The Iranian security forces arrested a Kurdish student and his father who were said tortured at the Inelegance Ministry’s jails in Orumiyeh for over ten days before being sent to the city’s
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‘Mohamad Sedigh Kaboudwand, a Kurdish human rights activist and journalist jailed in the ward 350 of the notorious Evin prison of Tehran launched a hunger strike on 8 May 2016 to protest against the
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“Zeynab Sekanvand Lakran, a young female prisoner who has been accused of murder when she was 17, has been kept in the women’s ward of Orumiyeh Central prison waiting to be executed,” a reliable
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Kurdistan Human Rights Network – HRANA – Fourteen Human rights organizations released a joint statement, expressing deep concern about the dire condition of political prisoner Afshin Sohrabzadeh,
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The critical health condition of 25-year-old Kurdish political prisoner Afshin Sohrabzadeh has dangerously worsened in Minab prison in southeastern Iran, but the authorities still refuse granting him
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Kurdish political prisoner Ayub Asadi has been denied leave for medical care, although his health has been described as critical, but the Iranian courts in the cities of Kamiyaran and Sanandaj have
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The prosecutor of Iran’s city of Khoy has rejected a request by Kurdish female political prisoner Zeynab Jalalian to receive medical treatment outside the prison for her severe illnesses, a
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“Saman Naseem, a Kurdish political prisoner who was a juvenile when he was arrested few years ago , was transferred to the branch 12 of Orumiyeh Court to attend retrial on 27 January 2016. The
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A group of political prisoners from Orumiyeh prison’s Ward 12 refused to receive prison food on 26 January in protest over being imprisoned with non-political and criminal inmates, a Kurdistan Human
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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.