Teachers’ union activist Mokhtar Asadi was arrested by security forces in Sanandaj, Kurdistan province, on 19 August after being summoned by the Cyber Police, the Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) reported.

According to the report, security forces raided Asadi’s family home in Sanandaj on 18 August without a warrant and searched the premises.

Asadi was not at home at the time of the raid but was later summoned by telephone to appear before the Cyber Police and was arrested on 19 August after complying with the summons and has since been taken to an undisclosed location.

The activist reportedly began a hunger strike following his arrest.

Asadi, who is a well-known member of the Kurdistan Teachers’ Union and holds a master’s degree in Sociology from the University of Tehran, has been arrested several times over the years for his activism.

In 2010, amid a widespread crackdown on union activists across Iran, Asadi was arrested by security forces in Karaj, Alborz province, and held for 66 days before being released on bail from Evin Prison.

He was later sentenced to one year in prison for “propaganda against the state” by Branch 15 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Tehran, presided over by Judge Salavati.

After the sentence was upheld, Asadi was detained in September 2017 and released from Evin Prison in July 2018 after serving his one-year sentence.