As the anniversary of November 2019 uprising in Iran, many streets in Kermanshah have witnessed a large presence of military and security forces. An informed source from Kermanshah also told the Kurdistan Human Rights Network that he witnessed the arrest of a number of civilians in Azadi Square (Terminal) in Kermanshah. The source stated that the security forces in many neighbourhoods and streets of Kermanshah…
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“On October 1, 2020, five Cyberspace activists in Saqqez were summoned to court by the complaint of the former mayor of the city”, an informed source told the Kurdistan Human Rights Network(KHRN). Fardin Mostafaei- director of “Saqqez Rudaw” channel, Keyvan Jalali- director, Zahed Sharifpour- editor of “Wakawi” channel, Hiwa Majidi- director of “Sakapress” channel and Mostafa Hamdi- director of “Persman” group in Saqqez, were summoned…
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Yesterday, security forces simultaneously arrested five Kurdish civil rights activists from Saqqez, Armia Ranjbari, Ali Ghaderi, Hemen Karimi, Hiwa and Voria Amini, and transferred them to an unknown location, informed sources told the Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN). A reliable source in Saqqez gas reported that security forces had searched the family home and confiscated their personal belongings. There is still no news about the whereabouts…
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With the outbreak of the second wave of Coronavirus in Kurdistan province in recent weeks, which is much wider than the first wave, Kurdish civil and media activists have criticised the performance of provincial officials in the online channels and media. Following the rise of these criticisms, the Baneh governor’s office has sent a letter to the prosecutor and called for a crackdown on critics…
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Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) has been informed that Shahram Safari, a journalist and director of the Rawejpress Telegram Channel, has been sentenced to 91 days in prison on charges of “spreading lies and disturbing public opinion” by publishing statistics on the number of civilians suffering from Covid-19 disease. Shahram Safari, from Sarpol-e-Zahab in Kermanshah province, was summoned to court in April this year on…
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Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) has been informed that a Kurdish photographer Mehdi Tavakoli has been summoned by the Sanandaj Intelligence office and interrogated about his activities. He has also been told that he was not currently allowed to leave the city of Sanandaj. Mehdi Tavakoli was arrested by security forces in Sanandaj on October 12, 2016, and was transferred to Sanandaj Central Prison after…
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Kurdistan Human Rights Network – Gholamreza Nouri Ala, the editor-in-chief of the Kermanshah ِDaily Naqdhall, and another of his colleagues were arrested for spreading rumours about the governor of Kermanshah being infected with Coronavirus. This news was published on the telegram channel but hours later it was revealed that it was an “April Fools”. According to the IRNA news agency, quoting Kermanshah Public Relations and…
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Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) has been informed that organizations affiliated with the Security Forces and the Judiciary of Iran are still putting pressure on the former Teachers Union activist teacher “Ramin Zandnia” and his family to stop his activities even though he left the country several ago. “In the past few days a letter has been sent by the Attorney General to Ramin…
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Security forces in Saqqez detained three family members of a Kurdish citizen Raouf Sheikhi, who lost his life six years ago in Sanandaj, while banning his memorial ceremony. Raouf Sheikhi lost his life when the vehicle in which he and two other people were travelling was shot by security forces. Security forces raided the home of Raouf Sheikhi on Friday, February 14, insulted his family…
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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.