Mokhtar Zarei, a Civil Rights activist in Sanandaj, was sentenced to three years of imprisonment in absentia by the Branch 2 of the Revolutionary Court of Sanandaj. Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) has been informed that the against Mokhtar Zarei was issued on Jan 6, 2019 by judge Behrooz Sharafi Yousofvand, head of Branch 2 of the Revolutionary Court of…
Read more
Shahram Farhadi, a Civil Rights activist who has been previously sentenced to two years in prison by the Sanandaj Court of Appeal, was arrested and transferred to Sanandaj Central Prison to endure his sentence. Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) has been informed that, on January 21, law enforcement forces arrested Shahram Farhadi in his house and transferred him to the Sanandaj Central Prison. A reliable source…
Read more
Ten detained Iranian Kurdish activists are under pressure to make false confessions, with influential imams and officials demanding their immediate execution. Recent changes to the administrators and security apparatus of Iran’s Kurdestan province and other Kurdish populated regions are the main factors behind the alarming security measures used to crack down on Kurdish activists. The arrests were made following militarisation of Kurdish cities, towns and villages in Iran, where Kurdish…
Read more
Feyzullah Piri, the editor of Sirwan Weekly, was summoned by Iranian Cyber Police (Known as FATA) in Sanandaj regarding a complaint by the Sanandaj City Council against him. He was sent to court following an indictment which was filed against him after being interrogated.Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) has been informed that a Kurdish journalist known as Feyzullah…
Read more
Following the arrest of ten political and civil activists affiliated with the Kurdistan branch of the National Unity Party, a number of current and former members from Kamyaran and Sanandaj were summoned to the Intelligence Office in Sanandaj and interrogated for several hours. Moreover, spouses of three previously arrested persons, who were also former members of the women’s committee of the Kurdistan branch of the…
Read more
Although three weeks has passed since the transfer of Nameq Deldel, a Kurdish Sunni prisoner, from Rajaee Shahr prison in Karaj to the Ministry of Intelligence Detention Centre in Sanandaj, there is still no information about his fate despite his family’s repeated enquiries. Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) has been informed that this Sunni prisoner was spontaneity transferred to the Ministry of Intelligence Detention Centre…
Read more
Masoud Shamsnejad, A Kurdish humuman rights lawer, was arrested by security forces on Tuesday in Orumiyeh and transferred to an unknown location. The security forces raided the house and law office of this lawyer while inspecting all his belongings and confiscated a number of his clients’ documents and dossiers before arresting him. Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) has been informed that Masoud Shamsnejad, a Kurdish…
Read more
Salahedin Ranjbar, director of the Telegram channel “Orumiyeh Dang” who had been previously sentenced to one year in prison, was arrested and transferred to ward 13 of Orumieh Central Prison to serve his sentence. Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) has been informed that Salahdin Ranjbar was summoned to the Orumiyeh Court of Appeal on Sunday, December 23 and subsequently transferred to the Orumiyeh Central Prison…
Read more
Following further arrest of Kurdish activists in various cities of Kurdistan, Zanyar Zemiran, a former deputy of the Kurdistan branch of National Unity Party was arrested and transferred to the Ministry of Intelligence Detention Centre. Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) has been informed that Zanyar Zemiran, a former deputy of the Kurdistan branch of National Unity Party, was arrested at his workplace, the Directorate General…
Read more
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 August to 31 August.
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 14 prisoners in August, including Reza Rasaei, a 35-year-old Kurdish Yarsani civilian who was arrested during the Women, Life, Freedom anti-government uprising.
The political prisoner was executed on 6 August and his family and lawyer were not informed in advance, nor was he allowed a final meeting with his family.
The remaining 13 prisoners were executed on drug or murder charges.
*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
On 26 August, an 18-year-old woman, Mobina Zeynivand, was killed by her father in the village of Gorz-e Langar in Darreh Shahr, Ilam Province.
Zeynivand’s 56-year-old father killed his daughter and surrendered to the judicial authorities, citing “family disputes” as the reason for the murder. She was reportedly killed for trying to marry the person she loved.
Kolbars and tradesmen
In August, at least two kolbars were killed and nine injured by gunfire from Iranian border and security forces.
Additionally, one kolbar was injured due to falling from border heights in Marivan, Kurdistan Province.
Detentions and arrests
Over the past month, Iranian forces arrested at least 17 individuals, including activists and religious figures.
At least four of the detained civilians were sent to Naqadeh, Orumiyeh, Mahabad and Bukan prisons to serve sentences.
Sentences
In August, Iranian courts sentenced at least five people to prison terms ranging from six months to eight years and 10 months.