The recent arrests of Kurdish women by Iranian security forces highlight an alarming pattern of repression against Kurdish activists in Iran.
These arrests have not only targeted women actively involved in civil rights but also ordinary citizens, raising concerns about their safety and the transparency of their detention. This report delves into three recent cases, providing context and details for a broader understanding.
Arrest of Gelavizh Mohammadi-Arshad in Tehran
On Wednesday, August 14, 2024, a 45-year-old Kurdish woman named Gelavizh Mohammadi-Arshad was arrested by Iranian security forces in Tehran, the capital of Iran.
Gelavizh, a seamstress by profession, was apprehended on her way home from work on Bagh-e Shayegan Street. The security forces, arriving in four vehicles, surrounded and arrested her without presenting any judicial warrant. Her current whereabouts remain unknown, adding to her family’s distress and public concern.
Re-Arrest of Activist Fermisk Babai in Paveh
Fermisk Babai, a well-known Kurdish female activist from Paveh, a city in western Iran near the Iraqi border, was re-arrested by Iranian security forces on Monday, August 12, 2024.
Fermisk, who has a history of previous arrests, was summoned to the Paveh Intelligence Department along with her family for interrogation before being transferred to the Naft Square Detention Center in Kermanshah, a major city in western Iran.
When her family protested her arrest, security forces responded with violence, causing her mother to faint and requiring hospitalization.
Fermisk had been previously detained in a violent manner last year, around the anniversary of Khomeini’s fatwa against Kurdistan. Given the history of brutal treatment by Iranian security forces towards civil activists, there is growing concern for her safety while in custody.
Ongoing Detention and Uncertainty Surrounding Manijeh Khoshnoud in Bukan
More than two weeks have passed since the arrest of 56-year-old Manijeh Khoshnoud, a Kurdish woman from Bukan, a city in northwestern Iran.
Manijeh was detained by the Iranian regime’s intelligence forces on Wednesday, July 31, 2024, at 4 PM during a raid on her family home in Bukan. During her arrest, her home was searched, and her mobile phone was confiscated.
Despite continuous efforts by her family to obtain information about her whereabouts and condition, they have received no response from the authorities. This lack of communication has heightened the family’s anxiety, especially considering that Manijeh’s fate and the location of her detention remain shrouded in secrecy.
The recent arrests of Kurdish women in Iran, particularly those of Gelavizh Mohammadi-Arshad, Farmisk Babai, and Manijeh Khoshnoud, reflect a disturbing trend of repression against Kurdish activists and ordinary citizens by the Iranian regime. The international community must pay closer attention to these human rights abuses, as the safety and lives of these women remain in jeopardy.
