58 Individuals Summoned to Piranshahr Revolutionary Court; 20 Arrested in 5 Cities

The human rights organization "Hengaw" reported on Thursday, January 3, that "at least 58 citizens from the cities of Mahabad, Boukan, and Piranshahr" have been summoned to the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Piranshahr, and cases have been formed against them in recent days. This human rights organization noted that some of those summoned and charged are "family members of the victims of the 'Zan, Zindagi, Azadi' (Woman, Life, Freedom) movement," adding that these actions by the Iranian judicial system followed their attendance at a wedding ceremony. Hassan Farashti Shad, and Mohammad and Hassan Darafteh, members of the families of Amir Farashti Shad and Kumar Darafteh, who were victims of the protests against the killing of Mahsa Amini while in the custody of the morality police in 2022, were among those summoned. Hengaw, citing "an informed source," wrote: "The summons of these citizens came after photos of their collective presence in Kurdish attire and 'jamaneh' at a wedding ceremony were published." The organization pointed out that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had previously deemed the use of 'jamaneh' as a "symbol of Kurdish opposition parties" and prohibited its use during the Nowruz celebrations in 2022. According to the report, Mojtaba Mahmoudi, the prosecutor of Piranshahr, summoned the individuals on charges of "propaganda against the regime" (dancing, celebrating, and symbolism) at a wedding ceremony and for "widespread dissemination of it on social media." On the other hand, the Kurdistan Human Rights Network reported: "Faiq Qaderzadeh and Rasool Pourkhazari, two Kurdish citizens, were arrested by security forces in the cities of Mahabad and Oshnavieh and transferred to security detention centers in Urmia." These arrests occurred on Sunday, January 1, by the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence. This human rights organization noted that "with the arrest of these two individuals, the number of detainees in Kurdistan has reached at least 21 citizens and activists in the cities of Boukan, Oshnavieh, Piranshahr, Mahabad, and Kermanshah since the beginning of this month." The report indicates that the detainees have been transferred to security detention centers in Urmia and Kermanshah. Iranian officials have not yet commented on these types of security and judicial actions.