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.

Wave of Political Prisoner Executions Continues; Fathollah Avari Executed Fathollah Avari, one of those arrested during the January 2026 protests in Hamedan, was executed today. He had been sentenced to death by the Iranian judiciary on charges of moharebeh (waging war against God) in connection with the killing of a government security force member during the January 8 protests. With Avari’s execution, the number of political and security prisoners executed in Iran between March 17 and June 3, 2026, has risen to at least 40.

Alliance of the Iranian Kurdistan Political Parties: New Wave of Executions Aimed at Covering Up Regime Failures The Alliance of the Iranian Kurdistan Political Parties has condemned the new wave of executions and repression of political prisoners in Iran and Kurdistan, describing it as an attempt by the Islamic Republic to cover up its political, military, and security failures. The alliance stated that the authorities are using executions and increased repression to spread fear in society and maintain their hold on power. The statement stressed that the growing number of executions and the ongoing crackdown should not be treated as normal. It also noted that these measures are taking place at a time when the Iranian government is facing serious internal and international challenges. The Alliance of the Iranian Kurdistan Political Parties called on the United Nations, the European Parliament, and democratic governments to increase political and diplomatic pressure on the Islamic Republic to stop executions and widespread human rights violations. The alliance also urged political forces and the peoples of Iran to strengthen solidarity and cooperation in the struggle for freedom, justice, and fundamental rights.

43rd Anniversary of the Mass Execution of 59 Kurdish Youths Tomorrow marks the 43rd anniversary of the mass execution of 59 Kurdish citizens from Mahabad, one of the largest mass executions carried out in Iranian Kurdistan during the early years of the Islamic Republic. On June 2, 1983, the governor's office of Mahabad issued an official notice announcing the execution of 59 residents of the city. Several of those executed were teenagers under the age of 18. They were executed in the prisons of Urmia and Tabriz only a few months after their arrest, without fair trials, without access to lawyers, and without informing their families. According to available reports, many of these individuals had been arbitrarily detained in the streets of Mahabad during April and May 1983. Most had no proven involvement in armed activities, and some were high school students at the time of their arrest. The executions took place shortly after the death of Mohammad Boroujerdi, a senior commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), during clashes in Kurdistan. Human rights activists and families of the victims have long argued that the mass executions were carried out as an act of collective punishment and retaliation against the people of Mahabad and Kurdistan. More than four decades later, the burial sites of the victims remain unknown. Families have repeatedly demanded access to information about the fate of their loved ones and the location of their graves, but Iranian authorities have never provided clear answers. Human rights advocates say that the systematic concealment of evidence, destruction of records, and refusal to reveal burial locations have prevented the truth from being fully uncovered and have contributed to ongoing impunity for those responsible. Names of the 59 Victims Executed on June 2, 1983 1. Gholamreza Barzi 2. Hassan Jahanian 3. Ali Benayan 4. Mohammad Ali'li 5. Mohammad Amin Safa 6. Homayoun Niloufari 7. Mahmoud Riyazi 8. Mohammad Hosseini 9. Abbas Hosseinpour 10. Kazem Khatouni 11. Ali Mazneh 12. Abdollah Tahririan 13. Rahman Rahimi 14. Ali Golparast 15. Mostafa Esmati 16. Khalegh Barzani 17. Yousef Ayazi 18. Kamal Chaw-shini 19. Hassan Rahmanian 20. Khaled Rahimi Azar 21. Khaled Safaei 22. Seyed Ebrahim Ahmadi 23. Mohammad Masoudi 24. Mohammad Aboubakri 25. Vafa Elyasi 26. Mansour Jenah 27. Mohammad Amin Ahmadi 28. Mohammad Salimi 29. Fereydoun Shangeh 30. Ali Bazian 31. Khezr Rangin 32. Abubakr Shokri 33. Mashallah Naderi 34. Hejar Karimi 35. Kamal Karimi 36. Karim Rahimian 37. Yousef Habibpanah 38. Mohammad Farough Bazyar 39. Ebrahim Amini 40. Saleh Mam-Ebrahimi 41. Shokri Naderi 42. Mostafa Faghri 43. Ali Ghavareh 44. Ali Salahi 45. Mullah Hassan Lajevardi 46. Soleiman Hassanzadeh 47. Yousef Hassanzadeh 48. Karim Kaveh 49. Seyed Mahmoud Seyed Mahmoudi 50. Hamed Mahmoudkandi 51. Hossein Kelohri 52. Abbas Yousefi 53. Siamak Saqqezi 54. Ali Abadeh 55. Kamran Zaher Hejazi 56. Saleh Farhoudi 57. Maqsoud Mahmoudi 58. Ahmad Karoubi 59. Rahman Khezrpour According to testimonies from families and witnesses, the detainees were transferred to Tabriz, where they were sentenced to death in trials that lasted only a few minutes and lacked basic legal standards. Their families were never informed of their burial places.

Two More January Protesters Executed Wave of Political Executions Continues in Iran The Islamic Republic of Iran has executed Mehrdad Mohammadinia and Ashkan Maleki, two individuals arrested during the January protests, as part of its continuing crackdown on political prisoners and dissent. With these executions, the number of political and security prisoners executed in Iran between March 17 and June 1, 2026, has risen to at least 39.

Two Kurdish Detainees Face “Moharebeh” Charges; Concerns Grow Over Possible Death Sentences Sajad Veisi and Shayan Veisi, two Kurdish Yarsani men from Kermanshah (Kirmaşan) who were arrested following the January 2026 protests, have been charged with “moharebeh” (enmity against God) by Iran’s security authorities, a charge that can carry the death penalty under Iranian law. The development comes just one day after Maytham Veisi and Mojtaba Veisi, Sajad’s brothers and well-known cultural activists, were killed during an operation carried out by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in the Dalahoo area. The Moharebeh charges against Sajad and Shayan Veisi have raised serious concerns about the possibility of heavy sentences, including execution.

Maytham and Mojtaba Veisi, January Protesters, Killed by IRGC Forces Maytham Veisi and Mojtaba Veisi, two brothers who had been living in hiding since the nationwide protests of January 2026, were killed by direct gunfire from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in the early hours of Thursday, May 28, 2026, in a village in Dalahoo County. According to available information, after months in hiding, the brothers’ location was identified and surrounded by IRGC forces. Armed personnel reportedly opened fire on the residential house from all sides without any prior warning. As a result of the targeted shooting, Maytham and Mojtaba Veisi lost their lives. Maytham and Mojtaba Veisi were followers of the Yarsan faith and were well-known cultural activists in Kermanshah (Kimrmaşan) Province.

Warisheh Moradi Punished for Anti-Execution Protest Kurdish political prisoner Warisheh Moradi, who is being held in Evin Prison, has been denied access to the prison telephone as a disciplinary measure since Tuesday. The punishment was imposed after she chanted slogans against executions during the prison yard exercise period at Evin Prison.

Gholamreza Khani Shakarab Executed on Espionage Charges Gholamreza Khani Shakarab was executed after being convicted of “spying” for Israel. With his execution, the number of political and security prisoners executed in Iran between March 17 and May 26, 2026, has risen to at least 37.

Abbas Akbari, Detained During January Protests, Executed Abbas Akbari, one of those arrested during the January nationwide protests in Iran, was executed early this morning. With his execution, the number of political and security prisoners executed in Iran between March 17 and May 25, 2026, has risen to at least 36.

Mojtaba Kian Executed Over Alleged Ties to U.S. and Israel Mojtaba Kian was executed this morning after being accused of intelligence cooperation with the United States and Israel. Iranian authorities claimed that during the recent war, he had sent information and coordinates related to Iran’s defence industry sites to what they described as "hostile networks". With the execution of Mojtaba Kian, the number of political and security prisoners executed in Iran since March 17, 2026, has risen to at least 35.

34 Executed in 65 Days in Iran Executions in Iran have dramatically increased in recent months, particularly against political and security prisoners. Human rights organizations continue to raise concerns over unfair trials, forced confessions, denial of legal representation, and other serious violations of due process. Between March 17 and May 21, 2026, at least 34 political and security prisoners were executed in Iran. Political and Security Prisoners Executed in the Last 65 Days: 1. Kourosh Keyvani — March 17, 2026 2. Saleh Mohammadi — March 18, 2026 3. Saeed Davoudi — March 18, 2026 4. Mehdi Ghasemi — March 18, 2026 5. Akbar Daneshvarkar — March 30, 2026 6. Seyed Mohammad Taghavi — March 30, 2026 7. Babak Alipour — March 31, 2026 8. Pouya Ghabadi — March 31, 2026 9. Amirhossein Hatami — April 2, 2026 10. Abolhassan Montazer — April 4, 2026 11. Vahid Bani Amerian — April 4, 2026 12. Mohammadamin Biglari — April 5, 2026 13. Shahin Vahedparast — April 5, 2026 14. Ali (Arian) Fahim — April 6, 2026 15. Hamed Validi — April 20, 2026 16. Mohammad Masoum (Nima) Shahi — April 20, 2026 17. Amirali Mirjafari — April 21, 2026 18. Mehdi Farid — April 22, 2026 19. Soltan-Ali Shirzadi — April 23, 2026 20. Erfan Kiani — April 25, 2026 21. Amer Ramesh — April 26, 2026 22. Sasan Azadvar Jonqani — April 30, 2026 23. Naser Bakrzadeh — May 2, 2026 24. Yaghoub Karimpour — May 2, 2026 25. Mehrab Abdollahzadeh — May 3, 2026 26. Mehdi Rasouli — May 3, 2026 27. Mohammadreza Miri — May 3, 2026 28. Ebrahim Dowlatabadi — May 3, 2026 29. Erfan Shakourzadeh — May 11, 2026 30. Abduljalil Shahbakhsh — May 12, 2026 31. Ehsan Afarashteh — May 13, 2026 32. Mohammad Abbasi — May 13, 2026 33. Ramin Zaleh — May 21, 2026 34. Karim Maroufpour — May 21, 2026

Warning Over the Risk of Execution of Three Kurdish Political Prisoners in Iran Following the execution of two Kurdish political prisoners, Ramin Zaleh and Karim Maroufpour, concerns are growing over a new wave of political executions in Iran. Human rights activists warn that, with the increasing number of executions carried out in the past nearly three months, the lives of several other Kurdish political prisoners are now in serious danger. At the moment, Pakhshan Azizi, Yousef Ahmadi, and Hatem Ozdemir are facing an imminent risk of execution. Iran’s Supreme Court has upheld their death sentences, and their requests for retrial have been rejected. Pakhshan Azizi, a Kurdish civil activist from Mahabad, was arrested in Tehran in August 2023. She was held for months in solitary confinement and denied access to a lawyer before being sentenced to death on charges of “armed insurrection” (baghi). Yousef Ahmadi, a Kurdish political prisoner from Baneh, was arrested in April 2020. According to reports, he was tortured and denied medical treatment before being sentenced to death on the same charges. Hatem Ozdemir, a Kurdish political activist holding Turkish citizenship, was arrested in 2019. He was reportedly subjected to interrogation and torture before receiving a death sentence, which was later upheld by the Supreme Court after several stages of review. Human rights activists are calling on the international community, the United Nations, human rights organizations, and global public opinion to take urgent action to stop these executions and not remain silent in the face of the rising executions of political prisoners in Iran.

Pakhshan Azizi at Imminent Risk of Execution With the growing number of political executions in Iran and the continuing wave of death sentences, concerns over the fate of Kurdish political prisoner Pakhshan Azizi have sharply increased. Iran’s Supreme Court has upheld her death sentence, raising fears that her execution could be carried out at any moment.

Two Kurdish Political Prisoners Executed in Iran Ramin Zaleh and Karim Maroufpour, two Kurdish political prisoners, were executed in Iran early Wednesday, May 21, 2026. Ramin Zaleh, from Naqadeh in West Azerbaijan (Urmia) Province, had previously been sentenced to death in December 2025 by Branch One of the Revolutionary Court in Mahabad. He was charged with “acting against national security through membership in a Kurdish opposition party (baghi)". Karim Maroufpour, also from Naqadeh, was arrested by security forces in Sardasht in April 2021 and was reportedly beaten during his arrest. According to reports, both prisoners were detained on charges of cooperating with the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan and were held for long periods in enforced disappearance without contact with their families.