The execution practices against Kurds and dissidents continue in Iran. According to the reports released by the Norway-based Iran Human Rights and the France-basaed Together Against the Death Penalty (ECPM), 834 people were executed in Iran in 2023. This number was recorded as 582 in 2022, 333 in 2021 and 267 in 2020. In addition, according to the report, 2023 was both the highest number of executions in the last 10 years and the year in which the highest number of executions against women took place.

 

It is striking that the Iranian regime particularly targets women who are fighting for freedom. The latest example of this was the death penalty given to Member of the Rojhilat Kurdistan Free Women's Community (KJAR) Werîşe Muradi and journalist Pexşan Ezîzî.

 

Drawing attention to the Iranian regime's oppression of Kurdish women, Human Rights Association (İHD) Co-chair Eren Keskin evaluate executions and rights violations in Iran.

 

POLITICIZED ‘FASCISTIC’ STRUCTURE

 

Eren Keskin stated that the Iranian regime has become a “fascistic” regime, and drew attention to the increasing “fascistic” policies towards Kurds and leftist groups after the “Islamic Revolution”. 

 

“The Iranian regime has a politicized fascist structure that is completely based on Islamic rules, adopts Islam as a form of state governance. This system is quite restrictive and oppressive regarding human rights and individual freedoms. The revolution that took place after the end of the Shah’s era was initially supported by many socialist groups, and even TUDEF, one of Iran’s largest leftist organizations. However, after the revolution, the regime implemented fascist policies against both leftist groups and especially the Kurds, and this oppressive attitude gradually intensified” Eren Keskin said.

 

'NOT INDEPENDENT FROM THE KURDISH ISSUE'

 

"Oppression of Kurds in Iran is not independent of the Kurdish issue" said Eren Keskin and added: “While the regime implements Islamic fascism, it also continues an intense oppression policy against the regions where Kurds live. This oppressive regime draws attention especially with the reckless implementation of death sentences. Death sentences against politicians are being executed with very swift court decisions. This situation clearly reveals the extent to which the regime harms human rights and individual freedoms.”

 

‘REGIME DISTURBED BY KURDISH WOMEN’S MOVEMENT’

 

Eren Keskin stated that the current regime in Iran is disturbed by the Kurdish women’s movement, and reminded Jina Emînî, who was murdered by morality police on September 13, 2022, for not wearing her headscarf properly. “Male-dominated, militarist and colonialist regimes have always been disturbed by such movements. This is exactly what is happening in Iran. The women’s struggle has made the regime the focus of criticism both domestically and internationally. The reaction of women’s movements against the regime is increasing all over the world, and this is putting the government in a serious difficult position.”

 

‘EXECUTIONS ARE UNACCEPTABLE’

 

Eren Keskin noted that executions are an “unacceptable” punishment method in terms of human rights, and expressed that the Evin Prison in Iran constitutes an important dimension of this issue. Eren Keskin said: “It is difficult to find a prison in the world that operates with such secret methods. For example, it is possible to reach Tehran from the prison through tunnels dug from the inside. This prison was a product of Iran’s deep state structure as a place where dissidents were held during the Shah’s period. It continued its same function during the Islamist rule. The rights violations experienced in this prison continued both during the Shah’s period and during the Islamist rule. Unfortunately, this method continues to be applied intensively in Iran." 

 

‘SUPPORT THE RESISTANCE’

 

Eren Keskin continued her words as follows: “The Kurdish issue is a subject that is discussed and developed in different ways in four different geographies. Developments in these regions are directly connected and affect each other. However, the most striking dimension of the resistance in Iran is the courageous struggle of women. Women’s resistance has become extremely effective in recent times. I believe that this resistance has had a great impact both within Iran and internationally. The events in Iran should be on the agenda of international human rights organizations more. Especially since the developments in Rojava have attracted the attention of the whole world, the inhuman practices in Iran should also be given equal attention. Therefore, I think that all human rights and women's rights defenders must pay more attention to the situation in Iran and support this resistance.”

 

WERÎŞE MÛRADÎ

 

Werîşe Muradi, a member of the Kurdistan Free Women's Community (KJAR) Rojhilat, was detained by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards on August 1, 2023. Werîşe Muradi was sentenced to death by the Tehran Islamic Revolutionary Court on charges of “being a member of a terrorist organization.”

 

PEXŞAN EZÎZÎ

 

Pexşan Ezizî, a Kurdish journalist and women's rights advocate who was detained by Iranian Intelligence forces on August 4, 2024, was sentenced to death by the Tehran Revolutionary Court on July 24, 2024, on charges of "making propaganda against the state" and "providing support to anti-regime organizations."

 

MA / Ferdi Bayram