Iran Executes Kurdish Protester After Torture and Sham Trial
Iran has executed Mojahed (Abbas) Kourkouri, a protester from the “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement, after months of torture, forced confessions, and an unfair trial.
10/2/20251 min read
Mojahed (Abbas) Kourkouri, a Kurdish protester from Izeh in Khuzestan province, was executed in December 2023 for his role in the “Woman, Life, Freedom” demonstrations. His arrest and trial showed the extreme cruelty of the Iranian system, where minorities and activists face torture, false charges, and the death penalty for speaking out.
Kourkouri was arrested in January 2023 and held in secret detention for months. His family had no clear information about him during this time. Reports confirm he was tortured, beaten, and forced into signing a false confession. Despite clear signs of abuse, the Revolutionary Court accepted this confession as evidence and sentenced him to death.
The trial was rushed and unfair. Revolutionary Courts are widely known for denying defendants their basic rights, including access to proper legal defence and the ability to challenge evidence. These courts often issue death sentences after brief hearings designed to silence opposition.
Kourkouri’s execution is not an isolated case. Kurds in particular have been heavily targeted in the crackdown that followed the Mahsa Amini uprising in 2022. The use of the death penalty against Kurdish protesters reflects a broader policy of silencing ethnic minorities and spreading fear through executions.