Kurdish political prisoner Ali Qeshlaqi begins serving prison sentence

Hengaw – Saturday, August 1, 2026

Ali Qeshlaqi, a 19-year-old Kurdish political prisoner arrested during the January 2026 protests, was transferred to Bojnord Central Prison in late June to begin serving a two-year and six-month prison sentence.

According to information received by the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, Branch 2 of the Revolutionary Court in Bojnord, presided over by Judge Sadegh Rafiei, sentenced Qeshlaqi to two years and six months in prison. He has been incarcerated in Bojnord Central Prison since late June.

Sources familiar with the case said the Revolutionary Court initially sentenced Qeshlaqi to four years in prison on charges of "assembly and collusion to commit crimes against national security" and "propaganda against the state," with two years and six months suspended. After he accepted the verdict, the sentence was reduced to three years and six months, including one year suspended, leaving two years and six months to be served.

Iranian security forces arrested Qeshlaqi on Sunday, January 25, 2026, without presenting a warrant. After one month in detention, he was released on bail in late February 2026 pending the conclusion of judicial proceedings.

Throughout his month-long arbitrary detention, Qeshlaqi was denied access to a lawyer of his choosing and family visits.