Ahmad Hassanzadeh is the father of Mohammad Hassanzadeh, a protester who was killed during the anti-government Women, Life, Freedom uprising in Bukan, West Azerbaijan Province, on 16 November 2022.
His family members have been summoned and arrested several times by the security services over the past two years.
Arrest
Hassanzadeh was arrested by security forces on a street in Bukan on 15 September 2024.
Defendant’s Rights
He was arrested without a warrant and was denied family visits and access to legal representation during his detention.
He was reportedly accused of “propaganda against the state” for allegedly inciting the Bukan businessmen and shop owner to participate in a strike on the second anniversary of the Women, Life, Freedom uprising.
Current Status
Hassanzadeh was released on bail from Bukan Prison on 17 September.
Additional Information
Ahmadzadeh and his daughter, Solmaz Hassanzadeh, were previously arrested by security forces in a raid on their home on 30 July 2024 as the family prepared to celebrate the birthday of his late son Mohammad.
Notes:
1. Mohammad Hassanzadeh was fatally stabbed during the Women, Life, Freedom protests in Bukan on 16 November 2022. While the security forces claimed to have arrested a person for his murder, the Hassanzadeh family dismissed this as a fabrication and held the security forces responsible for their son’s death.
2. Women, Life, Freedom Uprising: Jina Amini (Mahsa Amini), a 21-year-old Kurdish woman from Saqqez, Kurdistan Province, was arrested on a street in Tehran on 13 September 2022 by the morality police because of the way she was dressed. Shortly after her arrest, she was transferred to Kasra Hospital in Tehran with head injuries and symptoms of brain death, and passed away three days later on 16 September 2022. The government’s killing of Jina sparked unprecedented anti-government protests, which began with a large turnout at her funeral at Aichi Cemetery in Saqqez and quickly spread to many cities across Iran. These widespread protests against the Islamic Republic of Iran, which lasted for several months, resulted in at least 527 protesters being killed and thousands injured and arrested. The protests are known for their central slogan of “Women, Life, Freedom” (Kurdish: Jin, Jiyan, Azadi).
