Five individuals were arrested having attempted to control a forest fire which originated in an area of around 300 hectares of woodland near the town of Marivan (Merîwan) in Kurdistan Province, Iran.https://t.co/jnjxr0ElcT pic.twitter.com/7qf297r90s
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As a forest fire raged in Marivan (Merîwan) in Kurdistan Province, Iran, the Iranian authorities arrested five environmental activists who had attempted to intervene and control the blaze. The current condition and whereabouts of the detainees remain unknown, reports the Hengaw Human Rights Organisation.
According to Hengaw, which monitors violations in parts of western Iran (Rojhilat) with a sizeable population of Kurds, two of the detainees, Delir Mohammadi and Alan Ardeshiri, were arrested at their Marivan residences in dawn raids on 2 August. Three other activists, Azad Rouhi, Laigh Ahmadi and Sarkawt Ebadi, were apprehended by forces attachged to the Iranian Intelligence Department on the evening of the following day, 3 August. Sources reported that the arrest of the activists was marked by extreme violence.
There is no information available regarding the charges against the five activists, nor any update either on their conditions while in detention or on their whereabouts at the time of reporting.
The arrests came amidst a devastating forest fire that has engulfed the forests surrounding Marivan. Hundreds of hectares of land have reportedly turned to ashes as a result of the fire that has persisted for days, and the authorities have not intervened to extinguish the blaze.
Environmental organisations and activists in the city are working tirelessly to control the fire with limited resources. Several activists have sustained injuries in their efforts to combat the blaze.
