Press Releases Archives – Page 2 of 3 – KHRN

May 9, 2019

An Open Letter from Kurdish Human Rights Defenders to Amnesty International

Kurdish human rights defenders from East Kurdistan / Iran have written a letter to Kumi Naidoo, Secretary-General of Amnesty International. In this letter they express their concern about the violent and degrading treatment of Kurdish and non-Kurdish activists, who were protesting last week in the London office of Amnesty International against the global silence regarding the extensive hunger strike of Kurdish political prisoners in…

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March 16, 2019

42 NGOs Including KHRN Demand Renewal of Mandate for Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran

Friday 15 March 2019 TO: Member states of the United Nations Human Rights Council Your Excellency, We, the undersigned Iranian and international human rights organisations, urge your government to support resolution A/HRC/40/L.15 renewing the mandate of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, to be tabled during the 40th session of the Human Rights Council. The renewal of this mandate is…

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November 13, 2018

Joint letter in support of the UN General Assembly resolution on the situation of human rights in Iran

TO: All Permanent Missions to the United Nations in New York Your Excellencies, The undersigned national, regional and international civil society organizations urge your government to support resolution A/C.3/73/L.42 on the promotion and protection of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, which has been presented to the Third Committee in the framework of the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly. This…

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September 11, 2018

The Statement of Kurdish Human Rights Network in Condemnation of the Execution of three Kurdish Political Prisoners and the IRGC Missile Attack at Kurdish Parties in Koy Sanjaq

On Saturday morning, Sept 8, 2018, three Kurdish political prisoners called Ramin Hossein Panahi, Zanyar Moradi and Loghman Moradi were executed in Rajai Shahr prison in Karaj. The transfer of Ramin Hossein Panahi from Sanandaj prison to Rajai Shahr prison and transfer of Zanyar and Loghman Moradi to solitary confinement had increased fears about their imminent execution. However, it was expected that the widely…

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March 15, 2018

46 NGOs Including KHRN Demand Renewal of Mandate for Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran

TO: Member states of the United Nations Human Rights Council Your Excellency, We, the undersigned Iranian and international human rights organizations, urge your government to support the renewal of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, during the 37th session of the UN Human Rights Council. The Iranian authorities have consistently failed to take action on vital reforms that…

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November 8, 2017

Thirty-Four NGOS Call on UN Third Committee to Pass the Resolution on Human Rights Situation in Iran

To: Member States of the United Nations General Assembly Your Excellency, We, the undersigned human rights and civil society organizations, urge your government to vote in favor of Resolution A/C.3/72/L.41 on the promotion and protection of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, presented before the Third Committee in the framework of the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). By the end…

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March 17, 2017

41 NGOs Urge Renewal of Mandate for Special Rapporteur on Iran

On Thursday, March 16, Kurdistan Human Rights Network joined 40 human rights groups calling on the UN Human Rights Council to support the resolution to renew the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran. A vote on the resolution is scheduled to take place during the 34th session of the United Nations Human…

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March 8, 2017

Iran: Repression of those seeking truth and justice for 1980s killings needs to stop

In this joint statement, 20 human rights groups call on the Iranian authorities to stop the harassment, intimidation and prosecution of human rights defenders seeking truth and justice on behalf of individuals who were summarily executed or forcibly disappeared during the 1980s and their families. Over the past few months, several human rights defenders have been subjected to harassment, reprisals or prosecution on vague…

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December 13, 2016

Joint NGO Letter in support of 2016 UNGA Resolution on human rights in Iran

Joint NGO Letter in support of 2016 UNGA Resolution on human rights in Iran Your Excellency: We, the undersigned human rights organizations, welcome the decision of the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly’s Third Committee to pass Resolution A/C.3/71/L.25 on the promotion and protection of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran. The resolution sends a vital message to all governments and…

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PUBLICATIONS

Massacre in Kurdish City by Islamic Republic Forces Exposed in New Report

Intentional Killing of Unarmed Civilians Amounts to Crimes Against Humanity September 5, 2023 – A new report just released by the Kurdistan Human Rights…

August 2023: Human rights violations in Iranian Kurdistan

The Kurdistan Human Rights Network’s (KHRN) recent investigations have revealed numerous cases of human rights violations against Kurdish civilians and activists from Iran in…

July 2023: Human rights violations in Iranian Kurdistan

The Kurdistan Human Rights Network’s (KHRN) recent investigations have revealed numerous cases of human rights violations against Kurdish civilians and activists from Iran in…

June 2023: Human rights violations in Iranian Kurdistan

The Kurdistan Human Rights Network’s (KHRN) recent investigations have revealed numerous cases of human rights violations against Kurdish civilians and activists from Iran in…

May 2023: Human rights violations in Iranian Kurdistan

Investigations carried out by the Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) show that many Kurdish civilians and activists from Iran became victims of human rights…

April 2023: Human rights violations in Iranian Kurdistan

Investigations carried out by the Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) show that many Kurdish civilians and activists from Iran became victims of human rights…

Annual Report Mar 2022 – Mar 2023

This annual report covers the human rights situation of Kurds in Iran from 21 March 2022 to 21 March 2023. As in previous years,…

March 2023: Human rights violations in Iranian Kurdistan

Investigations carried out by the Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) show that many Kurdish civilians and activists from Iran have become victims of human…

Special report: Mohyeddin Ebrahimi’s arrest, trial, execution

Kurdish political prisoner Mohyeddin Ebrahimi was executed today at Orumiyeh Central Prison, in north-western Iran. At the same time, the death sentences of four…

Details of 121 Kurdish people killed during Mahsa (Jina) Amini protests in Iran

According to Iran Human Rights, a total of 481 people have been killed so far during the Mahsa (Jina) Amini protests across Iran, including…

August 2022: Human rights violations in Iranian Kurdistan

Investigations carried out by the Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) show that many Kurdish civilians and activists from Iran have become victims of human…

August 2023: Human rights violations in Iranian Kurdistan

The Kurdistan Human Rights Network’s (KHRN) recent investigations have revealed numerous cases of human rights violations against Kurdish civilians and activists from Iran in August 2023.

Our Documentation and Statistics Centre has compiled a comprehensive report on the various violations perpetrated against these individuals, which we present in this monthly report.

The Kurdistan Human Rights Network’s (KHRN) recent investigations have revealed numerous cases of human rights violations against Kurdish civilians and activists from Iran in August 2023.

Our Documentation and Statistics Centre has compiled a comprehensive report on the various violations perpetrated against these individuals, which we present in this monthly report.

Executions

According to these findings, Iran executed at least 13 prisoners over the past month in Sanandaj, Saqqez, Khorramabad, Karaj, Hamadan, and Dezful.

While three prisoners were executed on charges of “premeditated murder”, 10 were executed for drug-related offences.

These are the executions of which the KHRN has been informed by its sources. However, the number of those executed is likely to be higher.

Kolbars and tradesmen

In August, at least four kolbars were killed and 16 were injured in the country’s western border areas.

Of these, 18 were shot by Iranian border guards and one was killed after he was hit by a military vehicle of the border forces.

In addition, one kolbar was injured after being shot by Iraqi border forces in the Choman border of Baneh on 7 August.

Killings of civilians

On 17 August, a Kurdish soldier from Maku, West Azerbaijan Province, was shot dead at a military base in Qasr-e Shirin, Kermanshah Province.

Work accidents

Over the past month, at least six workers lost their lives in work accidents in Qasr-e Shirin, Tabriz, Saqqez, Maku, Javanrud and Ilam.

Detentions and arrests

Throughout August, Iranian forces arrested at least 60 civilians, including activists, journalists, Kurdish Sunni clerics and two children.

Two of these civilians were detained to serve prison sentences in Ilam and Naqadeh.

Prison sentences

Over the past month, Iranian courts sentenced at least 10 people to prison terms ranging from six months to a total of 16 and a half years.

Half of these sentences were handed down by Branch 101 of the Criminal Court of Mahabad, West Azerbaijan Province.

  • Executions
  • Killings of civilians
  • Detentions and arrests
  • Kolbars
  • Prison sentences
NameFromCharged withExecution dateExecution locationExplanation
1Javad AkbariKuhdashtDrugs2 AugParsiloun Prison of Khorramabad
2Sharif AkbariNurabadDrugs2 AugParsiloun Prison of Khorramabad
3Kianoush TeymouriKuhdashtDrugs2 AugParsiloun Prison of Khorramabad
4Ahad HashemiHarsinDrugs9 AugHamadan Central Prison
5Manouchehr KhazaEiKangavarDrugs9 AugHamadan Central Prison
6Afshin Rahimi-HedayatKangavarDrugs10 AugHamadan Central Prison30 years old
7Saeid BiranvandKhorramabadPremeditated murder13 AugParsiloun Prison of Khorramabad
8Ebrahim MowloudpourBukanDrugs16 AugDezful Prison
9Shorash MorovvatiSaqqezPremeditated murder22 AugSanandaj Central Prison
10Rahman EbrahimiKuhdashtDrugs23 AugGhezel Hesar Prison in Karaj
11Kiyoumars RezaeiKuhdashtDrugs23 AugGhezel Hesar Prison in Karaj
12Behrouz RahmaniVaraminDrugs23 AugGhezel Hesar Prison in Karaj
13Vafa KharamaniSaqqezPremeditated murder27 AugSaqqez Prison
NameLocationDateExplanation
1Rahman ShamsQasr-e Shirin17 AugFrom Maku, shot at the army base in Qasr-e Shirin
NameDetention locationDetention dateActivityLocation held and latest status
1Vali MohseniAbdanan1 AugCivilianUnknown
2Pouria AhmadiSanandaj1 AugCivil rights activist and former political prisonerTaken to a Ministry of Intelligence detention center
3Sahar AhmadiSanandaj1 AugCivilianReleased on bail
4Barzin AhmadiSanandaj1 AugChildPouria Ahmadi’s child, who was handed over to his family
5Alan ArdeshiriMarivan2 AugCivilianUnknown
6Arsalan YousefiBukan5 AugCivilianArrested after being summoned to Ministry of Intelligence in Bukan
7Ramin HassannezhadRabat8 AugCivil rights activistUnknown
8Behzad SharifiSanandaj9 AugCivilianUnknown
9Hasan MardaniBukan10 AugCivilianUnknown
10Loghman PishyarBukan10 AugCivilianUnknown
11Reza BabrnezhadQuchan11 AugCivilianUnknown
12Bahar AhmadiSanandaj12 AugCivilianUnknown
13Mohsen DivaliBaneh13 AugKolbarUnknown
14Hadi RasoulianBaneh13 AugKolbarUnknown
15Zilan MolaeiSanandaj13 AugStudentReleased on bail
16Zaryan MolaeiSanandaj13 AugStudentReleased on bail
17Nazila MaroofianTehran14 AugJournalistReleased on bail
18Loghman SokhanvarPiranshahr15 AugCivilianUnknown
19Houshiar GhaderiPiranshahr15 Aug17-year-old childUnknown
20Hiva ShabahangOshnavieh15 AugCivilianUnknown
21Arslan KheyriMahabad15 AugCivilianUnknown
22Mamal SharifiMahabad15 AugCivilianUnknown
23Hossein MahmoudpourPiranshahr15 AugCivilianUnknown
24Amanj KhastehMahabad16 AugCivilianUnknown
25Ayoub MirzaeiOshnavieh16 AugCivilianUnknown
26Shirvan KhezriOshnavieh16 AugCivilianUnknown
27Hedayat KhastehMahabad16 AugCivilianUnknown
28Sherko NasiriMahabad16 AugCivilianUnknown
29Ashkan RasouliMahabad16 AugCivilianUnknown
30Hiva RahneshinMahabad16 AugCivilianUnknown
31Hamzeh GhaneiPiranshahr16 AugCivilianUnknown
32Omar HosseinzadehPiranshahr16 AugCivilianUnknown
33Firmesk BabaeiPaveh17 AugCivilianUnknown
34Hedi AbdolbakhtOshnavieh17 AugCivilianUnknown
35Najmaddin EisazadehOshnavieh17 AugCivilianUnknown
36Ziba GhelichkhaniBijar17 AugCivilianTaken to Juvenile Detention Centre of Sanandaj
37Khadijeh MehdipourIlam17 AugFormer political prisonerTaken to Ilam Prison to serve 3 months and one day
38Moein SharifianPiranshahr17 AugCivilianUnknown
39Moein FaqihiJavanrud18 AugCivilianUnknown
40Zana ParvanehMarivan19 AugCivilianUnknown
41Hesam KaramiKamyaranMid AugCivilianUnknown
42Sirvan KaramiKamyaranMid AugCivilianUnknown
43Afshin SaediKamyaran21 AugCivilianUnknown
44Amir SeyyediMahabad21 AugCivilianUnknown
45Samad ShaboyiOshnavieh21 AugCivilianArrested after being summoned to Ministry of Intelligence
46Mohammad Hossein AbdiMarivan21 AugCivilianTaken to a security detention centre in Sanandaj
47Mobin DaharOshnavieh22 AugCivilianUnknown
48Sharmin HabibiSaqqez22 AugFamily member of a protest victimUnknown
49Mashallah KaramiTehran22 AugFamily member of a protest victimUnknown
50Yousef FathizadehBadreh22 AugCivilianUnknown
51Reza OlfatiKermanshah22 AugAthleteUnknown
52Mohammad Taher HosseinpourNaqadeh23 AugCivilianUnknown
53Amir ArzhangiMarivan24 AugCivilianUnknown
54Sattar ArzhangiMarivan24 AugCivilianUnknown
55Khaled Mehr-AsaMarivan26 AugCivilianUnknown
56Mohammad SharifiBukan27 AugKurdish Sunni clericTaken to Ministry of Intelligence detention centre in Orumiyeh
57Saro MostajerSaqqez28 AugCivilianUnknown
58Jamal AlizadehNaqadeh29 AugCivil rights activistTaken to Naqadeh Prison to serve 30 months
59Nazila MaroofianTehran30 AugJournalistUnknown
60Bakhtyar MohammadzadehIlam31 AugCivilianArrested after being summoned to Ministry of Intelligence in Ilam
NameFromIncident locationIncident dateDied/InjuredExplanation
1Arkan RahmaniJavanrudNowsud border areas1 AugInjuredShot by border guards
2Layegh DarvishiJavanrudNowsud border areas1 AugInjuredShot by border guards
3Mehran AhmadiJavanrudNowsud border areas3 AugInjuredShot by border guards
4Houshyar Amini DosinehBanehKhouri Abad checkpoint in Baneh3 AugKilledShot by border guards
5Rasoul GagoshiSardashtEntrance to Baneh5 AugKilledCollision with the car of a Border Regiment
6Omid VeysiJavanrudNowsud border areas6 AugInjuredShot by border guards
7Ehsan RasouliPavehNowsud border areas6 AugInjuredShot by border guards
8Nima AazamiJavanrudNowsud border areas6 AugInjuredShot by border guards
9Salam VeysiJavanrudNowsud border areas6 AugInjuredShot by border guards
10Milad BazaniJavanrudNowsud border areas6 AugInjuredShot by border guards
11Houshyar BazaniJavanrudNowsud border areas6 AugInjuredShot by border guards
12Farshad (surname unknown)Salas-e BabajaniNowsud border areas6 AugInjuredShot by border guards
13Aso KarimiPavehNowsud border areas6 AugKilledShot by border guards
14Hassan ForghaniBanehChoman border in Baneh7 AugInjuredShot by border Iraqi guards
15Shayan ZahmatkeshPavehNowsud border areas12 AugInjuredShot by border guards
16Arsalan Rasouli NalasHengeh-ye Zhal border areas13 AugKilledShot by border guards
17Taher Esmaeil TavanaSardashtHengeh-ye Zhal border areas13 AugInjuredShot by border guards
18Jalal SohrabiBanehBaneh border17 AugInjuredShot by border guards
19Omid LotfiMarivanKelieh border in Baneh22 AugInjuredShot by border guards
NameResident ofCharged withDate sentencedIssuing courtSentenceExplanation
1Fereshteh MansouriSarablehPublishing lies with the intention of disturbing the public mind5 AugBranch 101 of the Criminal Court of Chardavol, Ilam6 months and one day imprisonmentSuspended for three years
2Seyvan EbrahimiSanandajDisturbing public order22 AugBranch 106 of the Criminal Court of Sanandajone year in prison, 40 lashes and exile to Dizel Abad Prison in Kermanshah
3Osman EsmaeiliSaqqezMembership of the Komala Kurdistan’s Organisation of the Communist Party of Iran, actions against national security, propaganda against the state25 AugBranch One of the Islamic Revolutionary Court in SaqqezTotal of 39 months in prison
4Rahim ShameiOrumiyehDestruction and looting of property with violence and assault, participation in deliberate destruction of property, production and assembly of non-military explosive materials27 AugBranch 101 of the Criminal Court of MahabadTotal of 12.5 years, 74 lashes, paying double the value of the confiscated items to the Treasury of the Islamic Republic of Iran
5Yassin MostafapourMahabadDestruction and looting of property with violence and assault, participation in deliberate destruction of property, rebellion against military and police officers, disturbing public order and peace27 AugBranch 101 of the Criminal Court of MahabadTotal of 9.5 years in prison, 74 lashes
6Salah MousaviradMahabadDestruction and looting of property with violence and assault, participation in deliberate destruction of property27 AugBranch 101 of the Criminal Court of Mahabad42 months and one day in prison, 1.5 years in prison
7Iraj EbrahimzadehDestruction and looting of property with violence and assault, participation in deliberate destruction of property27 AugBranch 101 of the Criminal Court of Mahabad43 months and one day in prison, 1.5 years in prison
8Behnam RasekhniaMahabadDestruction and looting of property with violence and assault, participation in deliberate destruction of property, burning the marriage document belonging to Asghar Mohammadi27 AugBranch 101 of the Criminal Court of MahabadTotal of 16.5 years in prison
9Mahvash TavassoliPiranshahrPropaganda against the state28 AugIslamic Revolutionary Court in Piranshahr2 years’ probation with electronic monitoring
10Jotyar AshrafzadehPiranshahrassembly and collusion with the intention to commit crimes against national security28 AugIslamic Revolutionary Court in Piranshahr3 years imprisonment