Iranian government forces arrest five Kurds in North Khorasan Province

Hengaw – Thursday, February 19, 2026

Iranian government forces have arrested at least five Kurdish men in the cities of Bojnord, Esfarayen, and Shirvan in North Khorasan Province.

Among those detained, 18-year-old Danial Niazi is facing the charge of moharebeh (“waging war against God”), according to information received by the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights.

The five individuals were arrested during the December protests and remain in detention in a state of uncertainty. Details of their cases are as follows:

Shirvan

Danial Niazi, 18, was arrested late on Monday, January 12, 2026, during a violent raid by government forces on his family home. Authorities failed to present a judicial warrant at the time of arrest.

Sources state that during the first 24 hours of detention, he was subjected to torture and forced to make coerced confessions.

Branch Two of the Shirvan Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office has charged him with moharebeh, “participation in attempted murder,” “participation in intentional assault and battery,” “membership in a gathering of more than three persons against internal security,” “disruption of public order,” and “propaganda against the state.” These charges have significantly intensified concerns regarding his fate.

Esfarayen

Mohammad Azari and Hamid Ahmadzadeh, both Kurdish residents of Esfarayen, were arrested on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, during raids on their homes by government forces. After two weeks of interrogation in security detention facilities, they were transferred to Esfarayen Prison.

Yousef Karimian, a Kurdish athlete from Esfarayen, was arrested earlier on January 1, 2026, and transferred to the city’s central prison after several weeks in detention. Since his arrest, he has been denied access to legal counsel and family visitation.

Bojnord

Amirmohammad Piroozi, a judoka and member of the national team, was arrested on Sunday, February 15, 2026, following a raid by government forces on his home in Bojnord. He was transferred to an undisclosed location.

He has been denied contact with his family and access to legal representation since his arrest.

No further information has been released regarding the legal status, specific charges (aside from Niazi’s case), or conditions of detention of the five Kurdish detainees.