Shabtabnews In this dark night, I have lost my way – Arise from a corner, oh you the star of guidance.
iranwire – An Iranian poet and cultural activist has been held without charge for more than 110 days, with authorities providing no information about his case or legal status.
Hassan Touzandehjani was arrested on August 20 when Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) intelligence agents raided his Tehran home and confiscated electronic devices, including his mobile phone and laptop.
Touzandehjani was arrested alongside four other cultural and political activists: Ehsan Rostami, Ramin Rostami, Marjan Ardeshirzadeh, and Nima Mahdizadegan.
Family and friends have expressed concern about Touzandehjani’s health, saying he suffers from high blood pressure and is in a worrying condition.
He has not been allowed access to a lawyer or family visits.
More than 200 cultural activists signed an open letter calling for information about the poet’s whereabouts and demanding he be granted access to legal counsel and family.
“From August 20 until today, no clear news has been received about his location, his condition, or the detaining authority,” the letter reads. “This heavy silence is not only a clear violation of human rights but also a scar on this land’s culture.”
The signatories emphasized the importance of freedom and transparency. They called for immediate attention to Touzandehjani’s case, saying, “Silence in the face of a poet’s fate is silence in the face of human freedom.”
Iranian authorities regularly detain writers, poets, and cultural activists on vague national security charges, often holding them for extended periods without formal charges or access to legal representation.
