19-year-old Kurdish man killed by Basij forces in Mahabad; protests and general strike follow

Hengaw – Thursday, July 2, 2026

A 19-year-old Kurdish man, identified as Siavash Alak, was fatally stabbed following an attack by a group of Basij members in Mahabad. The killing has sparked widespread public outrage, nighttime protests, and a general strike across the city.

According to information obtained by the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, Siavash Alak was attacked by a group of Basij members on Wednesday, July 1, 2026. During the assault, he was repeatedly stabbed by a Basij member identified as Nima Teymouri, sustaining fatal injuries. Three other civilians were also wounded during the incident.

Videos circulating on social media show that, following news of Alak’s death, the atmosphere in Mahabad became highly tense. Large numbers of protesters gathered outside Imam Khomeini Hospital, chanting slogans against government and security forces. The demonstration was eventually dispersed after riot police and security forces intervened violently.

Following the incident, on Thursday, July 2, the majority of shopkeepers, merchants, and business owners in Mahabad observed a general strike, refusing to open their businesses in protest against the extrajudicial killing of the young man and the continued violent conduct of forces affiliated with the IRGC and the Basij.

The funeral procession for Siavash Alak drew a large crowd of mourners and protesters. Participants escorted his body to the city’s cemetery while chanting the slogan, “Martyrs never die.”

The arming of plainclothes agents and Basij paramilitary forces, together with the judicial impunity they enjoy, has consistently created conditions for insecurity, arbitrary killings, and violations of the fundamental right to life in the cities of Kurdistan. The unlawful conduct of these forces constitutes a serious violation of international human rights standards.