September 10, 2026; Yesterday, "Mojtaba Babakhani," a Kurdish citizen from Ilam and a protestor from the January 2026 demonstrations who had been in hiding over recent months to avoid arbitrary arrest by security forces, ended his life by detonating a hand grenade as security and military forces raided his hiding place in an attempt to apprehend him. This marks the second instance of a protestor losing their life during arrest attempts by military and security forces over the past three weeks.

An informed source confirmed the news to Kurdpa, stating: On the morning of Wednesday, September 9, 2026, "Mojtaba Babakhani," a Kurdish citizen residing in Ilam and a participant in the January 2026 protests, ended his life with a hand grenade to avoid falling into the hands of security personnel as special forces and security officers raided his and his brother Shoja Babakhani's hiding place in Islamieh township, Mehran. During the operation, security forces were unable to arrest his brother, Shoja.

Mojtaba Babakhani, son of Taher, was a young Kurdish resident of Ilam belonging to the Naqi (Nazarbeg) tribe and a participant in the January 2026 protests. Security forces had repeatedly raided their family home without presenting judicial warrants to arbitrarily arrest him and his brother, forcing them into hiding.

The Naqi (Nazarbeg) tribe is centered in Malekshahi, Ilam, with significant populations residing in nearby Mehran as well as the city of Ilam, where Mojtaba Babakhani lived.

State-run media in the Islamic Republic of Iran, without disclosing the names of Mojtaba Babakhani or his brother or the full context of the event, published a report on September 9, 2026, quoting the Governor of Mehran, Heidar Nemati. According to the report, during an operation by "judicial agents" to arrest two individuals, one "was killed by detonating a grenade in his possession," while authorities continue efforts to apprehend the second individual. State media also reported that two "judicial agents" were injured during the incident.

Local sources in Ilam told Kurdpa that security forces have significantly intensified pressure to arrest protestors across Ilam in recent months, forcing many young individuals into hiding as security forces attempt to arrest anyone under suspicion.

This represents the second protestor killed during arrest attempts in the past three weeks. On the morning of Thursday, August 20, 2026, "Pourya Naderi," a 29-year-old Yarsani Kurdish youth who had previously been detained for 6 months during the January 2026 protests and 3 months during the "Woman, Life, Freedom" movement, was fatally shot twice inside his vehicle by law enforcement personnel from the Dowlatabad station in Kermanshah upon identification for arrest.

Indiscriminate shootings by military personnel targeting Kurdish citizens have escalated sharply in recent months, resulting in numerous civilian and protestor fatalities amid an intensified security environment. Government forces and the judiciary have held no officers accountable nor conducted judicial investigations into these shootings, including:

  • May 28, 2026: Two Yarsani Kurdish brothers, "Mojtaba Veisi" and "Meysam Veisi," were directly targeted and killed by IRGC Intelligence forces in Qaleh-Kavosh village, Dalahu, after their hiding location was identified.
  • July 26, 2026: "Mehdi Tavakkoli," a photographer from Sanandaj, along with his mother "Maryam Aslani" and sister "Somayyeh Tavakkoli," were killed when security forces opened fire on their vehicle along a highway near Marivan.
  • July 28, 2026: "Seyed Ahmad Esmaeili," a 26-year-old youth from Mahabad, was shot and killed by IRGC forces near the Boukan Dam.
  • August 20, 2026: "Pourya Naderi," a 29-year-old Yarsani youth, was killed inside his car on the Dowlatabad–Dareh Derizh road in Kermanshah after being shot in the head and heart by law enforcement officers.