immediately guarantee his access to his family, a lawyer, and the special protections afforded to individuals under the age of 18.