Hana Human Rights Organization has received information indicating that on Tuesday, 10 February 2026, at approximately 12:00 noon, Mr. Ramyar Izadi, a Kurdish political refugee residing in Norway and a student at the University of Stavanger, was attacked by two masked individuals reportedly armed with a knife or other bladed weapon on the University of Stavanger campus. Mr. Izadi sustained injuries to the head and received medical attention.
Mr. Izadi is known as a Kurdish civil and political activist who has participated actively in academic and civic initiatives in recent years, including activities critical of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
According to information available to Hana, the assailants fled the scene immediately after the attack. Norwegian police have opened a formal criminal investigation, and identification and apprehension efforts are reportedly ongoing. As of the time of publication of this report, Hana is not aware of any official public statement issued by the Norwegian police regarding the incident.
Hana underscores that an armed attack of this nature against a political refugee and public activist, carried out by masked perpetrators in a university setting, raises serious concerns that the incident may constitute politically motivated violence. If confirmed, such conduct would amount not only to a grave criminal offence against the person, but also an attack on the exercise of fundamental freedoms, including freedom of expression, freedom of association, and the right to participate in public life without intimidation. In a democratic society governed by the rule of law such as Norway, any act of targeted violence intended to silence political dissent must be treated with the utmost seriousness.
In light of the documented pattern of threats and violence against Kurdish political activists abroad, Hana calls on the competent Norwegian authorities to pursue a prompt, thorough, independent, and impartial investigation, with due regard to (i) any indicators of premeditation and targeting, (ii) the possibility of coordination or facilitation by organized networks, and (iii) any potential transnational dimension, including links to actors or networks affiliated with the Islamic Republic of Iran. Hana further urges Norwegian authorities to examine the underlying criminal intent behind the assault, including whether the attack was intended to intimidate Mr. Izadi and others engaged in lawful civic and political activity.
Hana also calls on Norway, consistent with its human-rights obligations, to ensure effective preventive and protective measures for individuals at heightened risk, including political refugees and dissidents, and to guarantee that perpetrators and any accomplices are identified, prosecuted, and held accountable in accordance with due process and the rule of law.