Arrest

Hiwa Bahin, a Kurdish civilian from Bukan, West Azerbaijan Province, was arrested on 24 November 2024 after being summoned by the Ministry of Intelligence office in the city and taken to the Ministry’s detention facility in Orumiyeh, West Azerbaijan Province.

After spending several days at the detention facility, he was sent to Bukan Prison.

During his detention, he was denied the right to family visits and legal representation.

Judicial Process

Bahin was tried in late December 2024 at Branch 101 of the Criminal Court Two in Bukan on charges of “propaganda against the state”.

On 15 January 2025, the court sentenced him to six months of imprisonment.

Current Status

On 26 February 2025, Bahin was summoned to the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office in Bukan to begin serving the sentence. Following the summons, he was taken into custody and transferred to the city prison.

Notes:

1. Article 500 of the Islamic Penal Code: “Anyone who engages in propaganda activities against the Islamic Republic of Iran or in favour of groups and organisations opposing the state, in any manner, shall be sentenced to imprisonment for a period of three months to one year.”