Farzad Mardoukhi, a 26-year-old resident of Dezhn village in Kamyaran, was arrested by security forces in late December 2024. After being held for several weeks at the detention center of Baneh’s Intelligence Office, he was transferred to Baneh Prison on January 22, 2025. More than a month after his arrest, he remains in an uncertain legal situation, and no information has been made available regarding the reasons for his detention or the charges against him.
Farzad Mardoukhi had previously been arrested on November 18, 2022, during the nationwide protests in Kamyaran. He was later released on bail after a period of detention.
Human Rights Concerns
Prolonged detentions without clear charges violate fundamental principles of fair trial rights and international human rights laws. Holding individuals in security detention centers without access to legal representation or family contact raises serious concerns about the potential use of psychological and physical coercion against detainees.
According to Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)—to which Iran is a signatory—every individual has the right to personal liberty and must not be subjected to arbitrary detention. Detainees must also be promptly informed of the reasons for their arrest and granted access to legal counsel.
Hana Human Rights Organization Calls for:
- International pressure on Iranian authorities to provide transparent information on Farzad Mardoukhi’s legal status.
- Monitoring of his physical and mental health, particularly given the risk of unlawful coercion and mistreatment.
- Immediate access to an independent lawyer and the right to communicate with his family.
- Support for freedom of expression and peaceful assembly in Iran, emphasizing the need to end arbitrary detentions.
The continued arbitrary detention of Farzad Mardoukhi is yet another example of the Iranian government’s systematic repression of dissidents and civil activists.