At least ten lawyers in Iran’s Gilan Province have recently been summoned or arrested, reflecting a troubling new wave of pressure on the legal profession. Mohammad Saleh Noghrekār, a local lawyer, expressed deep concern over these developments, urging urgent measures to protect lawyers’ independence and safety.
“We must safeguard lawyers from arbitrary arrests, security threats, and invasive actions like searching their mobile phones or intruding into their private beliefs,” Noghrekār said.
Among those detained in Rasht over the past ten days are lawyers Shadi Falahati, Shahrazad Sharbiyani, and Hesam Pourahmadi. Falahati’s arrest came alongside others, but no information has been made public about her whereabouts or condition, despite repeated inquiries by her family.
Hesam Pourahmadi was arrested on September 1 and is currently held in solitary confinement at Lakan Prison. Sources close to him indicated that authorities found critical posts on his Instagram account, which allegedly prompted his arrest.
Shahrazad Sharbiyani was reportedly arrested by the Ministry of Intelligence on charges of “propaganda against the regime” and is now undergoing interrogation in Lakan Prison. Further details about her situation remain undisclosed.
Human rights organizations have condemned these actions as part of a broader crackdown on legal professionals and political dissent in Iran.
