Following the nationwide sit-in on Oct 15 and 16, the Saqqez prosecutor suspended the prosecution for six teachers accused of disturbing public order. The Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) has been informed that on Nov 5, 2018, the Public Prosecutor’s Office of the Saqqez Revolutionary Court suspended the prosecution of six teachers known as Tahir Ghaderzadeh, Suleiman Abdi, Seyyed Ali Hosseini, Ahmad Ghaderi, Hamid Yazdani…
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Khabat Shakiba, an environmental activist from Sanandaj who was sentenced to 3 months of imprisonment or a fine of 15 million Rials on charges of disturbing public order in September this year, paid the fine instead of going to prison. The Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) has been informed that, on Aug 16, 2018, Khabat Shakiba was summoned to the court following a telephone call…
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Mohammad Saleh Shokri, a teacher from Saqqez who had been arrested by security forces of Saqqez on Oct 7, 2018, was released on bail on Sunday. According to the Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN), Mohammad Saleh Shokri (with 24 years of teaching experience at various schools in Saqez), was arrested by the security forces on Oct 7, 2018, and transferred to the Intelligence Detention Centre. He…
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Over the past two weeks, dozens Kurdish civil and Guild activists in various cities of Kurdistan by security forces who also arrested several people. According to the Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN), security forces have summoned, interrogated and arrested at least 20 Kurdish citizens and activists (both Guild & civil) in several cities (including Sanandaj, Kermanshah, Ilam, Baneh, Saqqez, etc) following the strike on Sept…
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Osman Ismaili, a known labour activist who had been arrested on International Labour day’s gathering by security forces (but released three days later), has been sentenced to a fine of 2 million rials fine by the Penal Court of Saqqez (Branch 103) on charges of disrupting public order. The Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) has been informed that Osman Ismaili has been summoned to the…
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In the past few days, security forces have arrested two activists called Mohammad Saleh Shokri (resident of Saqqez) and Zanyar Dabbaghian from Sanandaj. Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) has been informed that security forces arrested teachers Mohammad Saleh Shokri on Saturday evening, Oct 7, 2018 in his house while searching his house and confiscating a number of his personal belongings. However, there is still…
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The hearing on charges against three labours activists from Sanandaj, who were arrested following the International Labour Day and subsequently released on bail, will be held in Sanandaj on August 04. An informed source told Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) that during the past few days, three activists called Yadi Samadi, Amir (Jamil Shahabi) and Armin Sharife have been summoned by the Penal Court and…
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Peyman (Hawar) Abdi, a labor activist from Marivan, was arrested by security forces in Marivan and transferred to Intelligence Ministry’s Detention Centre in the city of Sanandaj. Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) has been informed that the Kurdish activist called Peyman (Hawar) Abdi was arrested in one of the streets of Marivan on the evening of July 13 by security forces and he was taken…
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Erfan Rashidi, a prominent Environment Activist in Kermanshah Province, was released on bail. Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) has been informed that the environment and labor Activists called as Erfan Rashid was released temporarily on July 12 after 8 days of arrest at the Intelligence Ministry’s Detention Centre (known as the oil square) in the city of Kermanshah on a bail of 50 million Tomans. At…
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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 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 based on a review of news and reports provided by the KHRN and a review of reports from other human rights organisations and news agencies.
Executions
According to KHRN’s findings, Iran executed at least nine prisoners on drug-related charges in the prisons of Hamadan, Rasht, Khorramabad, Karaj and Khoy during the month of October.
These are the executions the KHRN has been informed of by its sources. However, the number of those executed is likely to be higher.
Civilian killings
On 28 October, Iranian state news agencies reported that a 16-year-old girl, Armita Geravand, had died after spending 28 days in a coma in the intensive care unit of Tehran’s Fajr Hospital.
Geravand was transferred to a military hospital on 1 October, and numerous news reports stated that she had been physically assaulted by government agents on the Shohada line of the Tehran metro because of her hijab.
According to various reports, Geravand had “no vital signs” from the moment she was admitted to the hospital and remained in a coma throughout her stay.
The British newspaper The Guardian reported on 5 October, citing two eyewitnesses, that Geravand had been subjected to a “physical assault” by a female morality police officer in a metro carriage. According to one witness, the morality police officer ‘violently pushed her’ after an argument.
Additionally, Iranian security forces arrested at least 15 activists and civilians, including Mohammad Geravand, a relative of Armita Geravand, during the teenager’s funeral at the Behesht-e Zahra cemetery in Tehran on 29 October.
Femicide
At least four women have been killed by their male family members in Sardasht, Piranshahr, Bukan and Orumiyeh in the past month.
Kolbars and tradesmen
In October, at least three kolbars were shot dead and 13 others injured by Iranian border guards in the western border areas of the country.
Landmine explosions
On 17 October, Peshawa Aliyar, a civilian from Baneh, was killed by a landmine explosion in Sulaimaniya, Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
Work-related accidents
On 20 October, Martin Hossein-Panahi, a 16-year-old child labourer, was killed in a factory accident in Sanandaj.
Detentions and arrests
Throughout October, Iranian forces arrested at least 29 activists and civilians, at least two of whom were imprisoned.
Prison sentences
Last month, Iranian courts sentenced at least 11 people to prison terms ranging from four months to 10 years.
Also, civilian Gholamreza Rasaei and Kurdish political prisoner Nayeb Askari were sentenced to death.
Askari, who was previously sentenced to death in absentia by the Branch Two of the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Orumiyeh, West Azerbaijan Province, on charges of “armed insurrection” through membership of the Kurdistan Free Life Party (PJAK), was sentenced to death again following a retrial request and several in-person court sessions at the same branch.