Mounting pressure on Kurdish cultural activists in North Khorasan – widespread arrests and summonses

Hengaw – Wednesday, July 23, 2025

In recent days, a renewed wave of pressure and repression by the security agencies of the Islamic Republic of Iran has targeted Kurdish language and cultural activists in North Khorasan Province, particularly in the cities of Bojnurd and Shirvan. During this period, at least six Kurdish cultural activists—including a 14-year-old girl—have been arrested, and several others summoned for questioning.

According to reports received by the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, at least six Kurdish cultural activists have been detained by Iranian security forces in North Khorasan. Their identities are as follows:

1. Azam Naseri – Cultural activist from Shirvan


2. Hassan Sayfi – Cultural activist from Shirvan


3. Morteza Pirzadeh – Prominent cultural activist focused on Kurdish attire and heritage, from Shirvan


4. Mostafa Rahnama – 47-year-old athlete and cultural activist from Shirvan


5. Kazhal Salehi – 14-year-old girl from the village of Naveh, Bojnurd


6. Araz Salehi – Father of Kazhal Salehi and cultural activist from Bojnurd



All those arrested are known for their work in preserving and promoting Kurdish language and culture. The arrests were carried out without presenting warrants and, in some cases, involved the use of force.

Hengaw has also learned that over the past week, dozens of Kurdish cultural activists in the cities of Mashhad, Borujerd, Quchan, Shirvan, Esfarayen, and Daregaz have been summoned by Iranian security forces for interrogation and intimidation.


Arrest of a 14-year-old student sparks public outrage 

Among those detained, the arrest of Kazhal Salehi, a 14-year-old student from the village of Naveh in Bojnurd, has drawn significant public attention. Kazhal was reportedly detained by the Intelligence Department after reciting poetry in the Kurmanji dialect of Kurdish in praise of Kurdistan at several cultural events. Her father, Araz Salehi, was also arrested during the same operation.

The arrests sparked public outrage. Residents of Naveh gathered in front of security forces to demand Kazhal’s immediate release. Following public pressure and confrontations with the authorities, she was temporarily released after three days in detention. However, her father remains in custody, and concerns about his condition persist.


Ongoing suppression of Kurdish cultural expression in Khorasan

Kurdish cultural activists in North Khorasan have long been subjected to threats, summonses, and arrests. Their efforts to teach the Kurdish language, organize cultural events, and promote traditional Kurdish attire continue to face systematic repression by Iranian authorities.

Hengaw has previously reported that security agencies have banned the wearing of Kurdish dress at public events and have targeted Kurdish artists and cultural figures. Individuals such as Ali Karimi, Hassan Taghizadeh, Ali Delfaraz, Hossein Firoozeh, and Jalal Baratzadeh were either summoned, arrested, or threatened for their involvement in producing the Kurdish-language music video Walat.

In connection with these crackdowns, Taghizadeh Studio in Esfarayen was sealed by the authorities, while other artists—including Kalimollah Tavahodi, Alireza Sepahi Layen, Roya Esmaeiliyan, and Asmar Hamidi—were also subjected to intimidation by security forces.


Human rights conditions in North Khorasan

North Khorasan Province, home to a significant Kurdish population, has consistently witnessed widespread violations of the cultural and linguistic rights of its Kurdish residents. Restrictive state policies have severely limited opportunities for civic, cultural, and educational engagement.

Kurdish cultural and social activists—especially those advocating for mother-tongue education and cultural heritage—are routinely targeted by the authorities. These repressive conditions have created an increasingly alarming environment for cultural expression in the region.


Violations of international cultural and linguistic rights

Under international human rights conventions, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, education in one’s mother tongue and the preservation of cultural identity are protected rights. The Iranian government’s ongoing crackdown on Kurdish cultural activists in North Khorasan constitutes a clear violation of these rights.

The Hengaw Organization for Human Rights strongly condemns the arrests and intimidation of Kurdish cultural activists. These actions represent grave breaches of human rights and cultural freedom. Hengaw urges international organizations and defenders of free expression to take immediate, effective measures to hold the Iranian government accountable and to safeguard the cultural and linguistic rights of national minorities in Iran.