The Hana Human Rights Organization’s report on the human rights situation in Kurdistan is based on statistics and information gathered by the organization’s research team in accordance with reporting standards. The data has been verified through interviews with victims, their families, and access to written documents.
Therefore, the published statistics only reflect cases that Hana’s research team has been able to confirm with certainty.
• Based on these findings, during the first three months of 2025, at least 284 citizens were arrested across various cities in Kurdistan on charges related to political and ideological activities.
34 Kurdish citizens were executed, mostly in connection with drug-related charges.
27 prisoners were sentenced to a total of 658 months in prison, and 2 prisoners were sentenced to death.
4 prisoners died in various prisons.
• 10 workers lost their lives due to lack of workplace safety and work-related accidents.
• 16 kolbars (border couriers) were killed or injured in different parts of Kurdistan.
• 2 citizens sustained serious injuries due to landmine explosions.
• Suicide rates have also increased, with at least 34 individuals taking their own lives during the first three months of 2025.
Arrests related to political and ideological charges:
During the first quarter of 2025, at least 284 Kurdish citizens were arrested by the Islamic Republic of Iran’s security agencies.
According to investigations, most of these arrests were extrajudicial, with individuals detained without prior summons or legal warrants.
It should be noted that even under the Islamic Republic’s minimal legal standards, arrests must respect the rights of the accused and occur under judicial oversight. However, in practice, security agencies often violate criminal procedure laws and make arbitrary, illegal arrests.
Most of the arrests during this period were related to alleged cooperation with Kurdish opposition parties, environmental activism, women’s rights advocacy, and media-related activities.
According to documented statistics, 19 of the detainees were women, and the rest were men.
Executions:
In the first three months of 2025, at least 34 Kurdish citizens were executed in various prisons across Iran.
Among them, 23 were executed on charges of murder, 8 for drug-related offenses, and 3 for rape.
Deaths in prison:
In the same period, four prisoners died in prisons of the Islamic Republic.
Two died due to illness, one as a result of an altercation inside the prison, and one for unknown reasons.
Heavy prison sentences:
In the first quarter of 2025, 27 individuals were collectively sentenced to 658 months in prison.
Additionally, 2 prisoners were sentenced to death.
The death sentences of Risheh Moradi and Pakhshan Azizi, two Kurdish female political prisoners, were also upheld on charges of rebellion (baghi).
Kolbars:
According to Hana’s data, at least 16 kolbars and border traders were killed or injured during the first quarter of 2025.
Among them, 3 were killed by direct fire from Iranian border guards, 3 died from cold weather and natural hazards, and 10 were injured by direct gunfire from border forces.
Suicide:
At least 34 people ended their lives in various towns and villages of Kurdistan, mainly due to poverty and unemployment.
According to Hana, 15 of them were women and 19 were men.
These suicides were mostly driven by family problems, livelihood issues, poverty, and in some cases, unknown reasons.
Femicide:
During the first three months of 2025, at least 11 individuals were killed by family members (father, brother, husband, relative).
Among them, 8 were women and 3 were men.
Most of these cases were so-called “honor killings.”
One death was due to sexual assault and abuse.
Labor rights:
In the first quarter of 2025, at least 10 workers lost their lives due to work-related accidents, and 12 labor activists were arrested.
Landmine explosions:
In January 2025, 2 citizens were seriously injured due to landmine explosions.
According to the Ottawa Convention, states are required to refrain from producing, stockpiling, or transferring anti-personnel mines.
However, the Islamic Republic of Iran, despite having numerous landmine victims, has yet to join this convention.
Due to ongoing border disputes with Iraq, and under the pretext of protecting borders and combating Kurdish opposition parties, the Islamic Republic continues to ignore international obligations and puts civilians’ lives at risk.
Hana Human Rights Organization
April 5, 2025