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 April to 30 April.
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 six prisoners in April, four on drug-related charges and two for “premeditated murder”.
The executions took place in prisons in Orumiyeh, Hamadan, Kerman, Karaj, Saqqez, and Ardabil.
*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.
Landmine explosions
In the past month, landmine explosions killed a civilian in Gilan-e Gharb and injured another in Saqqez.
Kolbars and tradesmen
During this period, at least four kolbars were shot dead by Iranian border guards and 22 kolbars were injured.
Of the injured, 18 were shot by Iranian border guards, two fell from heights at the border, one was beaten and one was injured during the pursuit of the border guards.
Detentions and arrests
Throughout April, Iranian forces arrested at least 45 civilians, including eight activists, a journalist, and a former political prisoner.
At least 13 of the detained civilians were sent to prisons in Oshnavieh and Naqadeh to serve prison sentences.
Sentences
In the past month, Iranian courts have sentenced at least 10 people to punishments ranging from three months to 10 years in prison.
Among those sentenced was Kurdish rapper Saman Yasin, who was sentenced to five years of exile imprisonment in Babak, Kerman Province, by the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Tehran after one year and seven months of detention.
Executions
Name | From | Charged with | Execution date | Execution location | Explanation | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Afshin Bagh-e Shirin | Kangavar | Drug trafficking | 13 Apr | Orumiyeh Central Prison | 39 years old, executed after 6 years of imprisonment |
2 | Arsalan Hashemi | Kermanshah | Drug trafficking | 14 Apr | Hamadan Central Prison | 31 years old, executed after 4 years of imprisonment |
3 | Jamal Mardani | Miandoab | Drug trafficking | 21 Apr | Kerman Central Prison | 54 years old, married and father of 4 children, arrested about 4 years ago |
4 | Pezhman Azizi | Kangavar | Premeditated murder | 24 Apr | Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj | 22 years old, arrested 3 years ago for premeditated murder |
5 | Farzad Khademi | Saqqez | Premeditated murder | 25 Apr | Saqqez Prison | Arrested in July 2020 for premeditated murder |
6 | Faramarz Moradi | Salmas | Drug trafficking | 30 Apr | Ardabil Central Prison | Executed after 4 years of imprisonment |
Landmine explosions
Name | Location of incident | Date of incident | Status | Explanation | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Akhtar Moradi | Gilan-e Gharb | Gilan-e Gharb | 21 Apr | Killed |
2 | Keyvan Harmiduli | Saqqez | Saqqez | 22 Apr | Injured |
Kolbars and tradesmen
Name | From | Incident location | Incident date | Dead/Injured | Explanation | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Karim Mohammadi | Marivan | Nowsud | 3 Apr | Injured | Fell from border heights |
2 | Ahadi (name unknown) | Marivan | Nowsud | 5 Apr | Injured | Fell from border heights |
3 | Fardin Veysi | Sanandaj | Baneh | 6 Apr | Injured | Shot by border guards |
4 | Omid Saeidi | Sanandaj | Saqqez | 13 Apr | Killed | Shot by border guards |
5 | Mehrdad Abdollahzadeh | Sardasht | Sardasht | 13 Apr | Killed | Shot by border guards |
6 | Asaad Rahpeykar | Marivan | Marivan | 15 Apr | Injured | Beaten |
7 | Seyvan Dast-Afkan | Marivan | Marivan | 17 Apr | Killed | Shot by border guards, father of one child |
8 | Mohammad Rahimi | Saqqez | Baneh | 17 Apr | Injured | Injured during the pursuit of border guards |
9 | Keyvan Darabi | Sarpol-e Zahab | Baneh | 18 Apr | Injured | Shot by border guards |
10 | Mohammad (surname unknown) | Javanrud | Nowsud | 19 Apr | Injured | Shot by border guards |
11 | Moein Sharifi | Javanrud | Nowsud | 19 Apr | Injured | Shot by border guards |
12 | Saeid (surname unknown) | Javanrud | Nowsud | 19 Apr | Injured | Shot by border guards |
13 | Shwana Ahmadpour | Baneh | Baneh | 21 Apr | Killed | Shot by border guards, 34-year-old father of one child |
14 | Khalil Parvizi | Marivan | Tateh, Hawraman, Marivan | 22 Apr | Injured | Shot by border guards |
15 | Ali Mohammadi | Marivan | Tateh, Hawraman, Marivan | 24 Apr | Injured | Shot by border guards |
16 | Sasan Mohammadi | Baneh | Marivan | 24 Apr | Injured | Shot by border guards |
17 | Taher Karimi | Paveh | Tateh, Hawraman, Marivan | 25 Apr | Injured | Shot by border guards |
18 | Mehran Bahrami | Saqqez | Baneh | 28 Apr | Injured | Shot by border guards |
19 | Parsa Hosseini | Paveh | Nowsud | 28 Apr | Injured | 16 years old, Shot by border guards |
20 | Sahand (surname unknown) | Paveh | Nowsud | 28 Apr | Injured | 16 years old, Shot by border guards |
21 | Nima Almasi | Salas-e Babajani | Nowsud | 29 Apr | Injured | Shot by border guards |
22 | Milad Rahimi | Baneh | Baneh | 29 Apr | Injured | 19 years old, Shot by border guards |
23 | Mohammad Mohammadi | Paveh | Nowsud | 29 Apr | Injured | Shot by border guards |
24 | Ayoub (surname unknown) | Javanrud | Nowsud | 29 Apr | Injured | Shot by border guards |
25 | Khalil Mohammadi | Salas-e Babajani | Nowsud | 29 Apr | Injured | Shot by border guards |
26 | Mahan Moradi | Javanrud | Nowsud | 29 Apr | Injured | 18 years old, Shot by border guards |
Detentions and arrests
Name | From | Detention location | Detention date | Activity | Location held and latest status | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Hawram Mehr-Navaei | Bukan | Bukan | 2 Apr | Civilian | |
2 | Faraj Arsan | Ilam | Ilam | 3 Apr | Civilian | |
3 | Kamran Badborout | Malekshahi, Ilam | Ilam | 3 Apr | Civilian | |
4 | Ramyar Mohammadzadeh | Piranshahr | Piranshahr | Early Apr | Civilian | |
5 | Moslem Jafari Ramashti | Khoy | Khoy | 4 Apr | Civilian | |
6 | Shwana Babakri | Oshnavieh | Oshnavieh | 4 Apr | Civilian | Taken to Oshnavieh Prison to serve 6 months in prison |
7 | Shafi Babakri | Oshnavieh | Oshnavieh | 4 Apr | Civilian | Taken to Oshnavieh Prison to serve 6 months in prison |
8 | Saleh Sakhavat | Oshnavieh | Oshnavieh | 4 Apr | Civilian | Taken to Oshnavieh Prison to serve 3 months in prison |
9 | Soran Bangini | Oshnavieh | Oshnavieh | 4 Apr | Civilian | Taken to Oshnavieh Prison to serve 3 months in prison |
10 | Hiva Sharifi | Oshnavieh | Oshnavieh | 4 Apr | Civilian | Taken to Oshnavieh Prison to serve 3 months in prison |
11 | Shahram Ebrahimi | Oshnavieh | Oshnavieh | 4 Apr | Civilian | Taken to Oshnavieh Prison to serve 3 months in prison |
12 | Shahin Ebrahimi | Oshnavieh | Oshnavieh | 4 Apr | Civilian | Taken to Oshnavieh Prison to serve 6 months in prison |
13 | Loghman Ghanbari | Sarpol-e Zahab | Sarpol-e Zahab | 7 Apr | Writer, translator | Released with a written undertaking after a day of interrogation in the detention center of IRGC Intelligence Organisation |
14 | Mostafa Hamdi | Saqqez | Saqqez | 7 Apr | Media activist, admin of Porseman Telegram group | |
15 | Rasoul Gallehban | Orumiyeh | Orumiyeh | 7 Apr | Kurdish journalist | Arrested after being summoned to cyber police |
16 | Kamal Lotfi | Dehgolan | Qorveh | 9 Apr | Father of killed protester Reza Lotfi | Arrested after being summoned to Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor's Office in Qorveh |
17 | Mohsen Ahmadi | Ilam | Ilam | 10 Apr | Civil rights activist | |
18 | Mousa Jalilian | Bukan | Bukan | 10 Apr | Civilian | |
19 | Pouria Safaei | Qorveh | Unknown | 10 Apr | Civilian | |
20 | Saman Oveysi | Mahabad | Mahabad | 11 Apr | Civilian | Arrested after being summoned to IRGC Intelligence Organization in Mahabad |
21 | Salman Olfati | Gilan-e Gharb | Gilan-e Gharb | 12 Apr | Retired teacher, civil rights activist | Arrested by the forces of the IRGC Intelligence Organization |
22 | Mohyeddin Maroufnia | Piranshahr | Piranshahr | 13 Apr | Civilian | Temporarily released on a bail of 10 billion rials on 17 April |
23 | Khadijeh Mehdipour | Ilam | Tehran | 16 Apr | Former political prisoner | Arrested by Morality Police on 16 April for wearing non-conforming clothing, released a few hour later |
24 | Mohsen Ghader-Rash | Miandoab | Miandoab | 17 Apr | Civilian | Arrested after being summoned to IRGC Intelligence Organization in Miandoab |
25 | Omid Ghadernezhad | Miandoab | Miandoab | 17 Apr | Civilian | Arrested after being summoned to IRGC Intelligence Organization in Miandoab |
26 | Mohsen Ahmadi Aghdam | Mahabad | Mahabad | 17 Apr | Civilian | |
27 | Rasoul Yousefi-Azar | Mahabad | Mahabad | 17 Apr | Civilian | |
28 | Hassan Yousefi-Azar | Mahabad | Mahabad | 17 Apr | Civilian | |
29 | Omid Shahdad | Sarvabad | Sarvabad | 18 Apr | Civilian | |
30 | Omar Hosseini | Sarvabad | Sarvabad | 18 Apr | Civilian | |
31 | Ali Hosseini | Sarvabad | Sarvabad | 18 Apr | Civilian | |
32 | Fakhraddin Modarresi | Oshnavieh | Oshnavieh | 20 Apr | Civilian | |
33 | Davoud Veysi | Saqqez | Saqqez | 23 Apr | Civilian | |
34 | Amir Firouzi | Saqqez | Saqqez | 23 Apr | Civilian | |
35 | Alireza Mohammadi Arshad | Piranshahr | Piranshahr | 24 Apr | Civilian | Taken to Naqadeh Prison to serve 3 years and 7 months of imprisonment. Initially sentenced to 6 years and 11 months in prison of which 3 years and 7 months are enforceable. |
36 | Esmaeil Tajalla | Piranshahr | Piranshahr | 24 Apr | Civilian | Taken to Naqadeh Prison to serve 3 years and 7 months of imprisonment. Initially sentenced to 6 years and 11 months in prison of which 3 years and 7 months are enforceable. |
37 | Hiva Mohammadi | Piranshahr | Piranshahr | 24 Apr | Civilian | Taken to Naqadeh prison to serve 2 years of imprisonment |
38 | Aram Khaledi-Nasab | Piranshahr | Piranshahr | 24 Apr | Civilian | Taken to Naqadeh Prison to serve 3 years and 7 months of imprisonment. Initially sentenced to 6 years and 11 months in prison of which 3 years and 7 months are enforceable. |
39 | Mohammad (Diako) Ebrahimi | Piranshahr | Piranshahr | 24 Apr | Civilian | Taken to Naqadeh prison to serve 5 years of imprisonment. Initally sentenced to 14 years in prison of which 5 years are enforceable. |
40 | Ehsan Golabi | Piranshahr | Piranshahr | 24 Apr | Civilian | Taken to Naqadeh prison to serve 5 years of imprisonment. Initally sentenced to 14 years in prison of which 5 years are enforceable. |
41 | Towfigh Mahmoudi | Sanandaj | Sanandaj | 25 Apr | Labour activist | Released after being summoned and interrogated for several hours by Ministry of Intelligence in Sanandaj |
42 | Tayyeb Chatani | Sanandaj | Sanandaj | 25 Apr | Labour activist | Released after being summoned and interrogated for several hours by Ministry of Intelligence in Sanandaj |
43 | Rafigh Karimi | Sanandaj | Sanandaj | 25 Apr | Labour activist | Released after being summoned and interrogated for several hours by Ministry of Intelligence in Sanandaj |
44 | Keyvan Rahimi | Saqqez | Saqqez | 28 Apr | Civil rights activist | |
45 | Khaled Ahmadi | Sanandaj | Sanandaj | 29 Apr | Member of Kurdistan Teachers' Union |
Sentences
Name | Resident of | Charged with | Date sentenced | Issuing court | Sentence | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Taregh Rahimpour | Sanandaj | Propaganda against the state, cooperation with one of the opposition Kurdish parties of the Iranian government | Early Apr | Branch One of the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Sanandaj | 3 years imprisonment |
2 | Majid Karimi | Sanandaj | Propaganda against the state | 4 Apr | Islamic Revolutionary Court in Sanandaj | 3 months imprisonment including previous detention days, which was then commuted into a fine |
3 | Bahman Naderi | Kermanshah | Propaganda against the state through the publication of a call on social networks to hold public protests on the anniversary of the uprising of Women Life Freedom | 15 Apr | Branch One of the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Kermanshah | 6 months imprisonment and payment of 80 million Rials fine |
4 | Amjad Salehzadeh | Saqqez | Propaganda activity against the Islamic Republic of Iran | 15 Apr | Branch One of the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Saqqez | 3 months imprisonment, which was commuted to a fine of 160 million Rials |
5 | Hossein Bourkeh | Piranshahr | Membership and cooperation with one of the opposition Kurdish parties of Iranian government | Mid Apr | Islamic Revolutionary Court in Mahabad | 3 years and 6 months imprisonment and 1 year exile to Orumiyeh |
6 | Soma Pour-Mohammadi | Sanandaj | Forming groups and factions with the intention of disrupting the security of the country | 20 Apr | Branch One of the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Sanandaj | 10 years of exile imprisonment in Kermanshah prison |
7 | Saman Yasin | Kermanshah | Assembly and collusion with the intention of committing a crime against the security of the country | 21 Apr | Branch 15 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Tehran | 5 years exile imprisonment in Babak prison in Kerman Province |
8 | Diyar Bakhtiari | Bukan | Carrying incendiary and explosive materials, disobeying the officers while performing their duty, disturbing public peace and order | 27 Apr | Branch 101 of Criminal Court Two in Bukan | 15 months and 11 days of imprisonment and 30 lashes |
9 | Matin Siyahi | Bukan | Carrying incendiary and explosive materials, disobeying the officers while performing their duty, disturbing public peace and order | 27 Apr | Branch 101 of Criminal Court Two in Bukan | 15 months and 11 days of imprisonment and 30 lashes |
10 | Soran Mahmoudi | Piranshahr | Membership and cooperation with one of the opposition Kurdish parties of Iranian government | Late Apr | Branch One of the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Mahabad | 3 years imprisonment |