Ahad Alivand Arrested in Malekandi, South Azerbaijan

Ahad Alivand, a resident of Malekan County and a social media activist, was arrested on Sunday, August 16, 2026, by security and law-enforcement forces of the occupying Iranian regime in Malikkandi (Malekan), South Azerbaijan.

No clear information has so far been released regarding the reasons for his arrest, the charges against him, his place of detention, or his legal status. It is presumed that Alivand may have been arrested because of his social media activities and his advocacy for the linguistic rights of South Azerbaijanis. There are also concerns that he may be subjected to ill-treatment or torture while in detention.