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 civilians in different regions and cities across Iran.

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

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, make 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. This report is the result of examining news and reports published by the KHRN and fact-checking of reports published by other human rights organisations and news websites.

Executions

According to KHRN’s findings, Iran executed at least 32 prisoners in Karaj, Hamadan, Kermanshah, Qazvin and Ilam during the month of January.

Of these, 19 prisoners were executed on drug trafficking charges, five on charges of “gang and armed robberies that led to making roads unsafe and creating terror among people and major damage to people’s property” and two for “premeditated murder”.

Additionally, four Kurdish political prisoners Mohsen Mazloum, Pezhman Fatehi, Vafa Azarbar, and Mohammad Faramarzi were executed on 29 January for allegedly “spying for Israel”, and two Sunni Kurdish prisoners of conscience Davoud Abdollahi and Farhad Salimi were executed throughout the month on charges of “spreading corruption on earth” (efsad-e fel arz).

*Explanation: The KHRN, recognizing the fundamental right to life, publishes and records news and execution statistics without regard to the ethnic background of individuals and the location of the execution. All cases reported to the organisation by credible sources are published after thorough fact-checking.

Femicide

Last month, at least one woman, whose identity is unknown, was killed by a male family member. On 9 January, a middle-aged woman in Mehran, Ilam Province, was stabbed to death by her 29-year-old drug-addicted son.

Deaths and killings in prisons and detention centres

On 9 January, Payam Abdi, a civilian from Nowsud, Kermanshah Province, who had been detained by Kermanshah’s law enforcement authorities for “social crimes”, died as a result of torture in police custody.

Additionally, Amir Shahbazi, a prisoner sentenced to finger amputation, attempted suicide by taking pills in his solitary confinement cell in Orumiyeh Central Prison on 16 January. He lost his life due to the delay in being transferred to hospital.

Landmine explosions

On 10 January, a mine explosion left over from the Iran-Iraq war in Mehran, Ilam Province, resulted in the death of one person and injuries to three others. The deceased and injured individuals were Afghan nationals.

Kolbars and tradesmen

In January, at least five kolbars were shot dead by Iranian border guards and one by Iraqi border guards in the western border areas of the country.

A total of 45 kolbars were injured during this period. Of these, 32 were shot by Iranian border guards, five were injured in a road accident, two were beaten by Iranian border guards, two 16-year-old kolbars were injured after being hit by stones thrown at them by border guards, two were beaten by the border guards, one was shot by Iraqi border guards and one was beaten by border guards.

Work-related accidents

In the past month, at least four workers died in work-related accident in Kermanshah, Sanandaj, Orumiyeh and Mahabad.

Detentions and arrests

Throughout January, Iranian forces arrested at least 61 civilians, including three former political prisoners, two artists, and a kolbar.

At least nine of the detained civilians were sent to prisons in Sanandaj, Naqadeh, Ilam, and Kermanshah to serve prison sentences.

Sentences

In the past month, Iranian courts have sentenced at least seven people to punishments ranging from 74 lashes to imprisonment.

Additionally, the Supreme Court upheld the death sentences of Kurdish political prisoners Mohsen Mazloum, Pezhman Fatehi, Vafa Azarbar, and Mohammad Faramarzi, who were later executed on 29 January.

Strikes against executions

Kurdish political prisoners Motalleb Ahmadian in Tehran’s Evin Prison and Sakineh Parvaneh in Mashhad Central Prison went on hunger strikes in protest against the execution of four Kurdish political prisoners Pezhman Fatehi, Mohammad Faramarzi, Vafa Azarbar and Mohsen Mazloum in Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj.

Additionally, on 30 January, businesses and shops in the cities of Mahabad, Bukan, Saqqez, and Sanandaj went on a complete strike in protest against the execution of the four Kurdish political prisoners. Some parts of the markets in other cities such as Dehgolan, Kamyaran, Marivan and Baneh also participated in the strike.

Executions

Femicide

Kolbars

Work-related accidents

Detentions and arrests

Sentences