Dr. Ameneh Soleimani, an Iranian doctor and director of a dermatology and cosmetic clinic in Ardabil, was arrested in recent days by security forces for admitting and treating individuals injured during protests in the city.
The arrest of Dr. Ameneh Soleimani is widely viewed as part of a deliberate campaign to pressure the medical community into refusing treatment of protesters.
According to reports from Iran, at least four Iranian doctors have so far been detained for assisting the injured, and no information is available regarding their whereabouts or conditions of detention.
Additionally, Khosrow Minaei, a 45-year-old volunteer first responder who had turned his private residence into a shelter for treating the wounded, was arrested on January 14 following a raid by security forces.
Mr. Minaei had provided refuge and medical assistance to more than 20 injured protesters in his home; two of them later died due to the severity of their injuries. He was reportedly severely beaten at the time of his arrest. Security agents completely ransacked his home, smashed its windows, and destroyed his personal vehicle, a Peugeot Pars.
During the recent protests, multiple cases of security forces targeting doctors and healthcare workers have been reported. Local sources describe raids on makeshift medical shelters and the arrest of physicians who, without any political involvement, were solely providing medical care to the wounded.
According to information received, security forces have raided private homes, clinics, and informal medical facilities, violently arresting doctors and volunteer citizens while vandalizing and destroying their property. These actions appear aimed at instilling fear, preventing the treatment of injured protesters, and dismantling medical and relief networks assisting demonstrators.
