Shahabeddin Haghdar, a Kurdish political activist from Salmas in West Azerbaijan Province, has been detained to serve a prison sentence of 10 years and one day following the confirmation of his conviction by the Court of Appeal, the Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) has learned.
Haghdar, who resides in Orumiyeh, West Azerbaijan Province, was arrested by security forces at his family home on 5 October 2025 and taken to Orumiyeh Central Prison for the enforcement of his sentence.
“In September 2024, after several years of membership in one of the Kurdish opposition parties, this political activist returned from the Kurdistan Region [of Iraq] to Orumiyeh upon receiving a letter of safe conduct. A few days after his return, he was arrested by security forces and, seven days later, was temporarily released from Orumiyeh Central Prison on bail of 30 billion rials”, an informed source told the KHRN.
He was originally sentenced to 10 years and one day in prison by Branch One of the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Orumiyeh, presided over by Judge Najafzadeh, on charges including “acting against national security” through membership in Kurdish opposition parties. The ruling was later upheld by the Court of Appeal.
Haghdar is currently being held in the special security ward of Orumiyeh Central Prison, which houses political and religious prisoners.
