Freedom of Expression Archives – KHRN

May 2, 2025

Iran court upholds dismissal of Kurdish teacher over alleged anti-state activities

Branch 31 of the Court of Administrative Justice has upheld the dismissal of Somayyeh Akhtar-Shomar, a 37-year-old Kurdish teacher from Marivan, Kurdistan Province, with 17 years of service. The

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October 23, 2024

Iran court sentences Kurdish media activist to 10 months in prison, 70 lashes

Mostafa Hamdi, a media activist and administrator of the Porseman Telegram group, has been sentenced to 10 months in prison and 70 lashes by Branch 105 of the Second Criminal Court in Saqqez,

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August 30, 2024

Clerical court sentences Sunni Kurdish cleric to 15 months in prison

Sunni Kurdish cleric Saber Khoda-Moradi has been sentenced to 15 months in prison by the Special Clerical Court in Hamadan, Hamadan Province, the Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) has

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August 28, 2023

Security forces arrest Kurdish Sunni cleric in Bukan

Security forces raided the home of Kurdish Sunni cleric Mohammad Sharifi in Bukan, West Azerbaijan Province, arresting him without a warrant on 27 August. Sources indicate that during the

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May 18, 2023

Iran clergy court summons two Sunni Kurdish clerics

The Special Clerical Court of Hamadan, in west Iran, has recently summoned Sunni Kurdish clerics Madeh Karami and Abdoljabbar Lotfi for their support of anti-government protests. Karami, the imam

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May 11, 2023

Iran clergy court sentences Sunni Kurdish cleric to suspended jail term

The Special Clerical Court in Hamadan in western Iran sentenced Sunni Kurdish cleric Seyyed Jalal Akbari to two years suspended imprisonment on charges of “propaganda against the state” on 10

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September 12, 2022

Kurdish journalist accused of ‘propaganda’ questioned over his work

The interrogation session of the Kurdish journalist Ejlal Ghavami was carried out at Branch 5 of the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office in Sanandaj, Kurdistan province, on 11

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April 21, 2022

Iran threatens Telegram admins over publishing kolbar news

At the same time as the intensification of the Iranian military forces targeting kolbars in the country’s western border areas, the Intelligence Organisation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps

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September 1, 2021

Iran cyber police interrogate Kurdish journalist over articles

Iranian Cyber Police (FATA) has summoned and interrogated today Kurdish journalist and environmental activist Mohammad Mamandzadeh in Sardasht, West Azerbaijan province. FATA summoned the

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PUBLICATIONS

Monthly Report of June 2026

In its monthly reports, the Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) highlights cases of human rights violations in Kurdistan and violations…

Monthly Report of May 2026

In its monthly reports, the Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) highlights cases of human rights violations in Kurdistan and violations…

Decade of IRGC missile, drone attacks on Kurdish party bases, refugee camps in Iraqi Kurdistan (2017–2026)

Foreword Over the past two months, coinciding first with the US–Israeli–Iranian war and then continuing throughout a ceasefire that has…

In their own words: Final accounts of Nasser Bakerzadeh and Mehrab Abdollahzadeh

Kurdish prisoners Nasser Bakerzadeh and Mehrab Abdollahzadeh were secretly executed on 2 May at Orumiyeh Central Prison. Authorities have so…

Monthly Report of April 2026

In its monthly reports, the Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) highlights cases of human rights violations in Kurdistan and violations…

Monthly Report of March 2026

In its monthly reports, the Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) highlights cases of human rights violations in Kurdistan and violations…

Kurdistan Human Rights Network’s Annual Report – 2025

In 2025, Iran faced a series of unprecedented and multi-layered developments across the military, political and social spheres, developments that…

Iran: Thousands of prisoners at risk

Detainees Face Dual Threat of Government Atrocities, US/Israeli Attacks Thousands of detainees in Iran, including political prisoners and children, are…

Monthly Report of February 2026

In its monthly reports, the Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) highlights cases of human rights violations in Kurdistan and violations…

KHRN documents 240 Kurdish deaths in 2026 protests in Iran

At least 240 Kurdish citizens have been confirmed killed during the violent suppression of the recent protests across Iran, marking…

Kurdish citizens killed in protests across Iran

Following mass protests that began on 28 December 2025 and continued widely for at least two weeks across cities in…

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 30 June 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 June, Iranian authorities executed at least 11 prisoners in Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj and prisons in Damghan, Kermanshah, Shirvan, Sanandaj, Hamadan and Sari.

Of the total, seven prisoners were executed on charges of “premeditated murder”, two on drug trafficking charges and two on charges of “assembly and collusion with intent to commit a crime against the security of the country”.

Ashkan Maleki and Mehrdad Mohammadinia, both from Qorveh, Kurdistan Province, were executed in secret at Ghezel Hesar Prison on 1 June without prior notice to their families.

Extrajudicial killings

On 11 June, Motalleb Kheybari, a 38-year-old father of two from Baneh, Kurdistan Province, was killed by Iranian border forces in Baneh.

Kolbars

On 11 June, Naseh Khodaei, a kolbar from Baneh, Kurdistan Province, was wounded after being shot by Iranian border guards in Baneh.

Detentions and arrests

In June, at least 26 individuals were detained in West Azerbaijan, Kurdistan and Ilam provinces.

Of the total, 12 people were detained in West Azerbaijan Province, nine in Kurdistan Province and five in Ilam Province.

Those detained included four civil rights activists, three cultural activists, two children aged 16 and 17, a retired teacher, a political prisoner on furlough and two former political prisoners. The activities of 14 people were not known.

Sentences

During the month, six individuals received prison sentences ranging from two to 18 years in prison.

One person was also sentenced to 70 lashes, while two others received additional penalties.

Armed clashes

In June, a new round of armed conflict took place between Iranian military forces and the armed forces of Kurdish opposition parties in Iran. At least four members of a Kurdish opposition party and five state personnel were killed in three armed clashes and a separate shooting incident. Those killed included three member of Iran’s Law Enforcement Command, and two members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). One IRGC member, one member of the Special Forces and one child were injured.

On 10 June, an armed clash took place between forces of the East Kurdistan Units (YRK), the military wing of the Kurdistan Free Life Party (PJAK), and Iranian border guards in the Khav and Mirabad border area of Marivan, Kurdistan Province. Danyal Nourian, a member of Iran’s Law Enforcement Command, was killed in the clashes.

On 26 June, armed clashes took place between YRK forces and Iranian government forces in the entrance to the city of Baneh, at a checkpoint on the Baneh-Saqqez road. Two members of the Law Enforcement Command, Mardin Ahmadi from Saqqez, and Mohammad Hossein Beygi from Qorveh, were killed. Additionally, an IRGC member and a Special Forces member, as well as one child, were injured.

On 28 June, armed clashes broke out between YRK forces and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), lasting for two days. YRK confirmed in a statement that four of its members had been killed. The IRGC’s Hamzeh Seyyed al-Shohada Headquarters, meanwhile, published images of the bodies and said that six people had been killed.

On the evening of 29 June, Khaled Khaledinia and Borhan Kerisani, two members of the IRGC in Paveh, Kermanshah Province, were killed after armed individuals opened fire outside their homes.

  • Executions
  • Extrajudicial killings
  • Kolbar injuries
  • Detentions and arrests
  • Sentences
NameFromCharged withDate of ExecutionLocation of ExecutionExplanation
1Ashkan MalekiQorveh, Kurdistan ProvinceAssembly and collusion with intent to commit a crime against the security of the country1 JuneGhezel Hesar Prison in KarajExecuted in secret without prior notice to family
2Mehrdad MohammadiniaQorveh, Kurdistan ProvinceAssembly and collusion with intent to commit a crime against the security of the country1 JuneGhezel Hesar Prison in KarajExecuted in secret without prior notice to family
3Morteza SadeghzadehSaqqez, Kurdistan ProvinceDrug trafficking1 JuneDamghan Prison.
4Abbas ZareiKermanshah, Kermanshah ProvincePremeditated murder9 JuneKermanshah Central Prison.
5Darioush GhobadiHarsin, Kermanshah ProvincePremeditated murder9 JuneKermanshah Central Prison.
6Amin RajabianNorth Khorasan ProvincePremeditated murder14 JuneShirvan Central Prison.
7Aram ZareiSanandaj, Kurdistan ProvincePremeditated murder15 JuneSanandaj Central Prison.
8Karim KaramiKermanshah, Kermanshah ProvincePremeditated murder15 JuneKermanshah Central Prison57 years old
9Mohammad AhmadiSanandaj, Kurdistan ProvincePremeditated murder16 JuneSanandaj Central Prison.
10Ali-Reza MalekiniaSonqor, Kermanshah ProvincePremeditated murder16 JuneHamadan Central Prison29 years old
11Fayegh AhmadiKermanshah, Kermanshah ProvinceDrug trafficking21 JuneSari Central Prison39 years old
NameFromDate of IncidentLocation of IncidentOrganisationExplanation
1Motalleb KheybariBaneh, Kurdistan Province11 JuneBaneh, Kurdistan ProvinceIranian border forces38-year-old father of two
NameFromType of InjuryDate of IncidentLocation of IncidentExplanation
1Naseh KhodaeiBaneh, Kurdistan ProvinceWounded11 JuneBaneh, Kurdistan ProvinceShot by Iranian border guards
NameFromActivityDate of ArrestLocation of ArrestExplanation
1Kajal RahmaniKamyaran, Kurdistan ProvinceCivil rights activist6 JuneKamyaran, Kurdistan ProvinceTaken to Sanandaj Women’s Prison
2Danyal RahmaniKamyaran, Kurdistan ProvinceCivil rights activist6 JuneKamyaran, Kurdistan ProvinceTaken to Ministry of Intelligence detention centre in Kamyaran
3Isa FeyziKamyaran, Kurdistan ProvinceCivil rights activist, former political prisoner6 JuneKamyaran, Kurdistan ProvinceTaken to Ministry of Intelligence detention centre in Kamyaran
4Mohammad RezaeiSanandaj, Kurdistan ProvinceCivil rights activist6 JuneDehgolan, Kurdistan ProvinceSent to Sanandaj Central Prison to serve 1 year
5Heresh SharifianKamyaran, Kurdistan Province17-year-old child6 JuneKamyaran, Kurdistan ProvinceDetained after summons to Ministry of Intelligence office
6Arvin HosseiniSarableh, Ilam Province16-year-old child8 JuneSarableh, Ilam Province.
7Mansour GhaderzadehMahabad, West Azerbaijan ProvinceUnknown10 JuneBukan, West Azerbaijan Province.
8Mostafa PirotiPiranshahr, West Azerbaijan ProvinceUnknown11 JuneMahabad, West Azerbaijan ProvinceTaken to Ministry of Intelligence detention centre in Orumiyeh
9Amir-Hossein RostamiShabab, Ilam ProvinceUnknown12 JuneShabab, Ilam Province.
10Sardar RahmaniKamyaran, Kurdistan ProvinceUnknown13 JuneKamyaran, Kurdistan ProvinceDetained after summons to Ministry of Intelligence office, released after several hour of interrogation
11Ehsan RahmaniKamyaran, Kurdistan ProvinceUnknown13 JuneKamyaran, Kurdistan ProvinceDetained after summons to Ministry of Intelligence office, released after several hour of interrogation
12Yousef AminiBukan, West Azerbaijan ProvinceRetired teacher13 JuneBukan, West Azerbaijan Province.
13Hawram Mehr-NavaeiBukan, West Azerbaijan ProvincePolitical prisoner on furlough13 JuneBukan, West Azerbaijan ProvinceOn furlough following US-Israel war with Iran, detention reason unknown
14Ashkan AbkhouSaqqez, Kurdistan ProvinceUnknown15 JuneSaqqez, Kurdistan Province.
15Farhad EbrahimzadehOshnavieh, West Azerbaijan ProvinceUnknown15 JuneOshnavieh, West Azerbaijan Province.
16Ghader BarikiOshnavieh, West Azerbaijan ProvinceUnknown15 JuneOshnavieh, West Azerbaijan Province.
17Jafar BarikiOshnavieh, West Azerbaijan ProvinceUnknown15 JuneOshnavieh, West Azerbaijan Province.
18Kaziveh ParvizniaMahabad, West Azerbaijan ProvinceUnknownMid-JuneMahabad, West Azerbaijan ProvinceSent to Orumiyeh Central Prison
19Ali ShokriBukan, West Azerbaijan ProvinceCultural activist16 JuneBukan, West Azerbaijan Province.
20Mehdi KarimiMalekshahi, Ilam ProvinceUnknown18 JuneMalekshahi, Ilam Province.
21Saman Zendeh-PilMahabad, West Azerbaijan ProvinceUnknown18 JuneMahabad, West Azerbaijan Province.
22Mojtaba KakaeiDehloran, Ilam ProvinceUnknown19 JuneDehloran, Ilam ProvinceBeaten at the time of arrest
23Mehran BahramiSaqqez, Kurdistan ProvinceUnknown27 JuneSaqqez, Kurdistan Province.
24Ali ZolfiBukan, West Azerbaijan ProvinceFormer political prisoner28 JuneBukan, West Azerbaijan Province.
25Jafar MokhtarifarBukan, West Azerbaijan ProvinceCultural activist28 JuneBukan, West Azerbaijan Province.
26Saeid AsarehMalekshahi, Ilam ProvinceCultural activist30 JuneMalekshahi, Ilam Province.
NameFromType of ActivityCharges AgainstSentenceDate of SentenceIssuing CourtExplanation
1Reza BabrnezhadQuchan, Razavi Khorasan ProvinceDadkhah/justice-seeking family memberMembership of opposition groups, propaganda against the stateTotal of 6 years in prisonEarly JuneBranch 101 of the Criminal Court of QuchanBrother of Mehdi Babrnezhad, who was killed during the “Women, Life, Freedom” uprising
2Rasoul YadiarBukan, West Azerbaijan ProvinceUnknownMembership of opposition groups, propaganda against the state in favour of opposition groupsTotal of 9 years in prisonEarly JuneIslamic Revolutionary Court of Bukan.
3Javad AlikurdiSabzevar, Razavi Khorasan ProvinceFormer political prisonerAssembly and collusion against national security, propaganda activities against national securityTotal of 18 years in prison, additional penalties10 JuneBranch One of the Islamic Revolutionary Court in MashhadBrother of lawyer and former political prisoner Khosrow Alikurdi, who died under suspicious circumstances in his office in Mashhad
4Mehdi PakmehrBojnurd, North Khorasan ProvinceArtistAssembly and collusion to commit crime against national security, disrupting public order through commotion and uproarTotal of 6 years’ imprisonment, 70 lashesMid-JuneCriminal Court of Bojnurd, Islamic Revolutionary Court of BojnurdTried in two separate cases
5Rebwar MarabiKamyaran, Kurdistan ProvinceProtesterAssembly and collusion to commit crime against national security10 years in prisonLate JuneBranch 36 of the Tehran Province Court of AppealAppeals court upheld sentence issued by Branch 28 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Tehran
6Ahmad AlizadehAbdanan, Ilam ProvinceCultural activist, retired teacherPropaganda against the Islamic Republic, propaganda in favour of groups opposing the state, insulting the founder and leader of the Islamic RepublicTwo years in prison, additional penaltiesLate JuneIslamic Revolutionary Court of Ilam.