Confirmation of Death Sentence for Mujahed Kurkur Raises Concerns of Imminent Execution

Hengaw: Monday, December 25, 2023

The Supreme Court of the Islamic Republic of Iran has officially confirmed the death sentence of Abbas (Mujahed) Kurkur, a detainee associated with the Jin, Jiyan, Azadi movement in Izeh. Mujahed Kurkur, who has spent the past year and four days in prison, had previously received a death sentence from the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court. With the transfer of his case to Izeh, he now faces a significant risk of execution.

According to a report received by the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights on Sunday, December 24, 2023, the 39th branch of the Supreme Court in Iran upheld the death sentence of Mujahed Kurkur, an individual of Lor Bakhtiari descent from Izeh. He had been wounded in an armed attack by Revolutionary Guards forces during the Women, Life, Freedom movement, which led to his subsequent arrest.

Negar Kurkur, the sister of Mujahed Kurkur, announced the confirmation of her brother's death sentence on her personal Instagram page, revealing that the case was transferred from the first branch of the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court to the Izeh Court.

The right to life stands as the most fundamental human right, and its denial renders human rights meaningless. Despite the paramount importance of the right to life, the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran consistently ranks high among countries that infringe upon this right. Hengaw calls on all human rights and international organizations to exert pressure on the Islamic Republic of Iran, urging the prevention of the loss of prisoners' lives, particularly those who are political prisoners and detainees of the Jin, Jiyan, Azadi movement.

On April 7 of this year, the "Mizan" news agency, affiliated with the judiciary of the Islamic Republic of Iran, announced the death sentence for Mujahed Kurkur, a protester charged with "war against God and corruption in the land." This sentence was initially issued by the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court, with charges related to the alleged murder of Kian Pirflek, a 9-year-old child killed during the Women, Life, Freedom movement.

While the judicial system, authorities, and government media have attempted to attribute Kian Pirflek's murder to Mujahed Kurkur, the mother of Kian Pirflek, Mahmunir Moulairad, disputed these claims during the funeral ceremony for her son. She asserted that it was the "security forces" who fired at their car, resulting in Kian's death and severe injuries to his father. She emphatically stated, "I, Mother Kian, will never accept anyone among my fellow citizens whom you introduce as a murderer."

Previously, the judiciary of the Islamic Republic attributed the killing of seven individuals in Izeh on November 16, 2022, to Abbas (Mujahed) Kurkur, along with Bahman Bahmani, Hossein Saeedi, and Mahmoud Ahmadi. In January 2023, the public and revolutionary prosecutor of Izeh city announced legal action against 70 protesters related to the public gatherings in the city.

Mujahed Kurkur, currently held in Shiban prison in Ahvaz, was subjected to torture to obtain a forced confession and was denied access to his basic rights, including face-to-face visits.

Mujahed Kurkur was wounded and arrested on Tuesday, December 20, 2022, during an armed attack by IRGC forces on the village of "Persorakh" in Izeh. Additionally, during the shooting by IRGC forces, two other protesters, Mahmoud Ahmadi and Hossein Saeedi, lost their lives.