Reza Hezbavi, an Ahwazi poet, has been arrested by security forces of the occupying Iranian regime at his home in the Kut Abdullah area of occupied Ahwaz and transferred to an unknown location.
On Monday, December 9, 2024, Reza Hezbavi, aged 36, was again detained. Witnesses reported that the arrest took place at 2:00 PM when security forces raided his home without providing any explanation for their actions.
Reza Hezbavi has been arrested multiple times before by the Ministry of Intelligence for unclear reasons. In one of these instances, he was subjected to severe torture in solitary confinement, which caused significant physical harm. Following his release, he required urgent spleen surgery due to the injuries sustained during torture.
His first arrest dates back to November 2011, when he was detained during a mourning ceremony for the prominent Ahwazi poet Sattar Sayahi. At that time, he spent three days in a police detention center and was later transferred to Sepidar Prison in Ahwaz. He was released after 16 days on bail but was subsequently sentenced to four months in prison and lashes, which was eventually converted to a monetary fine.
Born in 1988, Reza Hezbavi is a father of two. His recent detention has raised concerns about his wellbeing, especially in light of continued reports of mistreatment and torture of political prisoners in Iranian prisons, particularly in Sheiban Prison in Ahwaz, targeting members of the Ahwazi Arab community.
Faisal Khalil Al-Ahwazi
