Baneh: Continued Arbitrary Detention of Former Political Prisoner Sentenced to Death, Saman Karimi, and His Wife Farzaneh Rashidi, on the Eighth Day of Their Arrest
On Sunday, May 26, 2025, Saman Karimi, a former political prisoner previously sentenced to death, and his wife, Farzaneh Rashidi, were violently and arbitrarily arrested by security forces. Eight days later, there is still no information about their whereabouts or condition.
According to a source speaking to Kurdpa, security forces arrested Saman Karimi without presenting a judicial warrant and used violence during the arrest on one of the streets in Baneh. They then raided his family home and, after searching the premises, arrested his wife, Farzaneh Rashidi, a student at Payam Noor University in Baneh.
The source added that security forces confiscated several personal belongings of the young couple.
The source also said the couple has so far been denied access to legal counsel and visits with family members.
As of the time of this report, no information is available regarding their fate, place of detention, reasons for arrest, or the charges brought against them.
Review of the Previous Case of Saman Karimi, a Former Political Prisoner Sentenced to Death:
As previously reported in detailed coverage by Kurdpa, Saman Karimi was arrested on November 8, 2018, in the Suleiman Beg hill area of Baneh by IRGC intelligence forces. He was transferred for interrogation to the Shahramfar Security Detention Center in Sanandaj. After three months of detention and interrogation, he was transferred to Sanandaj Central Prison, during which he was denied access to a lawyer or visits from his family.
On November 12, 2019, he was tried at Branch 1 of the Sanandaj Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Saeedi, on charges of rebellion (baghi) through membership and collaboration with a Kurdish opposition party. On December 4, 2019, he was sentenced to death along with an additional 11 years of discretionary imprisonment.
The case was later referred to the Supreme Court of Iran on January 1, 2020, and the death sentence was overturned by Branch 27 of the Supreme Court in Qom due to deficiencies in the investigation. The case was returned to the original court for retrial.
Subsequently, on March 4, 2021, Saman Karimi was temporarily released from Sanandaj Prison after posting bail of 1.5 billion tomans (approximately $30,000 USD) pending the conclusion of legal proceedings.
In July 2021, Branch 4 of the Sanandaj Appeals Court sentenced Saman Karimi, a former political prisoner from Baneh, to four years in prison for assembly and collusion to act against national security, four years for membership in a Kurdish opposition party, and one year for propaganda against the regime. The verdict was officially issued on Saturday, July 17, 2021.
Under Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code (2013), only the most severe sentence—four years of discretionary imprisonment—was enforceable. Due to his previous detention, that period was counted toward his sentence.
