The International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia, 17 May, serves as a reminder of the history of oppression and violence faced by queer individuals in many societies and countries, where their gender identity and sexual orientation have been pathologised and criminalised. It also commemorates the struggle and resistance of queer people to destigmatise and decriminalise their identities and orientations, fighting for equal rights. In…
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The Islamic Revolutionary Court in Orumiyeh, West Azerbaijan province, has sentenced an activist of the LGBTI and queer rights named Zahra Sedighi-Hamadani (Sareh) and another civilian named Elham Choubdar to the death penalty. The court charged them with “spreading corruption on earth” (fasad fil-arz) by allegedly “promoting homosexuality” and “forming corruption and prostitution gangs”. The two prisoners were informed of the sentence in the women’s ward…
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In recent days, the news of the suicide of a Kurdish transgender* woman named Hanar in Marivan, in northwestern Iran’s Kurdistan province, circulated on social media. One of the sources that published the news was the Instagram account of the Kurdistan LGBTIQ Community, which has been working for years to defend the rights of the queer** community in the Kurdish language. Hanar, 20, committed suicide…
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 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 November to 30 November.
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
According to KHRN’s findings, Iran executed at least 15 prisoners in November.
While 12 of the men were executed on drug-related charges, two were executed for “premeditated murder” and one for “rape”.
Of the 15 cases, seven were executed 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
During the past month, one woman was killed by her husband with a blow to the head and another was stabbed to death by her husband. Both cases took place in Ilam, Ilam Province, over alleged “family disputes”.
Kolbars and tradesmen
In November, one kolbar died after suffering a cardiac arrest while working in the border areas of Nowsud, Kermanshah Province; three other kolbars were shot and wounded by Iranian border guards in Nowsud and Sardasht, West Azerbaijan Province; and one suffered an ankle injury as a result of a landmine explosion in Nowsud.
Landmine explosions
On 14 November, a civilian, Ahmad Ali Mohammadi, was killed in a landmine explosion in Ilam, Ilam Province.
Detentions and arrests
Over the past month, Iranian forces have arrested at least 21 people, including activists and children.
At least seven of the detained civilians were sent to Mahabad, Tehran, Sanandaj, Marivan and Oshnavieh prisons to serve their sentences.
Sentences
In November, Iranian courts sentenced at least 12 people to punishments ranging from three months in prison to the death penalty.
Verisheh Moradi (Wirishe Moradi), a Kurdish political prisoner and a member of the East Kurdistan Free Women Society (KJAR), was among those sentenced to death. Branch 15 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Tehran convicted her on charges of “armed insurrection” (baghi).