Ilam: Two Kurdish Youths, Pejman Badri and Arman Biglari, Killed by Direct Fire from State Forces
In recent days, two Kurdish men from Hililan, Ilam Province, identified as Pejman Badri and Arman Biglari, were shot and killed with Kalashnikov rifles during a pursuit by state forces.
According to a source who spoke to Kurdpa, at approximately 9:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, following a confrontation in Tohid Park in Hililan, the two men were leaving the area on a motorcycle when they were chased by police patrol units. Without any prior warning, the patrol officers opened direct fire at close range, striking Pejman Badri in the chest and Arman Biglari in the head, killing both instantly.
In a statement issued after the incident, the Ilam provincial police claimed that the two men, riding a motorcycle, ignored warnings and a stop order, and allegedly fired a Kalashnikov at security personnel, prompting the use of lethal force under the “Law on the Use of Firearms.” The statement further reported that an illegal weapon was seized and the case referred to judicial authorities, adding that several civilians were injured during the exchange of gunfire, with their complaints under review.
However, several sources close to the two men have rejected the police account. They stated that after the initial confrontation, all individuals fled the area, and Badri and Biglari, while attempting to escape on a motorcycle, were pursued by state forces. According to these sources, the forces opened fire without warning; one of the men was first shot in the leg, causing the motorcycle to stop, and both were then shot at close range—one in the chest and one in the head—after being immobilized.
Local sources further noted that while the two men allegedly fired warning shots into the air to deter pursuit, they posed no threat once immobilized and did not fire at security forces after being brought to the ground. Despite this, they were shot and killed from behind and at close range.
The bodies of the two men, aged 28 and 29, were returned to their families on Thursday, July 24, 2025, and their funerals were held on Friday, July 25, 2025, in their hometown.
State Media Narrative, Human Rights Concerns, and the Need for Independent Investigation
While state media reported that Badri and Biglari were armed assailants who fired upon state forces, the official account omits key details, including the circumstances, proximity, and conditions under which lethal force was used, as well as whether there was an imminent threat to the lives of security forces or civilians at the time of the shooting.
Under the United Nations Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials, lethal force may only be used as a last resort when there is no other means of neutralizing an imminent threat to life. Moreover, once individuals are immobilized or no longer pose a threat, state agents are obligated to preserve life and must refrain from summary executions or field killings.
Additionally, in the official account, the deceased were labeled as “attackers” and “suspects” without due process or the opportunity to defend themselves, contravening the presumption of innocence and the right to a fair trial. Under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Principles on the Effective Prevention and Investigation of Extra-Legal, Arbitrary, and Summary Executions, any death resulting from state action must be promptly subjected to an independent, impartial, and transparent investigation, ensuring that families have the right to truth and legal redress.
