Iranian intelligence forces have allegedly detained an Afghan researcher (student) from the University of Tehran and moved her to an undisclosed location, according to a report by the human rights organisation Hengaw.
The student, identified as Sara Gowhari, a sociology major, was arrested on 6 July at the Taybad border crossing, where she had reportedly travelled to conduct independent research on migration-related issues. The arrest was carried out by agents of Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence, Hengaw said.
More than ten days after her detention, Gowhari remains in custody without access to legal counsel or family contact, raising serious concerns about her safety and well-being. Her current whereabouts remain unknown despite repeated attempts by her family to obtain information.
The organisation also reported that Gowhari was detained without a judicial warrant, highlighting the continued disregard for due process in the treatment of both citizens and foreign nationals — particularly those involved in academic or civil society work.
Iranian authorities have so far issued no official statement regarding the arrest.
This incident follows Hengaw’s earlier report revealing 99 executions in Iran during June alone, including 10 Afghan nationals, underscoring growing alarm over the Islamic Republic’s treatment of Afghans within its borders.
Human rights groups have called for international attention to the issue, warning that such practices not only violate basic freedoms but also endanger cross-border academic cooperation and humanitarian engagement.
