Kurdistan Human Rights Network

Investigations carried out by the Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) show that many Kurdish civilians and activists from Iran have become victims of human rights violations in August 2022.

The followings are the detailed information collected by the KHRN statistics and documentation centre regarding these violations.

Executions

In August, Iran executed a prisoner in Arak Central Prison, Markazi province, over drug-related charges.

This is the only execution case in the past month on which the Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) has been informed through its sources. But the number of those executed is likely to be higher.

Femicide

Throughout the past month, one woman was killed by her husband and another by her family members.

Kolbars and tradesmen

In August, forces of the Border Guard Command and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) killed at least seven kolbars and injured 14 others, including a 16-year-old boy, in the country’s western border areas.

In addition, two kolbars, including a 17-year-old boy, were injured in two separate landmine explosions in the Hangeh-ye Zhal border area in Baneh, Kurdistan province.

Also, on 27 August, a young tradesman from Nowdesheh, Kermanshah province, identified as Majed Mohammadi-Motlagh, 30, was injured after the police opened fire on his car.

Landmine explosions

In the past month, four civilians, including two kolbars, were injured by landmine blasts and another civilian was killed due to the explosion of the remnants of Iran-Iraq war.

Detentions and arrests

Throughout August, Iranian forces detained at least 41 people in Iranian Kurdistan. These were reported to be six activists and 35 civilians.

At least seven of these people were jailed to serve prison sentences.

Prison sentences

In August, Iranian courts sentenced nine people to prison sentences varying from five months to 16 years.

Worker accidents

At least eight workers from Iranian Kurdistan died in work accidents throughout August.

While seven of these incidents took place across cities in Iran, one worker lost his life falling from a building in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

Iran banned commemoration of PJAK senior member

On 6 August, the former co-chair of the Democratic and Free Society of Eastern Kurdistan (Kodar) and a member of the executive committee of the Kurdistan Free Life Party (PJAK), Yousef Rabbani (also known as Rezan Javid) lost his life during a joint operation by Iranian and Turkish intelligence agencies in the city of Qamishlo in Syrian Kurdistan (also known as Rojava), in northeast Syria. He was targeted by the drones of the Turkish army.

Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and the Intelligence Organisation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) prohibited the continuation of the memorial service held for Rabbani by his family in Mahabad, West Azerbaijan province.

Kurdish woman prisoner attempted suicide

On 18 August, a Kurdish woman prisoner named Saada Khedirzadeh who had given birth to her child in prison attempted to commit suicide in protest against the ongoing uncertainty regarding her case and pressure of the security agencies on the women’s ward of Orumiyeh Central Prison.

A few days after her suicide attempt, Iranian state-affiliated Mizan News Agency aired a video of her confession, in which she denied committing suicide. Human rights organisations view the broadcast of these forced confessions as the continuation of the pressure on Khedirzadeh and her child in prison.

Executions

Femicide

Kolbars and tradesmen

Landmine explosions

Detentions and arrests

Prison sentences

Worker accidents