Report by the Hana Human Rights Organization on the funeral of Hamid Moradi in Sanandaj

Hamid Moradi was an environmental activist, licensed attorney, and the secretary of the “Shenay Nowzhin” environmental association in Sanandaj. Throughout his years of activism, he remained firmly committed to the protection and defense of the environment in Kurdistan. Moradi was a prominent civil society figure, actively opposing ecological destruction, illegal land use changes, and unlawful fencing in the region. In addition to his on-the-ground environmental efforts, he handled numerous legal cases in defense of the right to a healthy environment and protection of natural resources.

According to Hana’s investigation, on Thursday, July 24, 2025, a large wildfire broke out in the mountainous area of Mount Abidar, specifically in the region behind the shelter toward Hassanabad. This area is not only one of Sanandaj’s most important natural recreation zones but also holds historical and symbolic significance as a site of collective memory and political resistance for the people of Sanandaj.

The fire started around 12:30 PM and, within a few hours, consumed over 20 hectares of vegetation. According to field reports, the rapid spread and escalation of the fire were due to a combination of extreme heat (above 40°C), sudden winds, and a severe lack of firefighting equipment — a shortfall that many view as part of the Islamic Republic’s broader strategy of suppression in Kurdistan.

In response, Hamid Moradi, along with a group of environmental activists and local volunteers, mobilized voluntarily to contain the blaze. However, during the firefighting effort, a sudden change in wind direction trapped him in the flames, causing severe burns. Reports indicate that at least 6 to 8 other volunteers were also injured in the incident — some treated on-site, while others remain hospitalized in intensive care.

List of those affected:
• Hamid Moradi (deceased)
• Mohsen Hosseinpanahi
• Seyed Mostafa Hozhabri
• Khabat Amini (in critical condition)
• Chiako Yousefinejad
• Arias (Arian) Salimi, a 17-year-old boy

Hamid Moradi was immediately transferred to Kowsar Hospital in Sanandaj, but due to the severity of his injuries — burns covering more than 80% of his body — he succumbed to his wounds despite efforts by medical staff, passing away in the early hours of Friday, July 25, 2025.

His funeral was held later that day at 5 PM in Behesht Mohammadi Cemetery, where he was buried in Plot 12. The ceremony saw a large turnout of local residents, civil society activists, environmental groups, and families of other victims — a clear reflection of his respected status in the community. Videos and images received by Hana show people chanting revolutionary and Kurdish patriotic songs as they carried the body of this environmental defender to his final resting place.

The death of Hamid Moradi recalls the memory of other environmental defenders who lost their lives protecting Kurdistan’s natural heritage. In 2018, during wildfires in the forests of Marivan, activists Omid Kohnepooshi (Hosseinzadeh) and Sharif Bajour were killed. Similarly, in 2020, during efforts to extinguish a blaze in the Paveh region, three more dedicated activists — Mokhtar Khandani, Balal Amini, and Soran Mahmoudi — died in the line of duty.

Kurdistan has long been a pioneer in environmental movements, and the deaths of these activists highlight the deep connection between the people of Kurdistan and their land, mountains, and ecosystems.

According to reports, in the week leading up to Hamid Moradi’s death, three separate wildfires were recorded in the Abidar highlands:

  1. Near the guesthouse and tourism area
  2. Close to the children’s park (Park Kodak)
  3. In the summit region behind the shelter, toward Hassanabad — the location of the deadly blaze on July 24

The repeated occurrence of such fires raises serious concerns about the crisis of environmental protection in the region.

Hana believes that the failure to control these fires — and in some cases, their deliberate ignition — is part of a broader strategy of repression by the state in Kurdistan.

The Hana Human Rights Organization, while offering its condolences to the family of Hamid Moradi and the wider civil society in Kurdistan, stresses the urgent need for accountability from state authorities regarding such tragedies.

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