Kurdistan Human Rights Network

A 37-year-old kolbar, Siamand Hassanpour, from Sardasht in West Azerbaijan Province, has died from injuries sustained during a chase by border guards in the Qandil Mountains, the Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) has learned. Hassanpour was attempting to carry goods across the mountainous border region last week when he was chased by Iranian border guards. During the chase, he fell and was seriously injured.  The father...

Susan Hassanzadeh, a civil rights activist and Kurdish language teacher, has been sentenced to three months in prison by Branch 101 of the Second Criminal Court in Bukan, West Azerbaijan Province, on charges of "propaganda against the state". Hassanzadeh, who was also charged with "membership of opposition groups", was acquitted of this charge.  The activist's trial took place on 8 October without the presence of her...

Iranian authorities have executed five prisoners, including four convicted of drug-related charges and one for “premeditated murder”, in Orumiyeh Central Prison and Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj, the Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) has learned. Asaad Farhang, a father of three from Saqqez, Kurdistan Province, was transferred to solitary confinement in Orumiyeh Central Prison on 9 October, and executed at dawn on 10 October. On 10...

Mehrshad Almasi, a 20-year-old civilian from Kermanshah, Kermanshah Province, was fatally shot by police during a chase near Tagh Bostan Square in the city on 8 October. The Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) has learned that Almasi, who was riding a motorbike, was chased by a police patrol after he tried to evade the officers out of fear that his motorbike would be confiscated.  The officers...

Iranian authorities today executed Borhan Ansari, a prisoner from Orumiyeh, West Azerbaijan Province, on drug-related charges in Orumiyeh Central Prison, the Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) has learned. Ansari was transferred to solitary confinement on 9 October alongside another prisoner, whose identity remains unknown, in preparation for execution. While Ansari was executed today, the fate of the second prisoner remains unclear. This latest execution comes as KHRN...