Iran intensifies crackdown on Kurds in Eastern Kurdistan

According to a statement by the Hana human rights organization, Iranian security forces detained Kurdish citizen Rafiq Mustafa (42 years old) from the village of Muski in Marivan while he was at his workplace.

He was taken to an undisclosed location without a judicial warrant or access to a lawyer or his family. Similarly, on August 3, 2025, Kurdish citizen Sirwan Parviz from Ilam province was arrested for posting a critical article on his Instagram account. The arrest followed a raid by intelligence forces conducted without a judicial order.

In a related development, the execution of Kurdish detainee Mehdi Asakharzadeh was carried out today after he spent eight years in prison, including two years in solitary confinement at Dizel Abad Prison in Kermanshah.

He was charged with "carrying weapons against the state," a conviction later upheld by the Supreme Court, according to the organization. Additionally, the Second Criminal Court in Ilam issued prison sentences against citizens Amir Ali Zakarifard and Emad Zakarifard for their participation in the "Women, Life, Freedom" uprising.

The charges ranged from "insulting the Supreme Leader, spreading propaganda against the state, possessing weapons, and forming gatherings against internal security." Amir Ali was sentenced to 31 years in prison, while Emad received a 34-year sentence.

The organization emphasized that these practices reflect a systematic policy targeting the fundamental and national rights of the Kurdish people. It noted a significant escalation in repression following recent Israeli attacks on Iran, amid efforts to instill fear and restrict public freedoms.

a.k

ANHA