Three Kurdish civil rights activists, Jaka Ismailpour, Homan Faizi and Shaho Khezri, were sentenced to imprisonment by Branch 101 of the Bukan Criminal Court on charges of “disturbing public order
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Kurdish writer and cultural activist Mojgan Kavoosi was sentenced to 69 months of imprisonment, a local source told the Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN). Kavoosi was sentenced to 33 months in
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Kurdish civil society and environmental activist Simko Maroufi from Bukan was sentenced to two years in prison on charges of “disturbing public order” by participating in a rally condemning the
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The six-year prison sentence of the Kurdish environmental activist Arman Ghafouri, issued by the Marivan Revolutionary Court last February, has been reduced to one year by the Court of Appeal in
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Labour activist Kamran Sakhtemangar has been sentenced to six years of imprisonment by the Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court in Sanandaj, including five years on charges of “membership in the
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Labour activist Tawfiq Mahmoudi was summoned to Sanandaj Criminal Court Branch 4 to serve his one-year sentence recently, a source told Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN). The Branch 1 of the
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Dozens of protesters were arrested during a rally in Orumiyeh on 12 October in protest of the Turkish army’s attack on northern and eastern Syria (Rojava). Two of these protesters have been sentenced
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Kurdish civilian Mohammad Sharif Salem was sentenced to five years in prison on charges of “cooperation with one of the Kurdish opposition parties,” a source told Kurdistan Human Rights
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An 11-year prison sentence for a Kurdish teacher from Bukan was upheld by the Orumiyeh Court of Appeal in mid-October, a source told the Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN). Seyyed Aram Amin
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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 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 October to 31 October.
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
In October, Iranian authorities executed at least 16 prisoners across various prisons in the country.
Out of the total, eight individuals were executed on charges of “premeditated murder”, four individuals on drug-related charges, three for “enmity against God” (moharebeh) through armed robbery, and one on charges of “enmity against God” (moharebeh), membership in terrorist and takfiri (Sunni extremist) groups as well as armed operations.
Executions were concentrated in a few facilities. Five executions took place in Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj, four in Kermanshah Central Prison, two in Sanandaj Central Prison, two in Karaj Central Penitentiary, two in Esfarayen Prison and one in Qom Central Prison.
*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 October, Leila Alirmaei, a 42-year-old mother of two, was shot dead by her neighbour in Marivan, Kurdistan Province, after refusing his repeated demands to divorce her husband and marry him.
Kolbars
At least three kolbars were shot and killed and two others were wounded as a result of direct fire by Iranian border forces last month in the border areas of Baneh, Kurdistan Province.
Detentions and arrests
In October, at least 28 individuals were arrested across West Azerbaijan, Kurdistan, Kermanshah and Tehran provinces. Those arrested included political activists, civil rights defenders, and labour activists, while in many cases their specific activities remain unknown.
Of the total number of arrests, 17 were made in West Azerbaijan Province, nine in Kurdistan Province, one in Kermanshah Province and one in Tehran Province.
Iranian security forces also arrested at least two children aged 17 in West Azerbaijan Province in the past month, who were later released.
Of those detained in October, at least one was released on bail, while two were sent to prison to serve their sentences.
The fate of many others remains unknown, as their place of detention and legal status have not been disclosed.
Sentences
In October, Iranian courts handed down sentences to at least 25 Kurdish individuals ranging from a few months’ imprisonment to the death penalty.
Additionally, Branch 39 of the Supreme Court overturned the death sentences issued for five individuals and ordered a retrial after reviewing appeals submitted by their lawyers.