Conseil Démocratique Kurde en France

International Day of Political Prisoners: Concern for at Least 14 Kurdish Prisoners Facing Death Sentences in Iran As October 30, the International Day of Political Prisoners, is marked worldwide, a review of published human rights reports identifies at least 14 Kurdish political prisoners and protesters facing death sentences in Iran. This list brings together reported cases and includes both initial court rulings and sentences upheld on appeal. Pakhshan Azizi, Hatem Ozdemir, Yousef Ahmadi, Pezhman Touberehrizi, Arman Marefati, Mohammad Faraji, Raouf Sheikh-Maroufi and Mohsen Eslamkhah are eight of these prisoners. Earlier human rights reports warned that they could face execution. The reports described unfair and secretive proceedings, torture, pressure to obtain forced confessions, and violations of their right to defend themselves. Hatem Ozdemir is a Kurdish citizen of Turkey imprisoned in Iran. Khosrow Mohammadnia, Masoud Toushmalani, Sirwan Shabani, Borzou Rezaei and Omran Amani are five others on the list. They were sentenced to death in connection with the January 2026 protests. The sentences against the first three were reported on October 1, and Rezaei’s on October 6. On October 29, it was reported that 21-year-old Omran Amani had been formally informed of his death sentence at Great Tehran Penitentiary. Verisheh Moradi, a Kurdish political activist and member of the East Kurdistan Free Women’s Society, is also among the 14. On October 14, Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced her to death for a second time. The Supreme Court had overturned her earlier sentence because of an incomplete investigation and problems with the trial process. Her lawyers say the court repeated the death sentence without addressing those problems. The cases are at different stages of the legal process. The Supreme Court has previously upheld the death sentences against Pakhshan Azizi, Hatem Ozdemir and Yousef Ahmadi. One of Ahmadi’s two death sentences was changed to financial compensation and imprisonment. However, his other death sentence, on a charge of “armed rebellion,” remains in place. This year’s International Day of Political Prisoners places a strong emphasis on keeping prisoners’ names in public view and supporting their families. In a joint statement, the October 30 Coalition called for sustained international attention and the immediate, unconditional release of people imprisoned for exercising their basic rights. It also stressed the need to hold those responsible for abuses accountable.