Arrest 

Siavash Soltani, the son of Kobra Sheikheh Sagha, a protester killed during the anti-government uprising of Women, Life, Freedom in Mahabad, West Azerbaijan Province, was arrested on 3 September 2024 during a raid by security forces on his home. 

Defendant’s Rights 

During his detention, he was denied the right to meet with his family or to have access to legal representation. 

Current Status 

Soltani was released on bail after being detained for several days. 

Notes: 

1. Kobra Sheikheh Sagha, 52, was killed by gunfire from military-security forces on 27 October 2022 during protests that took place in Mahabad following the funeral of Simko Mowloudi, another slain protester.

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).