Ongoing Repression of Arab Activists in Ahwaz: Mokhtar Al-Boushoka Subjected to Torture and Threats
Report by the Ahwaz Centre for Human Rights – UK
Ongoing Repression of Arab Activists in Ahwaz: Mokhtar Al-Boushoka Subjected to Torture and Threats
The Ahwaz Centre for Human Rights – UK reports that Mokhtar Al-Boushoka, an Ahwazi Arab and political detainee, has once again become the target of renewed security harassment and systematic repression. According to credible sources, security agencies have opened a new case against him, continuing their pattern of unlawful and sustained pressure.
The new case, reportedly initiated due to Al-Boushoka’s human interactions and non-confidential communications with fellow Ahwazi Arab political activists — previously imprisoned in Sheyban Prison — has been under review since the final months of the previous year and was renewed for a second time in Farvardin 1404 (March–April 2025).
On Thursday, 15 Azar 1403 (December 5, 2024), Al-Boushoka was transferred from Sheyban Prison to a detention facility affiliated with security agencies. Reports confirm that he was subjected to severe physical torture and psychological abuse during this transfer.
Al-Boushoka, who has been held in detention since 2011 without any formal conviction or criminal record, has experienced years of inhumane treatment and arbitrary imprisonment. As a result, his physical and mental health has deteriorated significantly, raising serious concerns for his wellbeing.
Reliable sources indicate that in addition to isolating him through repeated transfers and psychological pressure, security forces have also threatened his family, warning them to cease legal follow-ups or public advocacy.
Simultaneously, two other Ahwazi Arab cultural activists, Mostafa Halichi and Reza Habashi, are reportedly facing similar conditions. Both individuals, known for their literary and cultural contributions, were unlawfully detained and held in an undisclosed location. During their detention, they were reportedly subjected to intense physical and psychological torture.
The Ahwaz Centre for Human Rights – UK considers these actions part of a persistent pattern of state repression targeting the Arab population of Ahwaz. These practices clearly violate international human rights norms, including the prohibition of torture, the right to freedom of expression, and the right to a fair trial.
The Centre urgently calls on the United Nations, international human rights bodies, and the global community to respond promptly to these violations and pressure the ruling authorities in the region to end arbitrary detention and torture.
26 August 2025 / 4 Shahrivar 1404
Ahwaz Centre for Human Rights – UK https://acfh.info
