Reports related to arrests and political prisoners
Bahrain sentenced two individuals to life imprisonment and fined each 10,000 Bahraini dinars for collaborating with the IRGC to carry out terrorist acts against the country, according to Gulf Times. The court also ordered the confiscation of their assets.
The Kuwaiti Ministry of Interior announced the arrest of four members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps who were attempting to enter Kuwait by sea. The Kuwaiti Ministry of Foreign Affairs subsequently summoned the Iranian ambassador to discuss the matter.
The Mizan News Agency, the media outlet of the Islamic Republic's judiciary, announced that Ehsan Afrashteh, a political prisoner from Isfahan, has been sentenced to death on charges of "espionage and intelligence cooperation in favor of Israel." Afrashteh, a civil engineer with expertise in networking and information technology, was arrested in March/April 2024 upon returning to Iran from Turkey.
The American PEN Association's "Freedom to Write Index" report stated that Iran is the world's second-largest prison for writers, with 53 writers currently detained, a 23 percent increase from the previous year. The report also noted that women make up 32 percent of imprisoned writers in Iran, the highest globally.
The mother of Mohammad Hossein Askari, a protester in the 2025-2026 Iranian revolution, mourns the loss of her son, who was among those demanding freedom and democracy.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry confirmed on Tuesday the detention of four individuals in Kuwait, identified by Kuwaiti authorities as affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, who had entered Kuwaiti territorial waters due to a navigation system malfunction, according to the Iranian ministry. Kuwait's Interior Ministry earlier reported that the individuals attempted to infiltrate Bubiyan Island using a fishing boat.
Bahrain's Public Prosecution sentenced a woman to life imprisonment for spying on behalf of the IRGC, finding her guilty of sending images and coordinates of strategic locations in Bahrain to the IRGC and inciting attacks on national facilities through social media.
Bahrain's Supreme Criminal Court sentenced three individuals, including a woman, to life imprisonment for "collaboration" with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, while 10 others received prison terms of up to 10 years for supporting the Islamic Republic's alleged terrorist activities. Previously, Bahrain's Interior Ministry had arrested 41 members of a network linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the concept of "Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist."
The US Senate has confirmed Kevin Warsh to be a member of the Federal Reserve Governors.
On Tuesday, May 12, a Bahraini court sentenced three individuals to life imprisonment and fined one of them 10,000 dinars for charges of collaborating with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Additionally, more than 20 others were sentenced to up to 10 years in prison for supporting Iran, filming prohibited locations, and engaging in violence and sabotage.
Kuwait’s Ministry of Interior announced the capture of four IRGC members, including Naval Colonel Amir Hussein Abd Muhammad Zarai, Naval Colonel Abdul Samad Yadollah Qanawati, Naval Captain Ahmed Jamshid Ghulam Reza Zulfiqari, and First Lieutenant Muhammad Hussein Sohrab Foroughi Rad, who were arrested on Bubiyan Island after illegally entering Kuwaiti waters with a rented fishing boat and opening fire on Kuwaiti forces, resulting in one injured soldier.
The Kuwaiti Ministry of Interior announced the detention of four individuals affiliated with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps who attempted to enter Kuwait by sea; one Kuwaiti armed forces personnel was injured, and two infiltrators escaped.
