By Karim Dohimi, Ahwazi human rights activist based in London

As the Iranian regime continues exploiting the security situation in the Middle East and is busy creating disinformation and turmoil, its Intelligence Ministry, operating in Al-Ahwaz region, has arrested dozens of Ahwazi Arab activists in the cities of Susa, Quneitra, Shavoor, and Khafajeh under the pretext of attacking the Muharram mourning in Quneitra (Dezful) last month.

According to the official Iranian news agencies, even before completion of the investigation and issuing any verdict from the courts, the Ministry of Intelligence, accused the detainees of forming a group called “Jund Al-Farouq”,  and, as is always the case, has charged them with “enmity against God” the punishment for which is the death sentence.

Iran’s Intelligence Ministry are actively censoring any and all news of Ahwaz in the local media, and by human rights organisations. Dozens of activists have been arrested, and many are being accused of terrorism.  In addition, Security Officials have arrested the Arab activists on so-called charges of attacking a Shia convoy of mourning in the Safiabad district in the city of Quneitra (Dezful) at the start of Muharram. Two people were killed, and two others have been injured.

The nationalities of those killed are yet to be disclosed.  The unlawful detention of dozens of Ahwazi young activists comes while, according to the Ministry of Intelligence Officials, only three of the identities of this attack are known.

In an interview with Fars News Agency, Ahmed Ghahremani, the Public Prosecutor of Quneitra city (Dezful), insisted on the immediate execution of the accused detainees even before the court’s decision has been handed down.  Ghahremani claims that the detainees confessed to “Fighting with God,” and as we have observed in thousands of instances of Iran’s so-called “justice,” the detainees will be executed.

Such statements by the Judicial Officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran, reveal the confusion and weaknesses of the judicial system. Additionally, these statements provide clear examples of the continuous, inherent violations of the most basic International rights of detainees, as well as the explicit contradiction with Article 37 of the Iranian Constitution, which states: “The principle of presumption of innocence, and no one is to be held guilty unless proved guilty by a competent court.”

The arrests in September and October this year, took place after the detainees were denied the most basic right to make phones call to their family and access to a lawyer.  The families of the accused are unaware of the status of their sons or the reasons for their detention. The names of some of the detainees are protected by human rights activists, and will be released after the conclusion of the court.   To date, no Ahwazi Arab group has claimed responsibility for the attack in Quneitra (Dezful), and several Ahwazi rights organisations issued statements condemning the attack.

By Karim Dohimi