A group of civil, human rights, political and media activists from Kurdistan have issued a statement calling for the immediate annulment of the death sentence imposed on Kurdish political prisoner Pakhshan Azizi and a review of her case. The signatories also demanded review of the cases of other death row prisoners in the country. The statement, entitled “Respect the Right to Life”, highlighted the widespread concern…
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Prisoner Farman Afristam, a prisoner sentenced to death for “premeditated murder”, was executed in the early hours of 7 January in Dizel Abad Prison in Kermanshah, Kermanshah Province. Afristam, a father of two from of the village of Milkeh-ye Shir Khan in Kermanshah, Kermanshah Province, was arrested four years ago on murder charges. Earlier, the Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) reported on the execution of three…
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Iran executed Ashkan Kazemi, Mohammad Shahidi, and Mozaffar Shahsavari, three prisoners sentenced to death on charges of “premeditated murder”, in the early hours of 7 January at Dizel Abad Prison in Kermanshah, Kermanshah Province. Kazemi, from the village of Kazem Khani-ye Olya in Gilan-e Gharb, Kermanshah Province, Shahidi and Shahsavari, both from Kermanshah, were arrested about four years ago on separate murder charges.
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Ali Atin and Reza Seyyedi, two prisoners from Sardasht, West Azerbaijan Province, convicted of “rape”, were executed in Mahabad Prison in the early hours of 6 January, the Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) has learned. The two prisoners were transferred to solitary confinement in recent days in preparation for their executions. Atin, 28, and Seyyedi, 48, were arrested in September 2021 on charges of participating in…
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Iran executed Meysam Farhadi Farashi and Reza Bakhtiari, two prisoners sentenced to death on charges of “premeditated murder”, on 2 January in Dizel Abad Prison in Kermanshah, Kermanshah Province. The Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) has learned that the executions were carried out without allowing the two prisoners a final meeting with their families. Both men were sentenced to death after being found guilty in separate…
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Iran executed prisoners Sohrab Ahmadpour, Majid Jamshidi, Rahim Barin and Jamal Naboureh on drug and murder related charges on 18 December, in Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj, Alborz Province, and Mahabad Prison in West Azerbaijan Province. The Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) has learned that Ahmadpour and Jamshidi were transferred to solitary confinement in Ghezel Hesar Prison on 17 December in preparation for their execution. Ahmadpour,…
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Saman Mohammadi Khiyareh, a 35-year-old Kurdish prisoner of conscience on death row, has been transferred to solitary confinement in Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj, Alborz Province, and is at the imminent risk of execution. KHRN has learned that Khiyareh, currently in his 12th year of imprisonment, was transferred to solitary confinement on 14 December and officials summoned his family for a final meeting, which took…
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Three prisoners, Mohammad Ali Darkeh, Siavash Yari and Seyyed Behzad Seyyedi-Bukani, have been executed in recent weeks in the prisons of Ardakan, Yazd Province, and Miandoab, West Azerbaijan Province, the Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) has learned. Darkeh, from Mahdasht, Kermanshah Province, and Yari, from Kermanshah, Kermanshah Province, were executed in Ardakan Prison on 28 November. Both prisoners were arrested in September 2021 on drug trafficking…
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Salah Rahimi, a 39-year-old prisoner from the village of Malekshan in Sanandaj, Kurdistan Province, was executed in Yazd Central Prison on 15 December. The Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) has learned that Rahimi was transferred to solitary confinement on 13 December, in preparation for his execution. Rahimi, a father of three, was arrested several years ago on drug trafficking charges and subsequently sentenced to death.
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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 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 December to 31 December.
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
Iran executed at least 15 prisoners in December, seven on drug-related charges and eight for “premeditated murder”, according to KHRN’s findings.
The executions took place in Ilam Central Prison, Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj, Mahabad Prison, Jiroft Prison, Miandoab Prison, Orumiyeh Central Prison and Yazd Central Prison.
Two of those executed were women and one was a 70-year-old man.
*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.
Kolbars
In December, at least one kolbar was shot dead and another was injured by Iranian border guards.
Another kolbar lost his life due to frostbite in Baneh in late December.
Civilian killings
In mid-December, at least two Kurdish civilians were killed by the Law Enforcement Forces in Javanrud and Tehran.
Detentions and arrests
Over the past month, Iranian forces arrested at least 62 individuals, including three children.
At least three of the detained civilians were sent to Oshnavieh and Naqadeh prisons to serve prison sentences.
Sentences
During this period, Iranian courts sentenced at least eight people to punishments ranging from one month in prison to five years and 15 days of imprisonment.