News Center — Since the end of December 2025, Iran has been witnessing a new wave of popular protests that has expanded to include dozens of cities across the country, amid escalating tensions between demonstrators and security forces.

According to human rights sources, Hasti Ghorbani, a 16-year-old student, was arrested yesterday, Saturday, January 3, during protest gatherings in Mashhad by security forces. To date, no accurate information has been released regarding the authority responsible for her arrest or her place of detention.

Simultaneously, during the ongoing protests in Shahriar, security forces arrested three relatives of Erfan Khazaei, one of the victims of previous protests. Those detained include Elaheh Khazaei, his 39-year-old cousin, as well as Setayesh Khazaei (19 years old) and Nazanin Khazaei (18 years old).

As of the time of writing this report, no information is available regarding the whereabouts or health conditions of the four detained women and girls. It is worth noting that the arrest of relatives of protest victims—particularly ahead of memorial ceremonies—has occurred repeatedly in the past and is viewed as a means of psychological pressure and intimidation against families.

These arrests come as the popular uprising enters its seventh day, with protests continuing in at least 72 cities across the country.

The current protests are an extension of a series of uprisings that Iran has witnessed in recent years, as demonstrators demand an end to repression and improvements in political and economic conditions. In this tense climate, human rights reports are increasingly documenting arrest campaigns targeting activists and civilians, including girls and minors, in an effort to curb the momentum of the protests and pressure families who lost their loved ones in previous movements.