A/HRC/22/56 Case profile 43. Of the 50 cases included in this study, 40 were male and 10 female. Forty two cases (84%) were between the ages of 18 and 35 and all identified themselves as heterosexual. Twenty one of the 50 cases were resident in Tehran at the time of detention, followed by seven cases in each of three Kurdish provinces and Shiraz city and three cases in each of Esfahan, Karaj and Ahwaz. The 50 cases comprised 32 (64%) ethnic Persians, ten Kurds, four Azeris, three Bakhtiaris and a Lur. Forty cases identified as Muslim. Non-Muslims in the sample included two who identified as Christians (converts in exile), two as Ahl-e Haq, and six professing no religion or specific religious affiliation. 44. Twenty six cases (52%) said they were only politically active from the 2009 election onwards, with another 11 reporting activism or dissent prior to 2009 on issues including ethnic and religious minority rights, freedom of expression and women’s rights. Another 13 (26%) claimed never to have been active or dissentient and were detained primarily on the basis of the activities of family members or others and a political opinion imputed to them. Individuals who were politically active only from the 2009 election onwards reported activities including attending pre-election meetings, supporting opposition candidates, disseminating political materials and attending demonstrations. Individuals claiming a prior history of activism had reported writing blogs, compiling and disseminating materials critical of the government, writing political slogans in public and taking part in informal (illegal) discussion groups, amongst other activities. Four Kurdish individuals reported various forms of Kurdish activism ranging from cultural activism to supporting illegal Kurdish organizations. Arrest and detention patterns 45. Twenty-nine (58%) of the 50 cases were detained most recently in 2009, 14 in 2010 and seven in 2011.1 While 28 (56%) of all cases were detained only once in 2009-11, others were detained more than once and up to three times before leaving Iran. Some cases also had a history of detention before the events of 2009; 10 had been detained before 2005 and eight had been detained in the period 2005-2009. Some of these cases had suffered repeated detentions during these periods. Reasons for arrests 46. The majority of cases (27, 54%) were arrested and detained at demonstrations and other protests between 13 June 2009 (the day after the election) and February 2011. Of these cases, many reported being detained arbitrarily when security forces descended upon demonstrators. Others were engaged in more specific activities that might have led to arrest such as: distributing leaflets, assisting others to escape arrest or assault by security forces, assaulting security forces, holding placards, chanting anti-government slogans, wearing green (identified with the opposition) and filming the events. Eight people were arrested for other kinds of activism around the 2009 election and its aftermath and nine because of imputed political opinion and activities of others associated with them, mainly family members. Two cases were detained for imputed religious dissent and four others for non-political offences such as infringement of alcohol laws and behavioral codes. Detaining authorities and place of detention 47. Eleven of the cases report being detained by the Basij (state militia), ten by Etela’at (state intelligence forces), eight by the police, three by Revolutionary Guards, one by the 36