Sanandaj: Detention of four Kurdish women activists continues, fate Unknown

Hengaw: Sunday, March 16, 2025

Despite a week passing since the arrest of four Kurdish women activists—Baran Saeidi, Leila Pashaei, Sohaila Motaei (all three previously arrested during the “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement), and Soma Mohammadzadeh—they remain in custody at the Intelligence Detention Center in Sanandaj (Sine) in connection with their participation in International Women’s Day (March 8) events in the city.

According to a report received by the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, after seven days in detention, 45-year-old Baran Saeidi and 38-year-old Soma Mohammadzadeh, both from Sanandaj, along with 45-year-old Leila Pashaei from Saqqez and Sohaila Motaei from Dehgolan (Diolan), have been denied their most basic rights, including access to a lawyer and any form of communication with their families.

Sources indicate that these four activists have had no contact with their families, causing deep concern among their relatives.

These civil activists were arrested on Monday, March 10, 2025 in Sanandaj and Dehgolan by Intelligence Department forces for their participation in International Women’s Day events. They were subsequently transferred to the Intelligence Detention Center in Sanandaj.