Three Kurdish men arrested by intelligence forces in Mahabad and Bukan

Hengaw – Thursday, June 19, 2025

Three Kurdish men — Esmail Esmailpour, Soroush Yousefzadeh, and Mehran Khediripour — have been arrested by agents of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence in recent days in the cities of Mahabad and Bukan.

According to information received by the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, On Thursday, June 19, security forces in Mahabad raided the private residence of Soroush Yousefzadeh and Mehran Khediripour, arresting both men. A prior attempt to arrest Khediripour had been made the night before, on Wednesday, June 18, when intelligence agents raided his family home but failed to locate him.

During the arrest of Yousefzadeh, agents also confiscated several personal belongings, including mobile phones belonging to his father and brother.

In a separate case, at approximately 2:00 AM on Wednesday, June 18, Esmail Esmailpour, a 60-year-old resident of Bukan, was arrested at his home. A source close to the family confirmed that he has since been transferred to Urmia Central Prison.

No official charges have been announced, and the reasons for the arrests remain unclear.