Iran police arrest Kurdish activist in restive city

Iran Focus: an MEK website

A Kurdish activist in the city of Sanandaj, northwest Iran, was arrested by State Security Forces, Persian-language websites reported on Thursday.

Hiva Youssefi was nabbed on Tuesday and his family said that no reason was given for his arrest.

Youssefi was active in anti-government protests by Iran’s Kurdish population. On July 30, he addressed a protest demonstration outside the governorate building in Sanandaj. READ MORE

Youssefi’s family said that officials refused to reveal his whereabouts during repeated visits to local police stations and the local offices of the Ministry of Intelligence and Security, Iran’s secret police.

Separately, the head of a Kurdish weekly that was banned by the authorities on August 4 said that he received a notice to appear in court next Tuesday. Borhan Zarehtan Lahouni is facing charges of “acting against national security”.