Bojnurd – 14-year-old Kezhal Salehi temporarily released following public protests; her father Araz Salehi remains in custody
Hengaw – Thursday, July 17, 2025
Kezhal Salehi, a 14-year-old Kurdish girl from the village of Naveh in Bojnurd, North Khorasan Province, was temporarily released after three days in detention. She had been arrested by Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence for reciting Kurdish (Kurmanji) poems in praise of Kurdistan at several cultural events. Her release came amid widespread protests and clashes between local residents and security forces. However, her father, Araz Salehi, remains in custody, and his fate remains unknown.
According to reports received by Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, Kezhal was released on Thursday, July 17, 2025, following demonstrations and direct confrontations between villagers and intelligence agents.
On Tuesday, July 15, 2025, security forces raided her parents’ home in an attempt to arrest her. When they failed to locate her, they detained her father instead. A few hours later, Kezhal was arrested at a separate location.
Kezhal Salehi, a 14-year-old student, had performed several patriotic and culturally themed poems about Kurdistan at public events, gaining notable attention both among attendees and across social media platforms.
