Ali Abedi, a well-known artist, was summoned by the ministry of intelligence in Saqqez and interrogated for several hours on January 6, 2019. A reliable source told Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) that this artist and songwriter was telephone summoned by the Ministry of Intelligence in Saqqez and interrogated for several hours. “Following the widespread strike in Kurdistan in protest to the execution of political prisoners…
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Following the recent arrest of Environmental activists in Kamyaran, another Kurdish activist, Amanj Ghorbani was arrested at his workplace, the Department of Environment. So far, 8 people have been detained in Kamyaran. Farhad Mohammadi, a lawyer, Fazel Qiatassi, Reza Asadi and Hadi Kamangar, secretary and members of the Kurdistan branch of the National Unity Party respectively, were each detained on January 01 and 02. Isa…
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Following the pressure from Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence on Kurdish political and civil activists, 6 media and environmental activists from Mahabad were summoned by this security agency and released after several hours of interrogation. “On Saturday, December 29, six media activists and environmental activists of Mahabad, Herman Vatmani, editor-in-chief of the Tahlil-e-Haje, Pola Axaz and Pejman Ismailnejad, reporters of the afore-mentioned news site, Pexshan Qalandari,…
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Farhad Mohammadi, a lawyer and secretary of the National Unity Party in Kurdistan, was arrested by security forces after being summoned to the Ministry of Intelligence office in Sanandaj and transferred to the Intelligence Detention Centre in Sanandaj. A reliable source in Sanandaj told Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) that Farhad Mohammadi, lawyer and secretary of the National Unity Party in Kurdistan, was arrested after…
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Three environmental activists, members of the Kurdistan branch of National Unity Party in Kamyaran, were arrested by security forces and transferred to an unknown location on Monday, December 31. A reliable source in Kamyaran told Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) that security forces simultaneously raided Hadi Kamangar’s home and the shop of Reza Asadi and Fazel Qeitasi, members of the environmental committee affiliated with the…
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A telegram activist, Farokh Abdi, who had previously been sentenced to a total of 30 months of imprisonment on two separate charges including blasphemy, participation in gatherings and collusion against national security, was sentenced to an additional 5 years of imprisonment per Article 134 of Islamic Penal Code (Aggregation of Fines). “Both Branch 102 of Public Court and Branch 2…
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Over the past few months, harassment of civilians by security police officers at Kamyaran and Kermanshah has raised protest of some citizens. A civilian who was harassed at the Qazanchi checkpoint in Kermanshah told Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) that “For the past several months, security officers and anti-smuggling forces were deployed to the checkpoint of the Qazanchi in Kermanshah and Kamyaran to interrogate and…
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A seminar on the Economy of the Border Regions and Kolbari supposed to be held at Payam Noor University in Marivan was cancelled due to the involvement of security institutions. Students, who had gathered at the seminar hall, chanted slogans in protest to this cancellation and asked the university authorities to explain why this seminar had been cancelled. Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) has been…
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Behnam Ebrahimzadeh, a labour activist was arrested by agents of the Intelligence Ministry on December 12 and transferred to an unknown place. While confirming the news of this prisoner’s arrest, a close relative of Ebrahimzadeh told Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) that several security forces had raided the house of this Labour activist without a warrant, while inspecting the house and confiscating a number of…
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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 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.