Kurdish Political Activist Residing in Iraqi Kurdistan Handed Over to Iranian Security Agencies

Two members of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan reported to Radio Farda that one of the detained members of this party in the Kurdistan region of Iraq has been handed over to the security agencies of the Islamic Republic. The two individuals, who wished to remain anonymous, stated on Friday, September 6, that Behzad Khosravi, a member of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan residing in Sulaymaniyah, was arrested by the security forces of the region about a week ago. According to them, Mr. Khosravi was subjected to 'torture' while in detention. They further reported that Behzad Khosravi was handed over to the security agencies of the Islamic Republic of Iran three days ago 'without informing the party of the reasons for his arrest and subsequent actions.' In late July of this year, the Iranian judiciary submitted a list to the Iraqi government, including about 120 leaders and members of Kurdish opposition parties based in the Kurdistan region, demanding their extradition. The request for the extradition of members of Kurdish parties opposing the Iranian government from Iraq comes as many offices and headquarters of these Iranian Kurdish opposition parties are located in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. Kazem Gharibabadi, Deputy for International Affairs of the Iranian Judiciary, described the individuals on this list as 'terrorists' and added that 'their trial will soon be held.' In recent years, pressure on Kurdish opposition parties based in the Kurdistan region of Iraq has not been limited to political pressure but has also included missile, drone, and artillery attacks on their headquarters. The largest of these attacks was the 2018 missile attack by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on the headquarters of the Democratic Party of Kurdistan in the Koy Sanjaq area, during which 15 members of the party's leadership and Peshmerga forces were killed. In March 2023, Iran and Iraq signed a security agreement under which Tehran gave Iraq until September 19, 2023, to disarm Iranian Kurdish parties based in the Kurdistan region and close their military camps.