Martyrdom of Reza Hamidawi by Iranian Forces in Ahwaz

In yet another crime added to Iran’s continuous record of violations against the Ahwazi Arab people, 21-year-old Ahwazi youth Reza Hamidawi was martyred by gunfire from Basij militia members affiliated with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, at a checkpoint near Pirooz Mosque in the city of Abadan, northern Ahwaz.

According to local sources and eyewitnesses, Reza Hamidawi was driving his car when he was directly targeted by Basij forces without any confrontation or prior warning, leading to his immediate death at the scene.

Security Claims After the Killing
Shortly after the incident, the Revolutionary Guard’s intelligence office in Abadan issued a statement claiming that “a drone and an explosive device were found in his car.”

These allegations were described by human rights organizations and the victim’s family as fabricated, aimed at justifying the deliberate killing under a security pretext.

In a move that has sparked outrage, Iranian authorities have not yet handed over Reza Hamidawi’s body to his family, despite three days having passed since his death.

Sources close to the family reported that security institutions are deliberately delaying the release of the body and preventing any public mourning ceremony—an act seen as a blatant violation of human rights and human dignity.