Kurdistan Human Rights Network

In its monthly reports, the Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) highlights cases of human rights violations in Kurdistan and violations of the rights of Kurdish citizens in different regions and cities across Iran.

This report includes cases recorded and reported by KHRN from across Iran through its own sources and verification mechanisms from 1 to 31 August 2026.

The restrictive environment for independent human rights organisations in Iran, coupled with the pressures faced by individuals subjected to human rights violations and their families, makes it difficult to publish accurate and comprehensive reports.

It is therefore important to note that the statistics and information presented in this report do not cover all cases of human rights violations. The report is based on KHRN’s own reporting and fact-checking of reports published by other human rights organisations and news websites.

Executions

In August, Iranian authorities executed at least eight prisoners in Ilam, Karaj, Sanandaj, Isfahan, Maku and Khorramabad prisons.

Of the total, five prisoners were executed on charges of “premeditated murder”, two on charges of “enmity against God” (moharebeh), and one on drug trafficking charges.

Extrajudicial killings

Iranian state forces killed at least three people in Sardasht and Kermanshah on 20 August.

Kolbars

In August, Iranian border guards shot dead at least three kolbars and wounded two others. The shootings took place in the border areas of Baneh and Sarvabad.

Femicide

In August, at least three women and girls were killed by male family members in Saqqez, Sanandaj and Kermanshah.

Two of the victims, Latifeh Mohammadzadeh and Atousa Jafari, were stabbed to death by their former husbands, while Hana Rekan, a 16-year-old child, was shot dead by her father because she opposed a forced marriage.

Landmine explosions

On 5 August, Bakhtiyar Amini, a father of three, was injured in a landmine explosion in Baneh.

Detentions and arrests

In August, at least 63 individuals were arrested, detained or sent to prison in West Azerbaijan, Kurdistan, and Ilam provinces.

Of the total, 37 cases were recorded in West Azerbaijan Province, 21 in Kurdistan Province, and five in Ilam Province.

Those detained included four artists, three activists, a blogger and a village council member. The activities of 54 people were not known.

Enforcement of flogging sentences

On 22 August, Kurdish citizens Neda Dadejani and Setayesh Sarabi, who were previously arrested during the January 2026 protests, were detained after being summoned to the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office in Qorveh to begin serving their prison and flogging sentences. After their flogging sentences were carried out, they were transferred to Sanandaj Women’s Prison (Juvenile Detention Centre), where they spent several days in quarantine before being moved to the general ward.

Sentences

During the month, courts sentenced at least 15 people to prison terms ranging from one year to over four years in prison. Four of these people were also sentenced to flogging.