For more of the latest Kurdish news, see these sources:

 

ANF English https://anfenglishmobile.com/

Esta https://esta.krd/en

HANA https://hana-hr.org/

Hawar News https://hawarnews.com/en/

Hengaw https://hengaw.net/en

HRA https://www.en-hrana.org

Iran Human Rights https://iranhr.net/en/

KHRN http://kurdistanhumanrights.org/en

KMMK https://kmmk-ge.org/

Kurdistan Press Agency https://kurdpa.net/en

Kurdistan24 https://www.kurdistan24.net/en

Rudaw https://www.rudaw.net/english

NEWS

  1. Murder of a Woman by Her Husband in Miandoab
  2. US does not expect change in Iran, following Pezeshkian election: Official
  3. Court in Iran convicts four Kurdish teachers for “anti-state propaganda”
  4. Political prisoners in Evin jail issue statement condemning death sentence against Sharifeh Mohammad
  5. IRGC besieges Kurdish village in Oshnavieh, at least one killed
  6. Hunger strike by 55 Iranian political detainees to support activist
  7. IHRNGO Calls for Urgent International Action to Free Sharifeh Mohammadi
  8. Iran border guards shoot dead kolbar, wound six others in Nowsud
  9. Pezeshkian wins presidential race in Iran
  10. Seivan Ebrahimi sentenced to an additional eight months in prison
  11. Summer forest fires threaten Kurdish areas in Iran
  12. Iranian law enforcement forces raid home, kill 18-year-old girl in Nurabad
  13. Queer, disabled community in Iran faces endless marginalization
  14. Iran overturns death sentence of rapper who participated in 2022 protests
  15. Kurdish woman detained in Iran for three weeks denied legal rights by IRGC
  16. Iranian Judiciary Sentences Five Christian Converts to Over Twenty-Five Years in Prison
  17. Iran to strengthen scientific and technological cooperation with Kurdistan Region
  18. Iran, Sweden reach breakthrough prisoner swap deal
  19. Hundreds of thousands of women joined feminist strike in Bern
  20. Iran sentences female cartoonist to 6 years in prison
  21. PJAK calls for self-organization amid wildfires
  22. Marriage strained by financial hardship, Iranian man sets self and wife on fire
  23. Iran border guards wound three kolbars in Kurdistan Province
  24. KNK condemns attacks on kolbars, calls on Iran to protect the lives of its citizens
  25. Sanandaj court sentences women’s rights activist to 21 years
  26. KJAR Congress: We will respond to the hopes and demands of women in East Kurdistan and Iran
  27. Ministry of Intelligence arrests five Kurdish activists over Newroz celebrations
  28. Iranian president and foreign minister died in helicopter crash, confirms state media
  29. 15 Female Bahá’i Adherents Sentenced to 75 Years Imprisonment in Total by Iranian Judiciary
  30. KHRN Stands with Queer Community Against Oppression, Discrimination

 

OPINION, COMMENTARY, ANALYSIS

  1. Hengaw Report: Armed Clash in Oshnavieh Results in Civilian and IRGC Casualties
  2. Joint Statement: Rights group appalled by Sweden’s release of convicted war criminal Hamid Nouri
  3. Iranian Prisons are Places of Relentless Suffering
  4. The Impact of late President Ebrahim Raisi’s Death on Human Rights and Accountability in Iran
  5. Four members of Nozhin socio-cultural association sentenced to eleven years prison sentences each

 

REPORTS

  1. Reports on human rights violations on Kurdish citizens and prisoners
  2. Hengaw’s Monthly Report on Women’s Rights Violations in Iran, June 2024
  3. IHRNGO Warns of New Wave of Post-Election Executions: at Least 249 Executions in 6 Months in Iran4. 83 Arrested in June 2024 by Iranian Security Forces
  4. Monthly Report of June 2024
  5. Monthly Report – June 2024: Human Rights Situation in Iran
  6. Comprehensive Report on Suicides in June 2024 in Kurdistan Provinces
  7. Monthly Report – May 2024: Human Rights Situation in Iran
  8. Monthly Report of May
  9. Amnesty International: Executions soar to the highest number in almost a decade

 

———————

 

NEWS

  1. Murder of a Woman by Her Husband in Miandoab

12 July 2024 | HANA

Samira Kashian, aged 25, was married and the mother of two young children. It is important to note that femicide occurs due to unequal power relations between men and women and the dominance of a patriarchal system.

https://hana-hr.org/content/20240713-murder-of-a-woman-by-her-husband-in-miandoab

 

  1. US does not expect change in Iran, following Pezeshkian election: Official

12 July 2024 | Rudaw

The United States does foresee a return to diplomatic discussions with Iran regarding the nuclear deal, a White House official told Rudaw, adding Washington does not anticipate major changes in Iranian behavior under new President Masoud Pezeshkian.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/world/12072024

 

  1. Court in Iran convicts four Kurdish teachers for “anti-state propaganda”

11 July 2024 | ANF

The Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) said that four members of the Kurdistan Teachers Union in Marivan, Aram Ghaderi, Aram Mohammadi, Tahsin Mostafa and Seyvan Soleymani, have been sentenced to four months in prison each by the Islamic Revolutionary Court in the city on charges of “propaganda against the state”.

https://anfenglishmobile.com/human-rights/-74216

 

  1. Political prisoners in Evin jail issue statement condemning death sentence against Sharifeh Mohammad

11 July 2024 | ANF

Sixteen political prisoners from Evin Prison have issued a statement condemning the death sentence imposed on Kurdish trade unionist Sharifeh Mohammadi and calling for its repeal.

https://anfenglishmobile.com/women/-74215

 

  1. IRGC besieges Kurdish village in Oshnavieh, at least one killed

11 July 2024 | KHRN

Forces from the Hamzeh Seyyed al-Shohada Headquarters of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) besieged the village of Tajandareh in Oshnavieh, West Azerbaijan Province, in the early hours of 9 July, engaging in a clash with a small group of Kurdish opposition party members.

https://kurdistanhumanrights.org/en/news/2024/07/11/irgc-besieges-kurdish-village-in-oshnavieh-at-least-one-killed

 

  1. Hunger strike by 55 Iranian political detainees to support activist

09 July 2024 | ANHA

The female political detainees in the infamous Evin Prison, located northwest of Tehran, are protesting the death sentence issued against activist Sharifa Mohammadi, who is imprisoned in Lakan Prison in Rasht. They have announced the start of their hunger strike in support of her.

https://hawarnews.com/en/hunger-strike-by-55-iranian-political-detainees-to-support-activist

 

  1. IHRNGO Calls for Urgent International Action to Free Sharifeh Mohammadi

09 July 2024 | IHR

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, Sharifeh Mohammadi was sentenced to death for baghy charges by Branch One of the Rasht Revolutionary Court on 4th July, a day prior to the second round of the presidential elections in Iran. https://iranhr.net/en/articles/6779/

 

  1. Iran border guards shoot dead kolbar, wound six others in Nowsud

08 July 2024 | KHRN

Iranian border guards in Kermanshah Province opened fire on a group of kolbars in the Nowsud border area this morning, killing one kolbar and wounding six others…

https://kurdistanhumanrights.org/en/news/2024/07/08/iran-border-guards-shoot-dead-kolbar-wound-six-others-in-nowsud

 

  1. Pezeshkian wins presidential race in Iran

06 July 2024 | ANF

Tabriz MP and former Minister of Health, Masoud Pezeshkian, has won Iran’s presidential election run-off against hardline conservative Saeed Jalili, the Interior Ministry announced. An official vote count put Pezeshkian as the winner with 16.3m ballots to Jalili’s 13.5m.

https://anfenglishmobile.com/news/-74139

 

  1. Seivan Ebrahimi sentenced to an additional eight months in prison

05 July 2024 | Kurdpa

On 2 July 2024, Seivan Ebrahimi started serving an eight month prison sentence in Sanandaj prison on the charge of “propaganda activities against state” issued by ‌Branch 4 of Sanandaj Revolutionary Court of appeals.

https://kurdpa.net/en/news/2024/07/1

 

  1. Summer forest fires threaten Kurdish areas in Iran

01 July 2024 | Rudaw

A massive fire has been raging in forests near Marivan in predominantly Kurdish areas of western Iran (Rojhelat) since Friday, despite continued efforts from environmentalist groups to bring the blaze under control.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/iran/01072024

 

  1. Iranian law enforcement forces raid home, kill 18-year-old girl in Nurabad

27 June 2024 | ANF

Law enforcement forces raided the home of civilian Shokr-Reza Rahmani in the village of Guyzheh in Nurabad, Lorestan Province, on 20 June and killed his 18-year-old daughter, Raziyeh Rahmani, by shooting her in the head, the Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) reported.

https://anfenglishmobile.com/kurdistan/-73998

 

  1. Queer, disabled community in Iran faces endless marginalization

26 June 2024 | Rudaw

Puria* has battled overwhelming discrimination his entire life on account of his sexual identity, but his hardships were aggravated one fateful night in 2020 after an accident left him disabled, turning his life in Iran into a “living hell.”

https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/iran/26062024

 

  1. Iran overturns death sentence of rapper who participated in 2022 protests

22 June 2024 | Rudaw

The Iranian Supreme Court on Saturday overturned the death sentence of Toomaj Salehi, a dissident rapper who was arrested in the wake of the 2022 nationwide protests.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/iran/22062024

 

  1. Kurdish woman detained in Iran for three weeks denied legal rights by IRGC

20 June 2024 | ANF

The Kurdish woman was arrested without a warrant on 30 May during a raid on her family’s home in Bukan, West Azerbaijan Province, and taken to the IRGC’s Intelligence Organisation detention facility in Orumiyeh, West Azerbaijan Province.

https://anfenglishmobile.com/women/-73873

 

  1. Iranian Judiciary Sentences Five Christian Converts to Over Twenty-Five Years in Prison

19 June 2024 | Hengaw

Five Christian converts named Nasrollah Mousavi, Bijan Gholizadeh, Hamid Afzali, Iman Salehi, and Zohrab Shahbazi have been collectively sentenced to 25 years and 9 months in prison by the judiciary of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

https://hengaw.net/en/news/2024/06/article-53

 

  1. Iran to strengthen scientific and technological cooperation with Kurdistan Region

16 June 2024 | K24

Ehsan Sheikhoun, representative of the International Cooperation Center of the Iranian Ministry of Science, Research and Technology on Sunday told the Iranian official news agency IRNA that “They intend to utilize their diplomatic capabilities to enhance scientific and technological endeavors.

https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/35427-Iran-to-strengthen-scientific-and-technological-cooperation-with-Kurdistan-Region

 

  1. Iran, Sweden reach breakthrough prisoner swap deal

15 June 2024 | Rudaw

In a prisoner swap on Saturday, Sweden released a high-ranking Iranian official sentenced to life for war crimes during the 1980s Iran-Iraq war, while Iran released two Swedes. The agreement was mediated by Oman.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/world/150620242

 

  1. Hundreds of thousands of women joined feminist strike in Bern

15 June 2024 | ANF

Hundreds of thousands of women took part in the 2024 feminist strike in Switzerland. Collectives and unions called for the demonstrations, and the demands focused on equal pay, minimum wages and a living wage pension.

https://anfenglishmobile.com/women/-73789

 

  1. Iran sentences female cartoonist to 6 years in prison

12 June 2024 | ANF

Cartoonist Atena Farghadani, who is on trial at Branch 26 of Tehran’s Revolutionary Court, was charged with ‘insulting sacred values’ and ‘propagating against the state’. On 9 June, the court sentenced the cartoonist to five years in prison for ‘insult’ and one year in prison for ‘propaganda’.

https://anfenglishmobile.com/women/-73744

 

  1. PJAK calls for self-organization amid wildfires

11 June 2024 | ANHA

With the arrival of summer, various forests and plains in E. Kurdistan are once again susceptible to wildfires, with hidden hands behind them. Therefore, there is a need for grassroots self-organization to control these fires and protect the environment.

https://hawarnews.com/en/pjak-calls-for-self-organization-amid-wildfires

 

  1. Marriage strained by financial hardship, Iranian man sets self and wife on fire

07 June 2024 | Rudaw

Shahin Gawelli sought refuge at her mother’s house from time to time, looking for an escape from her marital difficulties, which were aggravated by her husband’s unemployment and financial struggles. Eventually she decided to file for divorce, a decision that led to her being murdered.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/iran/07062024

 

  1. Iran border guards wound three kolbars in Kurdistan Province

05 June 2024 | KHRN

Three kolbars, identified as Parviz Ghaderi, Mozaffar Asad-Rokh, and Salah (surname unknown), have been wounded in recent days by gunfire from border guards in the border areas of Baneh, Sarvabad and Marivan in Kurdistan Province…

https://kurdistanhumanrights.org/en/news/2024/06/05/iran-border-guards-wound-three-kolbars-in-kurdistan-province

 

  1. KNK condemns attacks on kolbars, calls on Iran to protect the lives of its citizens

31 May 2024 | ANF

The Executive Council of the Kurdistan National Congress (KNK) released a statement denouncing the Iranian regime’s never-ending attacks against kolbars (Kurdish load carriers in the border region).

https://anfenglishmobile.com/kurdistan/-73539

 

  1. Sanandaj court sentences women’s rights activist to 21 years

27 May 2024 | KHRN

Zhina Modares Gorji, a journalist and women’s rights activist, has been sentenced to a total of 21 years in prison by Branch One of the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Sanandaj, Kurdistan Province, the Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) has learned.

https://kurdistanhumanrights.org/en/news/2024/05/27/sanandaj-court-sentences-womens-rights-activist-to-21-years

 

  1. KJAR Congress: We will respond to the hopes and demands of women in East Kurdistan and Iran

24 May 2024 | ANF

The East Kurdistan Women’s Community (KJAR) held its 4th Congress between 7-9 May with the participation of delegates from all areas of Kurdistan. At the congress, six main agendas were discussed in detail…

https://anfenglishmobile.com/women/-73426

 

  1. Ministry of Intelligence arrests five Kurdish activists over Newroz celebrations

21 May 2024 | KHRN

The Ministry of Intelligence arrested Hazhar Mahmoudi, the manager of the Shnoyakam Instagram page, along with four collaborators, after summoning them in Oshnavieh, West Azerbaijan Province, on 20 May.

https://kurdistanhumanrights.org/en/news/2024/05/21/ministry-of-intelligence-arrests-five-kurdish-activists-over-newroz-celebrations

 

  1. Iranian president and foreign minister died in helicopter crash, confirms state media

20 May 2024 | ANF

Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi (known as ‘the Butcher of Tehran’) has died in a helicopter crash in foggy weather in the mountains near the border with Azerbaijan, Iranian state media has reported. Foreign minister Hossein Amir-abdollahian was also among those killed.

https://anfenglishmobile.com/news/-73353

 

  1. 15 Female Bahá’i Adherents Sentenced to 75 Years Imprisonment in Total by Iranian Judiciary

18 May 2024 | Hengaw

Fifteen Baháʼí women residing in Isfahan have been sentenced by the judicial system of the Islamic Republic of Iran to five years of imprisonment each, totaling 75 years of imprisonment. These individuals were also subjected to social deprivation and monetary fines.

https://hengaw.net/en/news/2024/05/article-57

 

  1. KHRN Stands with Queer Community Against Oppression, Discrimination

17 May 2024 | KHRN

The International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia, 17 May, serves as a reminder of the history of oppression and violence faced by queer individuals in many societies and countries, where their gender identity and sexual orientation have been pathologised and criminalized.

https://kurdistanhumanrights.org/en/news/rights/lgbt-rights/2024/05/17/khrn-stands-with-queer-community-against-oppression-discrimination

 

 

OPINION, COMMENTARY, ANALYSIS

Hengaw Report: Armed Clash in Oshnavieh Results in Civilian and IRGC Casualties

  1. 11 July 2024 | Hengaw

Three days after the armed clash in a border village of Oshnavieh (Shno), Hengaw has obtained new information. According to this information, one civilian has lost their life, another civilian has been injured and detained, and at least three IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) members have been killed or wounded.

https://hengaw.net/en/news/2024/07/article-39

 

  1. Joint Statement: Rights group appalled by Sweden’s release of convicted war criminal Hamid Nouri

25 June 2024 | Kurdpa

Iran’s blatant strategy of hostage diplomacy continues to yield benefits, encouraging more kidnappings and unjust imprisonments.

https://kurdpa.net/en/news/2024/06/1

 

  1. Iranian Prisons are Places of Relentless Suffering

04 June 2024 | HRANA

Iran’s prisons are harrowing places where abuse and neglect are rampant. The following report is based on testimonies from former and current incarcerated individuals in Iran.

https://www.en-hrana.org/statements/iranian-prisons-are-places-of-relentless-suffering/?hilite=Iran

 

  1. The Impact of late President Ebrahim Raisi’s Death on Human Rights and Accountability in Iran

31 May 2024 | Kurdpa

Today on Thursday, May 30th, a number of members of the UN General Assembly expressed their condolences to late President Ebrahim Raisi, who died in an helicopter accident on May 19th.

https://kurdpa.net/en/news/2024/05/3

 

  1. Four members of Nozhin socio-cultural association sentenced to eleven years prison sentences each

22 May 2024 | Kurdpa

‘Front line defenders’ condemns the targetting of members of Nozhin association and the sentencing of human rights defenders Soma Pourmohammadi, Serveh Pourmohammadi, Seivan Ebrahimi and Edris Menbari, as it believes it is in retaliation of their peaceful and legitimate human rights work in Iran.

https://kurdpa.net/en/news/2024/05/2

 

 

REPORTS

  1. Reports on human rights violations on Kurdish citizens and prisoners

12 July 2024 | KMMK

KMMK released its annual reports on on various human rights violations: 1171 detained, 208 executed and 341 extra-junicial executiobs and injuring.

https://www.kmmk-ge.org/

 

  1. Hengaw’s Monthly Report on Women’s Rights Violations in Iran, June 2024

04 July 2024 | Hengaw

…in June, 8 female activists were arrested, and 2 were sentenced to prison by the judicial system of Islamic Republic of Iran. Furthermore, there were at least 15 cases of femicide recorded across various Iranian cities last month.

https://hengaw.net/en/reports-and-statistics-1/2024/07/article-4

 

  1. IHRNGO Warns of New Wave of Post-Election Executions: at Least 249 Executions in 6 Months in Iran

03 July 2024 | IHR

At least 249 people, including ten women, were executed in the first six months of 2024. Amongst the executed are 35 Baluch minorities and 15 Afghan nationals. 147 of the recorded executions were for drug-related charges, a 30% decrease compared to the same period last year.

https://iranhr.net/en/articles/6773/

 

  1. 83 Arrested in June 2024 by Iranian Security Forces

02 July 2024 | Hengaw

According to data compiled by the Statistics and Documents Center of the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, a total of 83 individuals were arrested by security forces throughout Iran in June 2024. The highest number of arrests was among Kurds, with 29 cases recorded.

https://hengaw.net/en/reports-and-statistics-1/2024/07/article-3

 

  1. Monthly Report of June 2024

01 July 2024 | KHRN

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.

https://kurdistanhumanrights.org/en/news/2024/07/01/monthly-report-of-june-2024

 

  1. Monthly Report – June 2024: Human Rights Situation in Iran

01 July 2024 | HRANA

HRA’s Statistics Department has released its monthly report for June 2024, highlighting ongoing human rights violations across Iran. This month, 8 individuals were executed, all men, with only 1 execution officially reported.

https://www.en-hrana.org/monthly-report-june-2024-human-rights-situation-in-iran/?hilite=Iran

 

  1. Comprehensive Report on Suicides in June 2024 in Kurdistan Provinces

26 June 2024 | HANA

According to reports from the Hana Human Rights Organization, at least 23 Kurdish citizens from various cities and villages in the Kurdistan provinces committed suicide in June 2024.

https://hana-hr.org/content/20240713-comprehensive-report-on-suicides-in-june-2024-in-kurdistan-provinces

 

  1. Monthly Report – May 2024: Human Rights Situation in Iran

03 June 2024 | HRANA

HRA’s Statistics Department has released its monthly report for May 2024, revealing a concerning surge in human rights violations throughout Iran. This month witnessed the execution of 64 individuals, comprising 57 men and 3 women and includes 1 juvenile offender.. .

https://www.en-hrana.org/monthly-report-may-2024-human-rights-situation-in-iran/?hilite=Iran

 

  1. Monthly Report of May

01 June 2024 | KHRN

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.

https://kurdistanhumanrights.org/en/news/2024/06/01/monthly-report-of-may-2024

 

  1. Amnesty International: Executions soar to the highest number in almost a decade

29 May 2024 | ANF

Amnesty International released its annual report on the global use of death penalty, and said that “executions soared to their highest number in almost a decade in 2023 with a sharp rise across the Middle East.”

https://anfenglishmobile.com/human-rights/-73506