On the fourteenth anniversary of the execution of Farzad Kamangar and three other Kurdish political activists by the Islamic Republic, at least eight civil and political activists were arrested in Kurdish cities. According to the Kurdistan Human Rights Network, Idris Haji-Rasoulpour, the brother of Mohammad Haji-Rasoulpour, who died during the 'Women, Life, Freedom' protests, was arrested on Thursday, May 20, by security forces in Boukan. On the same day, four residents of the village of Hajiabad in the Shahin Dezh district, named Rahman Khosravi, Osman Abasi, Shahram Soltani, and Heyman Alizadeh, were arrested after being beaten in their homes. On Wednesday, two civil activists named Ayoub Rasoulzadeh and Haji Barzeh were also arrested by security forces in Piranshahr and transferred to an unknown location. The Kurdistan Human Rights Network reported that there is no information available regarding the charges against these activists or their place of detention. Additionally, at 3 AM on Tuesday, Imam Abdullah Barzegar, the Friday prayer leader of the village of 'Kone Mashke,' was arrested by security forces and transferred to an unknown location. It is also noted that on Wednesday, May 19, was the fourteenth anniversary of the execution of Farzad Kamangar, a teacher and political activist, Shirin Ilam-Hooli, Ali Heydarian, and Farhad Vakili, who were accused of moharebeh (waging war against God) and membership in the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). According to human rights organizations, these four Kurdish activists were subjected to severe torture during their arrest and imprisonment, were sentenced to death in unfair trials, and were executed on Wednesday, May 19, 1389 (2010) without the knowledge of their lawyers and families in Evin Prison in Tehran. In Mordad 1398 (2019), the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances called for clarification of the burial locations of these individuals. Ali Aghil, a political activist, was transferred to Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad to serve a five-year sentence. Wafa Ahmadpour and Daniel Moghaddam, protesting rappers, were arrested. Zahra Fakour Sabour, accused of murder, was arrested; the case lawyer stated that the details are 'ethical and confidential.' An environmental activist was arrested in Sanandaj.
New Wave of Arrests of Kurdish Activists Coinciding with the Anniversary of the Execution of Farzad Kamangar and Three Other Political Activists
On the anniversary of the execution of Farzad Kamangar and three other Kurdish activists, at least eight activists were arrested in Kurdish regions of Iran. The arrests include family members of victims and civil society activists, highlighting ongoing repression in the region. This situation underscores the Iranian government's continued crackdown on dissent and human rights.
👥 Key Players
⚡ Actions
📰 What Happened
Iran arrests Kurdish activists on anniversary of executions of Farzad Kamangar and others.
- security forces arrest Idris Haji-Rasoulpour, Rahman Khosravi, Osman Abasi, Shahram Soltani, Heyman Alizadeh, Ayoub Rasoulzadeh, Haji Barzeh, Imam Abdullah Barzegar
- security forces arrest Ali Aghil, Wafa Ahmadpour, Daniel Moghaddam, Zahra Fakour Sabour
- Islamic Republic execute Farzad Kamangar, Shirin Ilam-Hooli, Ali Heydarian, Farhad Vakili
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The Iranian government continues to crack down on dissent, particularly among Kurdish activists.
📝 Key Evidence
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%