Escalation of arrests and killing of democracy activists in Iran and Launch of the Free Bita Campaign

Activists in Iran are expressing growing concern at an alarming new wave of large-scale arrests, abductions, torture, and killings of dissidents inside Iran. Multiple recent cases highlight an intensifying crackdown that targets supporters of Prince Reza Pahlavi as the regime tries to contain growing opposition and internal fractures.

Abduction and disappearance of 19-Year old Activist Bita Shafiei

On 13 November, nineteen-year-old Bita Shafiei was abducted, just three days after her mother, Maryam Abbasi Nikoo, was arrested by security forces of the Islamic Republic. A video shared by Bita’s father after the raid shows extensive damage inside their home, underscoring the level of force used by authorities. Bita had previously been arrested during the Woman, Life, Freedom protests for speaking out against the state-linked chemical attacks on schoolgirls, during which she was imprisoned and tortured, including the intentional breaking of her finger during interrogation. To date, there is no information regarding the location, safety, or condition of either Bita or her mother Maryam.

Activists inside Iran and in the diaspora have launched aFree Bita campaign to raise awareness for Shafiei.

Escalating Custodial Deaths: The Cases of Farzad Khoshbaresh and Omid Sarlak

Farzad Khoshbaresh, who was arrested alongside his brother Farhad in Neka, a city in Mazandaran Province, has died in custody after being poisoned by the regime. Both brothers had previously been detained for their continued public opposition to the Islamic Republic and Ali Khamenei. The thirty-one-year-old laborer and athlete was described as having severe bruising consistent with prolonged torture. Farzad had been arrested just two weeks earlier for criticizing the regime on social media. The family has reportedly been threatened by security forces not to share information with the media. Other further incidents include the killing of Omid Sarlak, a 22-year-old who was killed only hours after burning a portrait of the “supreme leader,” Ali Khamenei. His death sparked a wave of solidarity across Iran and in the diaspora, with many publicly burning Khamenei’s image in protest.

Growing Global Consensus

Last week, the UN General Assembly Third Committee recorded votes from 79 countries condemning the Islamic Republic’s human rights violations—reflecting growing international consensus and alarm over the escalating human rights situation in Iran.

Statement from Prince Reza Pahlavi

“The abduction of Bita Shafiei and arrest of her mother Maryam is just the latest example of an increasingly desperate and fractured Regime, clamping down on growing protests in Iran. As Bita herself said “I am a young woman who wants to live, not simply exist…my dream is to see Iran free one day” Bita has asked us to be her voice. We will not let her down. Bita, I salute your courage and the courage of thousands of young people like you. For you, for all of our people, Iran will rise. ”

- Reza Pahlavi