Kurds are among the victims of the Iranian regime's crackdown on dissent. Here are 3 of their stories
CBC
In the shadow of Iran's violent crackdown on nationwide anti-regime protests, families and human rights organizations say the Islamic Republic's authorities have also tortured to death at least seven Kurds.
Half a year has passed since Mahsa Jina Amini's family says the 22-year-old Kurdish woman was murdered by regime authorities after she was arrested, allegedly for wearing her hijab improperly. Her death set off a chain of unprecedented protests in Iran.
Since then, security forces have been captured on video, subjecting Kurds to a particularly harsh crackdown in response to popular protests.
At least 121 Kurds, including 11 children, have been killed by security forces during anti-regime protests, according to the Europe-based Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN).
Human rights organizations say these killings are yet another example of the Islamic Republic's long standing persecution of Iran's Kurdish ethnic minority, which continues to be disproportionately affected by repression from authorities.
"Under the shadow of official executions the Islamic Republic continues its persecution of the Kurdish minority and has killed or tortured numerous citizens to death," said Kurdish human rights advocate Soran Mansournia.
"It's very painful that Western media and politicians don't know the names and stories of these individuals," he said.
The following profiles of people who were reportedly killed under torture, were compiled with the assistance of testimony from five sources close to the victims' respective families and friends that CBC News is not naming due to safety concerns, as well as Soran Mansournia and KHRN.
Authorities in Iran did not respond to CBC's multiple requests for comment on the circumstances around the deaths.
Long-time civil and political activist Nasrin Ghaderi, 39, was no stranger to encounters with authorities. She was arrested on several occasions, including in 2009 for bad-hejabi, or allegedly wearing her mandated hijab improperly.
Originally from Marivan, Kurdistan province, she decided to stay in Tehran after completing her bachelor's degree in philosophy. Ghaderi joined the protests when they began in September 2022.
On Nov. 4, 2022, Ghaderi's family became worried after not hearing from her for hours. Her brother went to her home, where he found Ghaderi's lifeless body on the floor.
A source close to the family says security forces showed up to her home with the intention to abduct her, but that it was clear she had resisted.
"Her head was badly hit. I think they used batons to beat her many times, until she eventually was killed. She was bruised and blood had been wiped from her face," the source said.
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