Increased Pressure by the Islamic Republic on Kurdish Religious Figures in Iran

Reports indicate an increase in pressure on Kurdish religious figures in various cities following the death of Mahsa (Zhina) Amini and the public protests of 'Women, Life, Freedom.' According to the Hengaw Human Rights Organization, in the six months following the protests after Mahsa Amini's death, at least 16 Kurdish religious and clerical figures (Mawlawis) have been arrested in different cities, most of which are related to their support for the 'Women, Life, Freedom' protests and public demonstrations. The report states that since January 2023, twelve judicial sentences have been issued against these Kurdish religious activists, totaling over 54 years of imprisonment and 294 lashes. Hengaw reports that in the first six months of this year, at least 16 Mawlawis in various counties, including Piranshahr, Javanrud, Rapt, Sardasht, Baneh, and Sanandaj, have been arrested and tried by the governmental institutions of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The report indicates that the summons, threats, interrogations, and pressures faced by these 'Kurdish religious activists and Mawlawis' by governmental bodies are considered to be due to their 'support for public protests.' It also mentions that the trials of Sunni Mawlawis are conducted in special clerical courts by Shia clerics, where the defendants are deprived of minimum civil rights for fair proceedings, including the right to have a lawyer, and are not even given the right to defend 'based on the religious principles of these Mawlawis.' The Kurdistan Human Rights Association - Geneva has also recently published a report on human rights violations in Iranian Kurdistan. This report outlines the dire human rights situation in Kurdistan for the attention of the UN Special Rapporteur and human rights organizations. It also describes the systematic suppression of protests following Mahsa Amini's death, as well as the harassment, imprisonment, torture, execution, and indiscriminate killings of Kolbars. Additionally, see: The publication of the Kurdistan Human Rights Association - Geneva report; the continued arrests, torture, killings, and executions of Kurdish citizens. According to the annual report on 'International Religious Freedom' for 2022 prepared by the Office of International Religious Freedom of the U.S. Department of State and published in May of this year, the Iranian government's repression, violence, discrimination, and social stigmatization against members of the Baha'i community have intensified. Also see: The annual report on 'International Religious Freedom' regarding Iran; extensive restrictions imposed on minorities. Antony Blinken, the U.S. Secretary of State, emphasizing the 'sustained commitment' of the U.S. government to defend the right to religious freedom, stated that the United States stands with religious freedom activists and people whose religious rights are violated.