Ramin Hussein Panahi, a Kurdish political prisoner who has been detained at the Sanandaj Intelligence Detention Centre since June 23, has gone on a hunger strike since Dec 5 in protest to his unclear status and the refusal of authorities to transfer him to Sanandaj Prison. Amjad Hussein Panahi, brother of this political prisoner confirmed the news of his brother’s hunger strike and told Kurdistan…
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Last night, a number of kolbars were arrested, beaten and disrespected for several hours on their way back at the border areas of Sardasht by the border guards although they were not carrying any foreign goods. “On the evening of December 06, in the Dasht Kapran region, a group of Kolbars from Sardasht, were arrested, beaten up and abused by Border guards in their…
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A death row Kurdish student prisoner, who had gone on dry food hunger strike on Oct 25, 2017, in protest against his unfair sentence and being kept in the ward for drug crime prisoners, ended his strike after a week. “On 31 September 2017, Abubakr Rostami, who was on dry food hunger strike, ended his dry food hunger strike after the prison manager promised to…
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A Kurdish political prisoner in Orumiyeh Central Prison was transferred from solitary confinement to the prison ward. “On Sunday, October 19, Mostafa Davoodi, a Kurdish political prisoner detained in ward 12 (section dedicated to political prisoners) in Orumiyeh Prison, was transferred to the prison ward after spending four days in solitary confinement. On Sunday, October 14, this prisoner was transferred to solitary confinement for unknown…
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Five Kurdish political and religious prisoners were beaten up by dozens of Prisoner of Dangerous Crimes and authorities in ward 1 (Psychotherapy Section) of Orumiyeh Central Prison before being transferred to solitary confinement cells. “On Wednesday, October 18, five Kurdish political and religious prisoners- including Kamran Sheikh, Khosrow Besharat, Anwar Khezari, Ramin Roozban and Siamak Ashrafi- detained in ward 1 (Psychotherapy Section) were severely…
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A political prisoner detained in Ward 12 of Orumiyeh Central Prison was transferred to solitary confinement on the orders of prison authorities for unknown reasons. “On Sunday, October 14, Mustafa Davoodi, a Kurdish political prisoner detained in ward 12 (section dedicated to political prisoners) in Orumiyeh Prison, was transferred to solitary confinement for unknown reasons,” an informed source told Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN). “This political…
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Over the past few days, the Border Regiment at the border between Paveh and Nosoud have reportedly banned people from commuting after 9 pm in addition to carrying out military manoeuvres in order to create an atmosphere of fear and terror in the streets of Nosoud. “Following a rigorous verbal conflict between Kolbars and the border guards in the Ghalaga area at Nosoud Border where…
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In the past days, following the strike and protest of Baneh citizens to the killing of two Kurdish Kolbars, there is high security alert in Baneh city due to the presence of numerous anti-riot forces (Riot Police). Moreover, a number of political and civil activists have gone on a 3-day hunger strike in protest to continuous killing of Kurdish Kolbars by Iranian border guards…
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Ramazan Ahmad Kamal, a political Kurdish political prisoner from Kobane who was transferred to Qazvin’s Central Prison last September without the completion of his treatment course from Rajai Shahr prison in Karaj, has been deprived of follow-up treatment in the prison. As a result, his health has been critical during the past few days due to suffering from postoperative infection in his arm. According to…
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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 March to 31 March.
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 four prisoner in March for “premeditated murder”.
Two of the prisoners were executed in Mahabad Prison, in West Azerbaijan Province, and two in Ilam 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
In the first half of March, three women were killed by their male family members in Orumiyeh and Kermanshah.
Landmine explosions
In March, landmine explosions resulted in injuries to four people, including two kolbars, in Mehran in Ilam Province, Paveh in Kermanshah Province, and Marivan in Kurdistan Province.
Kolbars and tradesmen
In March, at least five kolbars were shot dead by Iranian border guards, two died of frostbite, two died as a result of falling from the border heights, one was tortured to death by Iranian security forces, one died of a heart attack, one died in a road accident and another died as a result of the overturning of a car chased by police.
A total of 60 kolbars were injured during this period. Of these, 38 were shot by Iranian border guards, nine fell from heights at the border, four were injured in landmine explosions, three were beaten by border guards, two were beaten by Iraqi border guards, two were injured in road accidents, one was injured by stones thrown by border guards, and one was injured in a car that fell from heights at the border.
The identities of three of the kolbars injured in falls from border heights remain unknown and are therefore not included in the table in this report.
Detentions and arrests
Throughout March, Iranian forces arrested at least 20 civilians, including a child and two artists.
At least four of the detained civilians were sent to prisons in Marivan, Saqqez, Naqadeh, and Ilam to serve prison sentences.
Sentences
In the past month, Iranian courts have sentenced at least four people to punishments ranging from three months to 13 years in prison.
Security forces wound two young men
On 21 March, security forces attacked a group of young people in Kermanshah, Kermanshah Province, for playing music and having fun. As a result of the forces’ shooting, two Kurdish youths, Mohammad Ahmadian and Arman Basiri, were seriously injured in the leg.
The incident took place in the Eastern Park near the historical site of Tagh-e Bostan.