HPG guerrilla Ethem Özdemir (Rêgeş) was wounded and captured in an ambush by Iranian state forces on 2 July 2019.  

The death sentence given to Hatem Özdemir by Branch 1 of Khoy Revolutionary Court on the charge of ‘armed rebellion against the state’ was upheld by the higher court.

Speaking about the decision, Özdemir's uncle, Ali Özdemir, stated that the Iranian regime should immediately give up this unlawful act and said, ‘My nephew is not even a citizen of Iran. We do not accept this unlawfulness. We will use all our legal rights. We want everyone to be sensitive about the penalty he faces."