For all of the latest Kurdish news, see these sources:
ANF English: https://anfenglishmobile.com/
Hawar News: https://hawarnews.com/en/
Rojava Information Center: https://rojavainformationcenter.com
Women Defend Rojava: http://womendefendrojava.net/en/
Rojhelat: http://rojhelat.info/en/
Rojava Centre for Strategic Studies
Komun Academy:
CHRI
https://www.iranhumanrights.org/
Iran Human Rights
Kurdistan Press Agency
http://kurdistanhumanrights.org/en
KMMK
Hengaw
https://hengaw.net/en
NEWS
1. Activists in Oslo protest the governments of Iran and Turkey
2. IRGC intelligence forces arrest Kurdish woman activist in Tehran
3. The execution of the martyrs on 9th May was revenge against the peoples of Iran and East Kurdistan.
4. 27 Kurdish citizens arrested by Iranian security services in past two weeks
5. IRGC officer killed by Kurdish fighters in skirmish
6. An Explosion of landmine killed two residents of Kermashan
7. 18 Kolbars and local tradesmen killed and wounded in April 2021
8. Sanandaj; Detention of two citizens by security forces
9. Iranian foreign minister meets with Kurdistan Region PM in Erbil
10. Five kolbars injured by Iranian Border Guards in Marivan region
11. The number arrested civil activists in Sanandaj were reached four
12. Kurdistan disputes video claiming coronavirus vaccines were smuggled to Iran
13. Two members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps killed during clashes with Kurdish Opposition Forces on the borders of Marivan
14. Iran, Egypt lead Middle East in executions in 2020
OPINION
1. Outdated U.S. Policies Are Helping Iran Censor Its Citizens (Commentary Published in Foreign Policy)
2. UN to Iran: Grave Concerns for Jailed Dissident Mohammad Nourizad
3. Labor Day in Iran: Listen to the People’s Demands for Basic Rights
4. Iran-US talks should not negatively impact the Kurds: KRG Envoy
5. If a woman becomes the next president of Iran!
REPORTS
1. April monthly report: executions, killing of civilians, shooting kolbars, arrests continue in Iran
2. Selection from Annual Report 2020 (Iran Human Rights)
3. Movements promoting Abolition and Mobilising the Civil Society inside Iran
4. Policy Briefing: Internet Freedom Stymied by Iranians’ Lack of Access to Tech Products
———————-
NEWS
1. Activists in Oslo protest the governments of Iran and Turkey
09 May 2021 | ANF News
The attacks of the invading Turkish state against Kurdistan and the executions carried out in Iran were protested in Oslo. The action organized by NCDK Oslo and PJAK begun in front of Oslo’s central station with a minute silence.
https://anfenglish.com/news/activists-in-oslo-protest-the-governments-of-iran-and-turkey-51915
2. IRGC intelligence forces arrest Kurdish woman activist in Tehran
07 May 2021 | KHRN
Civil rights activist Viyan Mohammadi has been arrested on 30 April by the Intelligence Organisation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) at her home in Tehran… Despite repeated family pursuits in recent days, no information has yet been obtained as to why the Kurdish activist was detained.
https://kurdistanhumanrights.org/en/irgc-intelligence-forces-arrest-kurdish-woman-in-tehran/
3. The execution of the martyrs on 9th May was revenge against the peoples of Iran and East Kurdistan.
07 May 2021 | Rojhelat
The execution and martyrdom of «Farzad Kamangar, Shirin Alam Holi, Ali Heydarian and Farhad Vakili» in May, it became a symbol of resistance for the complete freedom of the Kurdish nation, and the nations under oppression of Iran, and is the true beginning of the appearance struggle for human truth.
http://rojhelat.info/en/?p=10498
4. 27 Kurdish citizens arrested by Iranian security services in past two weeks
06 May 2021 | Hengaw
According to statistics recorded by the Statistics and Documentation Data Center of Hengaw Human Rights Organization, during the past two weeks , at least 27 Kurdish citizens were arrested by the security services of the Islamic Republic of Iran in various cities of Iranian Kurdistan on charges of political and civil activities
5. IRGC officer killed by Kurdish fighters in skirmish
04 May 2021 | Al-Monitor
The Iran-Iraq border has recently witnessed a fresh uptick in cross-border attacks by Kurdish armed groups fighting for autonomy.
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2021/05/irgc-officer-killed-kurdish-fighters-skirmish
6. An Explosion of landmine killed two residents of Kermashan
02 May 2021 | Rojhelat
…it should be noted that every year in East and South Kurdistan, many people befall victim to landmines planted by the two governments of the I.R. Iran and Iraq, which were abandoned after 8 years of war and more than 30 years are still serious efforts.
http://rojhelat.info/en/?p=10462
7. 18 Kolbars and local tradesmen killed and wounded in April 2021
02 May 2021 | Hengaw
According to statistics recorded by the Statistics and Documentation Data Center of Hengaw Human Rights Organization of Hungary, during April 2021, at least 18 Kolbars and tradesmen were killed and wounded on the borders of Iranian Kurdistan, 78% of whom were shot by direct fire from the Iranian armed forces.
https://hengaw.net/en/news/18-kolbars-and-local-tradesmen-killed-and-wounded-in-april-2021
8. Sanandaj; Detention of two citizens by security forces
30 April 2021 | Kurdpa
On Thursday, April 29th, two Kurdish citizens … from the village of Niar in the Zhavarud district of Sanandaj, were arrested by security forces.
https://kurdpa.net/en/news/sanandaj-detention-of-two-citizens-by-security-forces
9. Iranian foreign minister meets with Kurdistan Region PM in Erbil
27 April 2021 | K24
Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani received Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, in Erbil on Tuesday.
10. Five kolbars injured by Iranian Border Guards in Marivan region
25 April | ANF News
At least 5 kolbars have been injured in one of the border areas of Marivan by direct shootings from the Iranian Border Guards and the fate of at least 30 other kolbars who were there is still unknown.
https://anfenglish.com/kurdistan/5-kolbars-injured-by-iranian-border-guards-in-marivan-region-51587
11. The number arrested civil activists in Sanandaj were reached four
25 April | Kurdpa
Following the arrest of civil activists in Sanandaj, on Saturday, April 24th, another civil activist named “Mehdi Seifi” was arrested by security forces. Security forces raided the Sanandaji activist’s private home and arrested him without any warrant.
https://kurdpa.net/en/news/the-number-arrested-civil-activists-in-sanandaj-were-reached-four
12. Kurdistan disputes video claiming coronavirus vaccines were smuggled to Iran
21 April 2021 | K24
The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) on Wednesday denied claims made in a video circulating on social media that purports to show coronavirus vaccines being smuggled to neighboring Iran.
13. Two members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps killed during clashes with Kurdish Opposition Forces on the borders of Marivan
22 April 2021 | Hengaw
An armed clash took place between a Kurdish party and Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) forces on the borders of Marivan, in which two members of the Revolutionary Guards were killed.
14. Iran, Egypt lead Middle East in executions in 2020
21 April 2021 | Al-Monitor
Iran, Egypt, Iraq and Saudi Arabia accounted for 88% of executions last year outside of world leader China, according to Amnesty International.
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2021/04/iran-egypt-lead-middle-east-executions-2020
OPINION
1. Outdated U.S. Policies Are Helping Iran Censor Its Citizens (Commentary Published in Foreign Policy)
07 May 2021 | CHRI
Karen Kramer, director of publications at the New York-based Center for Human Rights in Iran.
An existential battle is playing out online in Iran between citizens and the state that seeks to control them.
2. UN to Iran: Grave Concerns for Jailed Dissident Mohammad Nourizad
04 May 2021 | CHRI
OHCHR: UN human rights experts today expressed serious concern over the condition of imprisoned Iranian filmmaker and political activist Mohammad Nourizad and called for his immediate release.
3. Labor Day in Iran: Listen to the People’s Demands for Basic Rights
30 April 2021 | CHRI
As International Labor Day approaches, workers across Iran are facing a deepening crisis and inability to meet their most basic economic needs, as reflected in the growing number of labor protests and strikes this past year.
4. Iran-US talks should not negatively impact the Kurds: KRG Envoy
28 April 2021 | K24
Wladimir van Wilgenburg: The Kurdistan Region should not be negatively affected by talks between Iran and the US on returning to the nuclear deal, a Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) official said on Tuesday.
5. If a woman becomes the next president of Iran!
19 April 2021 | Rojhelat
Amed Shaho: It has been set that the 13th presidential election in Iran will be held on 18th June 2021, in an undemocratic atmosphere, vague, economic, political and social instability. For now, the electoral furnace has been blazed, and each wing and party, according to its own interests and intentions, wants to reach their morsel of that hot forge heartily.
http://rojhelat.info/en/?p=10415
REPORTS
1. April monthly report: executions, killing of civilians, shooting kolbars, arrests continue in Iran
07 May 2021 | KHRN
According to the information collected by the statistics and documentation centre of the KHRN, five prisoners have been executed by Iran and two civilians have been shot dead by security forces in April. At least 19 Kurdish civilians and activists have been detained…
2. Selection from Annual Report 2020
03 – 05 May 2021 | Iran Human Rights
Executions in Iran: From Arrest to Proof of Guilt
Share of the Revolutionary and Criminal Courts in Executions
IHR Warns of Rise in Drug-related Executions
Death Penalty According to Iranian Law
3. Movements promoting Abolition and Mobilising the Civil Society inside Iran
30 April 2021 | Iran Human Rights
In recent years, the forgiveness movement has led to hundreds of death row inmates being saved from the gallows and has played a crucial role in the discussions and debates around the death penalty.
https://iranhr.net/en/articles/4717/
4. Policy Briefing: Internet Freedom Stymied by Iranians’ Lack of Access to Tech Products
22 April 2021 | CHRI
Because Iranians are unable to purchase many international tech products due to US sanctions, they use Iranian products that allow the government to block content and eavesdrop at will. Better US policies could address this.
https://iranhumanrights.org/wp-content/uploads/Iran-tech-policy.pdf
Peace in Kurdistan
Campaign for a political solution of the Kurdish Question
44 Ainger Road, London NW3 3AT
Email: estella@gn.apc.org
https://www.peaceinkurdistancampaign.com
Contacts Estella Schmid: 07846 666 804 & Melanie Gingell: 07572 430903