Press release of 6 November 2025
More arrests in Iran: Writers and academics particularly at risk
In a coordinated operation on Monday, 3 November, security forces loyal to the Iranian regime raided the homes of several prominent intellectuals.
Shirin Karimi, a 42-year-old writer and translator, was arrested following a search of her home and taken to an unknown location. A sociologist, Karimi is the author of numerous books, including translations of works by Judith Butler and Afsaneh Najmabadi. Her works have been published by the renowned Cheshme publishing house, which publishes Iranian literature as well as the works of many international authors.
Economists Parviz Sadeghat and Mohammad Majloo, as well as sociologist Mahsa Asadollahnejad, were also arrested on Monday morning. Heyman Rahimi, a Kurdish author and translator, was summoned for questioning. The families of those detained have so far received no information about their whereabouts or the charges against them.
Since the autumn 2022 protests, the persecution of authors, journalists, and academics has not diminished. Their work and research is being hindered, they are restricted in what they can say, and they live in daily fear of arrest and prosecution. However, what has diminished is international media and political attention. Only solidarity and constant attention to the fate of those who continue to campaign for human rights and a free Iran can help protect them from arrest and violence at the hands of a state that does not shy away from executions.
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