Kurdistan Human Rights Network

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 May to 31 May 2026.

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 May, Iranian authorities executed at least eight prisoners in Orumiyeh, Naqadeh, Kermanshah, Mahabad and Sanandaj prisons.

Out of the total, two individuals were executed on charges of “espionage for Israel”, two for “armed insurrection” (baghi), two for “premeditated murder”, one for “spreading corruption on earth” (efsad-e fel-arz), and one on drug-related charges.

Kurdish political prisoners Nasser Bakerzadeh, Mehrab Abdollahzadeh, Ramin Zaleh, Karim Maroufpour and Azerbaijani Turkic political prisoner Yaghoub Karimpour were executed in secret without prior notice to their families.

*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

Over the past month, two women were killed in separate cases in Khoy, West Azerbaijan Province, and Sanandaj, Kurdistan Province. On 16 May, Jana Saadouei, a mother of two and victim of child marriage, was beaten to death by her husband in Khoy.

In another case, Mahshid, a 30-year-old trans woman whose surname remains unknown, was found stabbed to death in Sanandaj on 30 May. The identity of the perpetrator or perpetrators remains unknown.

Extrajudicial killings

Over the past month, four Kurdish men were killed in separate extrajudicial killings by Iranian forces in Tehran, Sardasht, and Dalahu.

On 12 May, Zanyar Hosseini, a young Kurdish tradesman from Saqqez, Kurdistan Province, was killed by Iranian military forces in Tehran on 12 May.

In mid-May, Ghazi Kawani, from Sardasht, West Azerbaijan Province, died after being shot in the head at close range by IRGC forces.

On 28 May, brothers Mojtaba Veysi and Meysam Veysi, two Kurdish men from Kermanshah, were killed by IRGC forces in Dalahu, Kermanshah Province. They had been living in hiding for months after taking part in the December 2025–January 2026 protests.

Landmine explosions

On 7 May, Peyman Rahmanpour, a 21-year-old civilian, was killed in a landmine explosion in Saqqez, Kurdistan Province.

Detentions and arrests

In May, at least 24 individuals were arrested across West Azerbaijan, Ilam, Kermanshah and Tehran provinces.

Of the total number of arrests, 17 were made in West Azerbaijan Province, four in Ilam Province, one in Tehran and another in Kermanshah Province.

Those arrested included three artists, a poet, a teacher and a 17-year-old child, while in 18 cases their specific activities remain unknown.

Sentences

During the past month, Arman Marefati, a 30-year-old Kurdish civilian from Saqqez, Kurdistan Province, who was arrested in connection with the December 2025–January 2026 protests in Tehran, was sentenced to death on charges of “enmity against God” (moharebeh) by Branch 15 of the city’s Islamic Revolutionary Court.

Additionally, three other Kurdish protesters were sentenced to three years and one month in prison each in late May.