Urmia Revolutionary Court sentenced five Kurdish citizens from Bokan to a total of 12 death penalties and 75 years of imprisonment on charges of “rebellion” and “enmity against God.”
Iran Human Rights Society, Monday, July 7, 2025 – The Urmia Revolutionary Court sentenced five Kurdish citizens from Bokan to 12 death penalties and 75 years of imprisonment on July 7, 2025. These harsh rulings, based on charges like rebellion and enmity against God, stem from confessions allegedly extracted through torture during the 2022 protests. Human rights groups and families demand justice, highlighting severe violations of fair trial standards. This article explores the case, its implications, and the urgent need for international action to protect these Kurdish citizens.
Kurdish Citizens Face Harsh Penalties
On July 7, 2025, Branch 1 of the Urmia Revolutionary Court, led by Judge Reza Najafzadeh, sentenced five Kurdish citizens—Soran Qasemi, Pejman Soltani, Kaveh Salehi, Rezgar Bigzadeh Babamiri, and Tayfour Salimi Babamiri—to 12 death penalties and 75 years in prison. Arrested during the 2022 Women, Life, Freedom protests, these individuals faced charges including rebellion, enmity against God, and alleged cooperation with Israel’s Mossad. However, human rights organizations report that the verdicts rely on confessions obtained under torture, raising serious concerns about judicial fairness.
Flawed Trials and Torture Allegations
The court conducted three online sessions without independent observers, limiting lawyers to brief oral defenses. Families report that the defendants endured months of solitary confinement, physical and psychological torture, and threats against their relatives to force confessions. For instance, a source close to the Soltani family revealed that interrogators threatened to arrest or execute family members if Pejman Soltani did not confess. Such practices violate Article 7 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which prohibits torture.
Unsubstantiated Charges of Starlink Smuggling
The prosecution accused the defendants of smuggling 120 Starlink devices to disrupt national security, allegedly in collaboration with Mossad. However, no technical evidence or independent documentation supports these claims. Legal experts argue that the reliance on coerced confessions undermines the case’s credibility. This tactic appears designed to instill fear and justify harsh punishments, further eroding trust in Iran’s judicial system.
Multiple Death Sentences: A Judicial Injustice
Notably, Soran Qasemi, Pejman Soltani, and Kaveh Salehi each received three death penalties, while Rezgar Bigzadeh Babamiri got two, and Tayfour Salimi Babamiri received one. Pejman Soltani faces an additional death sentence from a prior case, totaling four. Legal experts call this practice “judicial cruelty,” violating the principle of proportionality and international standards against double punishment. Such excessive sentencing contradicts Article 14 of the International Covenant, which ensures fair trials.
International Human Rights Violations
Violations of International Standards
– International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights Article 6 -(Right to Life): Issuing multiple death sentences without a public and independent trial directly threatens the defendants’ lives.
– Covenant Article 7 (Prohibition of Torture): Confessions extracted under torture and family threats constitute an absolute violation of the prohibition of torture and inhumane treatment.
– Covenant Article 14 (Right to a Fair Trial): Online trials, limited access to lawyers, and lack of evidence undermine the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.
– UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (Nelson Mandela Rules): Enforced disappearance and denial of contact with lawyers and family violate international standards.
– Principle of Proportionality of Punishment: Issuing three or four death sentences for one defendant is disproportionate to criminal justice standards and the prohibition of double punishment.
Urgent Call for Action
With only 20 days to appeal to the Supreme Court, the defendants’ fate hangs in the balance. Human rights advocates demand the following:
– Suspend execution orders and hold public, independent retrials.
– Investigate allegations of torture and coerced confessions.
– Grant access to case files and chosen legal representation.
– Replace multiple death sentences with proportionate punishments.
These steps are critical to upholding justice and protecting the rights of Kurdish citizens in Bokan. International pressure is essential to prevent these executions and address Iran’s ongoing human rights abuses.
The Urmia Revolutionary Court’s sentencing of five Kurdish citizens to 12 death penalties is a grave injustice, rooted in torture and unfair trials. The international community must act swiftly to demand fair retrials and the abolition of these excessive punishments. By addressing these violations, we can support the fight for justice and human rights in Iran.
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