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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Omid Assadi, a labour activist from Kamyaran who was arrested by security forces earlier this year and later temporarily released on bail, was sentenced to one-year Discretionary Punishment by Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Sanandaj. Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) has been informed that this activist was arrested and beaten in Kamyaran by security forces before being transferred to the Ministry of Intelligence…
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The hearing for six activists from Kamyaran was held at Branch 4 of the Sanandaj Court of Appeals during the past few days. They were recently sentenced to imprisonment by the branch one of revolutionary court in Sanandaj on Oct 16, 2018 presided by Judge Saeedi on charges of propaganda against the state. The verdicts of 4 of these people were just approved while…
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Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Intelligence Unit summoned a teacher from Diwandareh and transferred him to the IRGC detention centre in Sanandaj. The Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) has been informed that the IRGC Intelligence Unit in Diwandareh has been summoned and transferred a teacher named Hamed Nargesi on Wednesday, Nov 21, 2018 to the IRGC Detention Centre in Sanandaj. The teacher had been summoned by…
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A labour activist from Saqqez, who was sentenced to 3 months of imprisonment on charges of propaganda against the state last January, was transferred to Saqqez prison to endure his imprisonment. Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) has been informed that a labour activist known as Ezat Nasiri was summoned to the Enforcement Office of Saqqez and transferred to the central prison of Saqqez on Nov…
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Omid Shahmohammadi, a teacher from Diwandareh and a member of Teachers ‘Association, who was arrested after the second round of teachers’ sit-in in Iran on Monday 12 November 2018, still remains under interrogation at Intelligence detention centre of Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Sanandaj. A reliable source has told Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) that, despite the fact that the security of the Diwandareh…
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Khalil Karimi, a labour activist and member of the Free Trade Union of Iran Labourers, was sentenced to one year in prison by the Branch1 of Revolutionary Court of Sanandaj. Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) has been informed that Khalil Karimi was summoned to Branch 1 of the Sanandaj Revolutionary Court on Sunday, Nov 18, 2018 and his one-year imprisonment was officially served on him…
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Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) summoned and interrogated Eskandar Lotfi, a teacher and guild activist from Mariwan, regarding his guild activities at Sanandaj for several hours. The Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) has been informed that the IRGC has been summoned and interrogated Iskandar Lotfi for several hours on Nov 14, 2018 during the second round of teachers’ sit-in in Iran. Eskandar Lotfi is one of…
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The second round of teachers’ sit-in, which began on November 13 across Iran including various cities and villages of Kurdistan, still continues despite the pressures and threats of Iranian security forces. Several Kurdish teachers participating in this sit-in have told Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) that the majority of schools in various cities and villages of Kurdistan have participated in this sit-in. This sit-in, which…
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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 May to 31 May.
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 May, nine being on drug-related charges and six on charges of “premeditated murder”.
The majority of these executions took place in Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj, Alborz Province.
*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
At least four Kurdish women were reported to be victims of femicide in May. Two were killed by their husbands, one by her son-in-law and one by a suitor.
All four cases occurred in Kermanshah, Kermanshah Province, and the method of murder in all cases was gunshot.
Kolbars
Last month, at least three kolbars were shot dead by Iranian border guards in the border areas of Kurdistan and Kermanshah provinces, while two others were wounded in the border areas of Kurdistan Province.
Detentions and arrests
In May, Iranian forces arrested at least 27 people, six of whom were sent to prison to serve their sentences.
According to the information obtained by the Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN), at least seven of the remaining 21 detainees were released on bail, while the situation of the other 14 remains unknown.
Sentences
During this period, Iranian courts sentenced at least seven people to prison sentences ranging from eight months to two years.
Also, the Supreme Court rejected the second appeal for a retrial of Hatem Ozdemir, a Kurdish political prisoner with Turkish citizenship, and upheld his death sentence.
Ozdemir was sentenced to death in May 2024 by Branch Three of the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Orumiyeh, West Azerbaijan Province, presided over by Judge Najafzadeh, on charges of “enmity against God” (moharebeh). In September 2024, Branch Nine of the Supreme Court upheld the sentence.
With this latest rejection, Ozdemir’s execution is now even more imminent.
Additionally, in May, Branch 31 of the Court of Administrative Justice upheld the dismissal of Somayyeh Akhtar-Shomar, a 37-year-old Kurdish teacher from Marivan, Kurdistan Province, with 17 years of service.
The original decision to dismiss the Kurdish teacher was taken on 17 March 2024 by the Primary Disciplinary Committee of Civil Servants in Kurdistan Province.