 On 29 November 2001, days after reportedly seeing men following him on motorcycles, Pourzand was kidnapped by members of the Amaken, agents of Committee for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prohibition of Vice, shortly after leaving his sister's apartment.On 7 December, one of his sisters was requested by government officials to bring him a change of clothes, but was reportedly told that his whereabouts were "none of her business".On 9 March 2002, the government-run newspaper "Iran Daily" announced that Pourzand would be facing trial.