Kurdish civilian Fatemeh Davand was sentenced to 5 years and 5 months in prison and 30 lashes in two separate cases decided at the Bukan Criminal Court and the Mahabad Revolutionary Court in West
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Kurdish civil rights activist Zahra Mohammadi was sentenced to 10 years in prison by the Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Sanandaj on charges of “forming a group and a
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The 15-year prison sentence of Sardar Ozmush, a Kurdish political prisoner, was upheld by Branch 25 of the Supreme Court last week, a reliable source told the Kurdistan Human Rights Network
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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
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Kurdish civilian Rasoul Karimi has been sentenced to 5 years in prison by Branch 1 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Kermanshah on charges of “acting against national security.”, a reliable
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Four Kurdish activists, Ardeshir Mousavi, Arsalan Hedayati, Shahriyar Tahmasebi and Mostafa Bagheri Ashna, were each sentenced to nine months in prison by branch 4 of the Kermanshah Islamic
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Iraj Sufi Mohammad, a civilian of Mahabad, was sentenced to 15 years in prison by Branch 2 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Orumiyeh, presided over by Judge Ali Sheikhlou on charges of “acting
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Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) has been informed that in the past few days, the 5-year prison sentence for a Kurdish civilian Sediq Seifi from Diwandareh was upheld by the Sanandaj Court of
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The one-year prison sentence of Women’s rights activist Farzaneh Jalali has been upheld by the Provincial Court of Appeal. The sentence was issued by the Branch two of the Kermanshah Islamic
Read moreIn 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 all cases recorded and reported by KHRN from across Iran through its own sources and verification mechanisms from 1 April to 30 April 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, 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.
Detentions and arrests
In April, at least 12 individuals were arrested across West Azerbaijan, Kurdistan, and Ilam provinces. Those arrested included two language teachers, while in 10 cases their specific activities remain unknown.
Of the total number of arrests, 10 were made in West Azerbaijan Province, one in Kurdistan Province, and one in Ilam Province.
Sentences
In April, Mohsen Eslamkhah, a 20-year-old Kurdish citizen who was arrested in connection with the “Women, Life, Freedom” uprising in Bukan, was sentenced to death on charges of “enmity against God” (moharebeh) by Branch One of the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Mahabad.
Additionally, Branch 39 of the Supreme Court upheld the death sentence of Nasser Bakerzadeh, a 26-year-old Kurdish prisoner in Orumiyeh Central Prison; he was subsequently executed on 2 May.
Three PDKI members killed in IRGC attacks in Iraqi Kurdistan
On 17 April, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) killed at least three members of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI) in drone and missile strikes on civilian camps and party installations in Erbil Governorate, Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
The attacks took place despite a two-week ceasefire having been announced between the United States, Israel, and Iran, at the time, and killed Neda Miri from Sanandaj, Samira Allah-Yari from Divandarreh, and Shahin Azarbarzin from Piranshahr.