Hengaw: 16 Kurds Sentenced to Total of 77 Years, 9 Months in Mahabad
RastinewsAt least 16 Kurdish citizens detained in the Iranian city of Mahabad in the closing months of 2024 have been sentenced to a combined 77 years and 9 months in prison.
The Hengaw Organization for Human Rights said the verdict was issued by Branch 1 of the Mahabad Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Ahad Siami.
The 16 defendants stood trial on charges including "assembly and collusion," "membership in the Kurdistan Free Life Party (PJAK)," "propaganda against the state," and social media activity supporting opposition parties.
According to the ruling, Abdullah Houshmand and Abdulrahman Qoveh were each sentenced to 7 years and 1 month, 12 others received 5 years each, Nazanin Elyasi (Golaleh) was sentenced to 2 years, and Kamal Masoudi to 5 months.
Hengaw said the 16 were arrested by Iranian Ministry of Intelligence agents in Mahabad between October and December 2024 and taken to an intelligence facility in Urmia for interrogation.
The group said the detainees were denied access to a lawyer, phone calls, and family visits throughout their detention.