In its monthly reports, the Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) highlights cases of human rights violations in Kurdistan and violations of the rights of Kurdish civilians in different regions and cities across Iran.

This report includes all cases recorded and reported by KHRN from across Iran through its own sources and verification mechanisms from 1 August to 31 August.

The restrictive environment for independent human rights organisations in Iran, coupled with the pressures faced by individuals subjected to human rights violations and their families, make it difficult to publish accurate and comprehensive reports.

It is therefore important to note that the statistics and information presented in this report do not cover all cases of human rights violations. This report is the result of examining news and reports published by the KHRN and fact-checking of reports published by other human rights organisations and news websites.

Executions

According to KHRN’s findings, Iran executed at least 14 prisoners in August, including Reza Rasaei, a 35-year-old Kurdish Yarsani civilian who was arrested during the Women, Life, Freedom anti-government uprising.

The political prisoner was executed on 6 August and his family and lawyer were not informed in advance, nor was he allowed a final meeting with his family.

The remaining 13 prisoners were executed on drug or murder charges.

*Explanation: The KHRN, recognizing the fundamental right to life, publishes and records news and execution statistics without regard to the ethnic background of individuals and the location of the execution. All cases reported to the organisation by credible sources are published after thorough fact-checking.

Femicide

On 26 August, an 18-year-old woman, Mobina Zeynivand, was killed by her father in the village of Gorz-e Langar in Darreh Shahr, Ilam Province.

Zeynivand’s 56-year-old father killed his daughter and surrendered to the judicial authorities, citing “family disputes” as the reason for the murder. She was reportedly killed for trying to marry the person she loved.

Kolbars and tradesmen

In August, at least two kolbars were killed and nine injured by gunfire from Iranian border and security forces.

Additionally, one kolbar was injured due to falling from border heights in Marivan, Kurdistan Province.

Detentions and arrests

Over the past month, Iranian forces arrested at least 17 individuals, including activists and religious figures.

At least four of the detained civilians were sent to Naqadeh, Orumiyeh, Mahabad and Bukan prisons to serve sentences.

Sentences

In August, Iranian courts sentenced at least five people to prison terms ranging from six months to eight years and 10 months.

Executions

NameFromCharged withExecution dateExecution locationExplanation
1Reza (Gholamreza) RasaeiSahnehInvolvement in intentional murder, involvement in the intentional infliction of non-fatal injuries, demonstrating strength with a knife, disrupting public order by creating chaos and commotion6 AugDizel Abad Prison, Kermanshah35 years old, executed without informing his family or lawyer, and without the right to a final visit
2Foroud GeravandKuhdashtDrugs, premeditated murder7 AugGhezel Hesar Prison in Karaj50 years old, arrested and sentenced to death in 2015
3Mohammad GholamiKuhdashtDrugs7 AugGhezel Hesar Prison in Karaj
4Esmaeil SharafiKuhdashtDrugs7 AugGhezel Hesar Prison in Karaj
5Shahab MalekiHarsinDrugs7 AugGhezel Hesar Prison in Karaj
6Nasser GeravandKuhdashtDrugs10 AugParsiloun Prison in Khorramabad
7Peyman Allah-VeysiSanandajPremeditated murder15 AugSanandaj Central Prison37 years old, arrested 5 years ago
8Nasser ShafieiTakabPremeditated murder15 AugKaraj Central PenitentiaryResident of Tehran, arrested and sentenced to death about 4 years ago on the charge of "premeditated murder" of his wife
9Reza Zard-KouhiSabzevarDrugs15 AugSabzevar Prison31 years old
10Mohammad KaramizadehKuhdashtPremeditated murder19 AugGhezel Hesar Prison in Karaj37-year-old father of one, arrested and sentenced to death in 2014, his death sentence was commuted to 30 years in prison in 2018
11Mohammad DaghestaniOrumiyehDrugs21 AugMidandoab Central Prison
12Mohammad Khaled JahangiriOrumiyehDrugs22 AugTabriz Central PrisonFather of 2 children from the village of Balu in Orumiyeh
13Meysam Hossein-KhaniKuhdashtPremeditated murder28 AugParsiloun Prison in KhorramabadArrested 3 years ago
14Sirvan AboubakriSardashtPremeditated murder29 AugMahabad Central PrisonFather of one from the village of Baveh in Sardasht

Femicide

NameIncident locationIncident dateExplanation
1Mobina ZeynivandGorz-e Langar village, Darreh Shahr, Ilam26 AugA 56-year-old man killed his 18-year-old daughter and surrendered to judicial authorities, mentioning "family disputes" as the reason for the murder. It is said that she was killed because of her attempt to marry the person she loved.

Kolbars and tradesmen

NameFromIncident locationIncident dateDead/InjuredExplanation
1Rizgar KhalkaniSardashtBaneh8 AugInjuredShot by border guards
2Hawreh MoradiSaqqezBaneh8 AugInjuredShot by border guards
3Diako FattahiSaqqezBaneh8 AugInjuredShot by border guards
4Kamal DastvanehSaqqezBaneh8 AugInjuredShot by border guards
5Kamal (surname unknown)SaqqezBaneh8 AugInjuredShot by border guards
6Ali RasouliMahabadSardasht11 AugKilledShot by border guards
7Mokhtar AbdollahiBanehBaneh12 AugInjuredShot by security forces
8Mahmoud (surname unknown)BanehBaneh18 AugInjuredShot by security forces
9Hamid AhmadiDivandarrehBaneh18 AugInjuredShot by border guards
10Salah FarajiBanehBaneh20 AugInjuredShot by border guards
11Kiyoumars of RastkhanehMarivanMarivan21 AugInjuredFell from height
12Asaad EspandarSardashtBaneh30 AugKilledShot by border guards

Detentions and arrests

NameFromDetention locationDetention dateActivityLocation held and latest status
1Rebwar (Reza) YasamaniNaqadehNaqadeh1 AugCivilian
2Taha RasoulianPiranshahrPiranshahr3 AugCivil rights activistTaken to Naqadeh prison to serve three years and seven months
3Sorayya GheytaranPiranshahrPiranshahr3 AugCivilianTaken to Orumiyeh prison to serve nine months
4Edris MoradiRavansarRavansar3 AugFormer political prisoner
5Maryam RostamiIlamIlam5 AugCivilian
6Saman MirzaeiSanandajSanandaj8 AugCivilian
7Mohsen AjiPiranshahrPiranshahr11 AugCivilian
8Salam KhezrnezhadPiranshahrPiranshahr12 AugCivilian
9Rahman GhaderiPiranshahrPiranshahr12 AugCivilian
10Samad ShaboeiOshnaviehOrumiyeh12 AugCivilian
11Arya YousefiBukanOrumiyeh13 Aug18-year-old civilian, the son of former political prisoner Fatemeh Dadvand
12Galawezh Mohammadi-ArshadMahabadMahabad14 AugCivilian
13Mokhtar AsadiSanandajSanandaj18 AugKurdistan Teachers' Union Activist
14Omid FarajiMarivanMarivan18 AugCivilian
15Soleyman SalekMahabadMahabad24 Aug71-year-old civilianTaken to Mahabad prison to serve 10 years
16Ali BahramiMarivanMarivan25 AugImam of Ney village in MarivanArrested after returning from Iraqi Kurdistan, released a few hours later
17Matin HassaniBukanBukan26 AugProtester who suffered eye damage during the 2019 protestsTaken to Bukan prison to serve 31 months

Sentences

NameResident ofCharged withDate sentencedIssuing courtSentenceExplanation
1Hekmat AmiriDehgolanPropaganda against the state, collaboration with hostile groupsEarly AugIslamic Revolutionary Court in Dehgolan6 months imprisonment and 36 months suspended imprisonment
2Mozhgan KavousiKelardasht, MazandaranAssembly and collusion against the security of the country, insulting the leader, propaganda against the stateMid AugBranch Two of Islamic Revolutionary Court in Sari1 year imprisonment in the form of open sentence
3Mashallah KaramiKarajacquiring wealth through illegitimate means, involvement in money laundering, fines and confiscation of property17 AugBranch 102 of Criminal Court Two in Nazarabad, Karaj8 years and 10 months imprisonment and supplementary punishments
4Abdollah SharifzadehSaqqezPropaganda against the Islamic Republic of Iran in favor of a Kurdish opposition party of the Iranian government17 AugBranch One of the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Saqqez10 months imprisonment
5Saber Khoda-MoradiSaqqezPropaganda against the state Late AugSpecial Clerical Court in Hamadan15 months imprisonment