Security forces arrested Kurdish political activist Saman Karimi and his wife, Farzaneh Rashidi, nine days ago in Baneh, Kurdistan Province, and their whereabouts remain unknown.
The Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) has learned that Karimi was arrested on 25 May without a warrant while walking along a street in the city.
Security forces then raided his family home, searched the premises, confiscated several personal items, and arrested his wife.
Despite repeated efforts by the couple’s family to obtain information, security and judicial authorities have not disclosed their condition or whereabouts.
Karimi was previously arrested by the Intelligence Organisation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on 8 November 2018 and transferred to the Shahramfar detention facility of the security agency in Sanandaj, Kurdistan Province.
He was held there for three months, subjected to physical and psychological torture aimed at forcing a confession, before being moved to Sanandaj Central Prison.
On 12 November 2019, he was tried by Branch One of the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Sanandaj, charged with “armed insurrection” (baghi) through alleged membership of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI).
He was sentenced on 4 December 2019 to death and a further 11 years in prison.
Following an appeal, the Supreme Court overturned the verdict due to multiple due process violations and returned the case to the lower court.
On 4 March 2021, Karimi was released provisionally on bail of 15 billion rials (nearly 19,000 USD).
In July 2021, he was sentenced again — this time to four years in prison for “acting against national security” due to alleged PDKI membership, and one additional year for “propaganda against the state”.
Under Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, which allows for the consolidation of sentences, the longest sentence – four years – was implemented, and after considering time already served in detention, he was released from prison.
