Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN): On Wednesday evening, Apr 24, 2019 security forces transferred a number of Kurdish environmental activists and Kurdish members of the National Unity Party from
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Two environmental activists, Armin Esperlus and Homayoun Bahmani, have been released on bail after several weeks of arrest. Armin Esperlus, who was arrested by security forces on Feb 21, 2019, was
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Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN): The fate of Twelve Kurdish environmental activists and members of the Kurdistan branch of the National Unity Party, detained by the State Intelligence Bureau
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Kurdish Human Rights Network (KHRN): Kaveh Babamoradi- environmental activist- and Zanyar Zamiran- former deputy of the Kurdistan branch of the National Unity Party- were released on bail. According
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Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN): Branch 4 of the Sanandaj Court of Appeal has reduced Sahar Kazemi’s sentence from five years of imprisonment – issued by branch 1 of the Islamic Revolutionary
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Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN): Arman Vafaei, Afshin Sheikholeslami Vatani and Fardin Karimi were temporarily released today at noon time until the trial on a bail of 500 million Tomans
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Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN): Jalal Rostami, an environmental activist from Shahini village of Kamyaran and resident of Ramsar in northern Iran, was arrested by security forces at his
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Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN): Over the past few days, seven Kurdish activists- who were arrested in Kamyaran, Sanandaj and Marivan- were temporarily released on bail. Meanwhile, 14 other
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Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN): Jamal Asadi, an environmental activist and member of the climbing group called “Chalchemah”, was arrested on Tuesday, March 05. He was telephone summoned to the
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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 all cases recorded and reported by KHRN from across Iran through its own sources and verification mechanisms from 1 May to 31 May 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, 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
In May, Iranian authorities executed at least eight prisoners in Orumiyeh, Naqadeh, Kermanshah, Mahabad and Sanandaj prisons.
Out of the total, two individuals were executed on charges of “espionage for Israel”, two for “armed insurrection” (baghi), two for “premeditated murder”, one for “spreading corruption on earth” (efsad-e fel-arz), and one on drug-related charges.
Kurdish political prisoners Nasser Bakerzadeh, Mehrab Abdollahzadeh, Ramin Zaleh, Karim Maroufpour and Azerbaijani Turkic political prisoner Yaghoub Karimpour were executed in secret without prior notice to their families.
*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
Over the past month, two women were killed in separate cases in Khoy, West Azerbaijan Province, and Sanandaj, Kurdistan Province. On 16 May, Jana Saadouei, a mother of two and victim of child marriage, was beaten to death by her husband in Khoy.
In another case, Mahshid, a 30-year-old trans woman whose surname remains unknown, was found stabbed to death in Sanandaj on 30 May. The identity of the perpetrator or perpetrators remains unknown.
Extrajudicial killings
Over the past month, four Kurdish men were killed in separate extrajudicial killings by Iranian forces in Tehran, Sardasht, and Dalahu.
On 12 May, Zanyar Hosseini, a young Kurdish tradesman from Saqqez, Kurdistan Province, was killed by Iranian military forces in Tehran on 12 May.
In mid-May, Ghazi Kawani, from Sardasht, West Azerbaijan Province, died after being shot in the head at close range by IRGC forces.
On 28 May, brothers Mojtaba Veysi and Meysam Veysi, two Kurdish men from Kermanshah, were killed by IRGC forces in Dalahu, Kermanshah Province. They had been living in hiding for months after taking part in the December 2025–January 2026 protests.
Landmine explosions
On 7 May, Peyman Rahmanpour, a 21-year-old civilian, was killed in a landmine explosion in Saqqez, Kurdistan Province.
Detentions and arrests
In May, at least 24 individuals were arrested across West Azerbaijan, Ilam, Kermanshah and Tehran provinces.
Of the total number of arrests, 17 were made in West Azerbaijan Province, four in Ilam Province, one in Tehran and another in Kermanshah Province.
Those arrested included three artists, a poet, a teacher and a 17-year-old child, while in 18 cases their specific activities remain unknown.
Sentences
During the past month, Arman Marefati, a 30-year-old Kurdish civilian from Saqqez, Kurdistan Province, who was arrested in connection with the December 2025–January 2026 protests in Tehran, was sentenced to death on charges of “enmity against God” (moharebeh) by Branch 15 of the city’s Islamic Revolutionary Court.
Additionally, three other Kurdish protesters were sentenced to three years and one month in prison each in late May.