Iranian courts sentence five Kurdish protest detainees to prison

Hengaw – Tuesday, July 7, 2026

Iranian courts have sentenced five Kurdish men identified as Karim Masoudi, Behzad Samadzadeh, Farshad Souri, Gholamreza Abdollahzadeh and Sardar Pourmirzaei, detained during protests in January to prison terms.

According to information obtained by the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, Karim Masoudi, Behzad Samadzadeh, Farshad Souri, Gholamreza Abdollahzadeh and Sardar Pourmirzaei, all from Urmia, are being held at Urmia Central Prison.

Branch 3 of the Revolutionary Court in Urmia sentenced Masoudi and Pourmirzaei to two years in prison each on charges of “acting against national security.” Eighteen months of Masoudi’s sentence and 17 months of Pourmirzaei’s sentence were suspended.

The same court sentenced Abdollahzadeh to one year in prison. His sentence was reduced to nine months after he accepted the ruling and waived his right to appeal.

Separately, Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court in Urmia, presided over by Judge Dousti, sentenced Samadzadeh to two years in prison on a charge of “acting against national security.” Eighteen months of his sentence were suspended.

The same court sentenced Souri to one year in prison. His sentence was reduced to nine months after he accepted the ruling and waived his right to appeal.

The five men were detained by Iranian security forces in Urmia on January 8, 2026, during protests and were later transferred to Urmia Central Prison after interrogation.