One death sentence and 60 years in prison issued against seven Kurdish political activists in Mahabad

Hengaw – Saturday, October 25, 2025

The Iranian judiciary has sentenced Kaways Abdollazadeh, a Kurdish man from Mahabad, to death, and six other Kurdish men — Salar Bayzidi Azar from Mahabad; Hemn Mam Qaderi, Yousef Mam Qaderi, and Mansour Karbalayi from Bukan; and Salar Seyed Rahimi and Hassan Mamil Azar from Miandoab — to a total of 60 years in prison.

According to information received by the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Mahabad, presided over by Judge Ahad Siyami, sentenced Kaways Abdollazadeh to death, and each of the other six defendants to 10 years in prison, amounting to a total of 60 years of imprisonment.

The defendants were charged with “forming a group to overthrow the government,” “planning and organizing a nationwide uprising,” and “collaborating with the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI).”

Hengaw has learned that Kaways Abdollazadeh was released on bail and later left Iran after his temporary release.

The seven Kurdish political activists were arrested by Iran’s Intelligence Ministry in June–July 2022 and were later released on bail pending trial.

During the arrests, Hemn Mam Qaderi and Yousef Mam Qaderi were detained on the Bukan–Saqqez road, where Hemn Mam Qaderi was shot in the leg by security forces. The injury continues to have a lasting impact on his daily life.