Masoumeh Kabi, aged 28, the wife of prominent political activist Habib Nabgan, was arrested along with the couples four-year-old son Imad at their home in the early hours of February 27, Amnesty said in a statement issued on Thursday.
Their four other children, aged between six and 13, and Habib Nabgans mother, were also arrested but were released the following day. Masoumeh Kabi and Imad have reportedly been held at the Sepidar detention centre in Ahwaz since March 8. Habib Nabgan, who has fled the country, has received threats that his family will be tortured or killed if he does not return to Iran, the group said.
Soghra Khudayrawi and her four-year-old son Zeidan were reportedly arrested in Ahwaz on March 7. Her husband, Khalaf Derhab Khudayrawi, is said to be wanted by the authorities in connection with his political activities, Amnesty said.
Sakina Naisi, a mother of five, was reportedly arrested in Ahwaz on February 27 along with her 19-year-old son Nahez and taken to the Sepidar detention centre. Nahez was reportedly released after about 10 days in detention. Sakina Naisi is three months pregnant and reportedly suffers from asthma, the statement added. Her husband, Ahmad Naisi, a prominent political activist, is said to be wanted by the authorities. Following Sakina Naisis arrest, the Iranian authorities reportedly destroyed her husbands family home in the Shoaybiyeh district of Ahwaz with bulldozers.
Amnesty International believes all five are very likely to be prisoners of conscience held solely in order to force their husbands and fathers to give themselves up to the Iranian authorities. As such they should be released immediately and unconditionally, the statement said.
Ahwaz, the capital of the Arab-dominated province of Khuzestan, has been the scene of unremitting anti-government protests since the start of 2005. Iran has pointed the finger at Britain as the primary instigator of anti-government violence in Khuzestan.
