Sanandaj – Kurdish environmentalist Khabat Amini dies from severe burns in Abidar Mountain fire, bringing death toll to three
Hengaw– Monday, July 28, 2025
Khabat Amini, a Kurdish environmental activist from Sanandaj, has died from severe burns suffered while fighting the massive fire in the Abidar Mountain range. His death follows those of fellow activists Hamid Moradi and Chiako Yousefinejad, who also lost their lives as a result of injuries sustained during the same incident.
According to reports received by the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, Amini passed away in the early hours of Monday, July 28, 2025, in the intensive care unit of Kosar Hospital in Sanandaj. He had been in critical condition for five days due to extensive burn injuries.
The fire broke out on Thursday, July 24, 2025, and rapidly spread across the Abidar highlands near the Zagros neighborhood and Hassanabad. Amini, along with Mohsen Hosseini-Panahi, Hamid Moradi, Chiako Yousefinejad, Arias Salimi, and Seyed Mostafa Hojabri, suffered severe burns while attempting to contain the blaze alongside local volunteers.
Hours before Amini’s death, Chiako Yousefinejad, a well-known athlete and environmental activist, also lost his life. His burial has yet to take place, but the announcement of his death prompted a large gathering of Sanandaj residents outside Kawsar Hospital, where they chanted slogans such as “Martyrs are immortal” in solidarity with the victims.
Earlier, on Friday, July 25, attorney and environmental activist Hamid Moradi, director of the “Shneh Nozhin Kurdistan” environmental association, passed away in the ICU and was buried the same day at Behesht-e Mohammadi Cemetery amid widespread public attendance and revolutionary chants.
This fire broke out around 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 24, 2025, in the area behind the Koodak Park and quickly spread to the surrounding regions of Zagros and Hasanabad neighborhoods. Despite the rapid spread of the blaze, firefighting efforts were fully carried out by local residents and environmental activists.
