Concerns Grow Over Kurdish Political Prisoners Facing Execution in Iran
Concerns are growing over the fate of several Kurdish political prisoners in Iran as death sentences continue to be issued and upheld. According to available information, at least seven Kurdish political prisoners are currently at risk of execution in prisons across the country.
Among them are Pakhshan Azizi, a civil activist from Mahabad; Hatem Ozdemir, a Kurdish political activist and Turkish citizen; and Yousef Ahmadi, a resident of Baneh. Their death sentences have been upheld by the Supreme Court, and their requests for judicial review have been rejected.
Raouf Sheikh-Ma'aroufi, Mohammad Faraji, and Mohsen Eslamkhah, three political prisoners from Bukan, have also been sentenced to death on charges of “corruption on earth.” Their cases are currently under review by the Supreme Court. Arman Marefati, a Kurdish citizen from Saqqez who was arrested during the January 2026 protests, is also being held under a death sentence in Qezel Hesar Prison in Karaj.