Solmaz Hassanzadeh, the sister of Mohammad Hassanzadeh, a protester killed during the Women, Life, Freedom anti-government uprising in Bukan, West Azerbaijan Province, was arrested by security forces at her family home in Bukan on her brother’s birthday, 30 July 2024.

During the raid, Daye Azimeh, the mother of Mohammad Hassanzadeh, was also beaten by the security forces and subsequently transferred to Gholipour Hospital in Bukan.

The security forces also confiscated the family’s personal belongings, including mobile phones and laptop computers.

After her arrest, Solmaz Hassanzadeh was taken to a solitary confinement cell in Orumiyeh Central Prison, where she went on a hunger strike on 6 August in protest at her continued detention.

On 13 August, Solmaz Hassanzadeh was provisionally released from Orumiyeh Central Prison on bail of five billion rials (nearly 10,000 USD) after nine days on hunger strike.

During her detention, she was denied the right to meet with her family and access to legal counsel.

There is no information about the charges against her.

Mohammad Hassanzadeh was fatally stabbed during the Women, Life, Freedom protests in Bukan on 16 November 2022.

While the security forces claimed to have arrested a person for his murder, the Hassanzadeh family dismissed this as a fabrication and held the security forces responsible for their son’s death.

Over the past year, members of the Hassanzadeh family have been repeatedly summoned and detained by the security services for their pursuit of justice.