The Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) reported that four Kurdish civilians, Soleyman Salek, Osman Delsouz, Hazhar Delsouz and Akam Khezrzadeh, have been collectively sentenced to a total of 16 years in prison by the Criminal Court Two of Piranshahr, West Azerbaijan Province, on charges of “membership of a group or organisation with the aim of disturbing national security”.

Salek, 71, from Mahabad, West Azerbaijan Province, was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment, while Khezrzadeh, 28, from the village of Kani Bodagh in Piranshahr, Osman Delsouz, 64, and Hazhar Delsouz, 30, from the village of Zivakeh in Piranshahr, were each sentenced to two years’ imprisonment.

Background

Salek was arrested by security forces on 28 June 2022 on the Mahabad-Piranshahr road and later taken to a security detention facility in Orumiyeh, West Azerbaijan Province.

After interrogation, he was transferred to Naqadeh Prison and released on bail of 30 billion rials – nearly 50,000 USD – on 13 August 2022.

A week later, on 5 July 2022, security forces arrested Osman Delsouz, Hazhar Delsouz, and Khezrzadeh in Piranshahr.

Hazhar Delsouz was released on bail from Naqadeh Prison on 11 September 2022, while Osman Delsouz and Khezrzadeh were released on bail from the same prison on 24 September.