October 29, 2026; The 9-year discretionary sentenced imprisonment term of "Dr. Nabi Omidi," a Kurdish citizen from Malekshahi in Ilam Province and Associate Professor of Economics at Payame Noor University of Ilam, was upheld in full by the Court of Appeals, with five years being executable. Dismissal and severance from the university, a travel ban, confiscation of his passport, and a prohibition on entering Malekshahi County are additional supplementary punishments issued against him. Dr. Omidi was violently arrested in January 2026 for supporting the people during the protests, suffering fractures to his hand and nose during his arrest. After several months of detention, he was temporarily released on bail in April 2026.

An informed source confirmed this news to Kurdpa, stating that Branch 1 of the Court of Appeals of Ilam Province upheld Dr. Nabi Omidi's 9-year discretionary sentenced imprisonment in full. In early October 2026, he had been sentenced by Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Ilam to 9 years of discretionary imprisonment on charges of "acting against national security," "assembly and collusion against national security," and "propaganda against the system" in connection with supporting the December 2025/January 2026 protests; under the issued verdict, the maximum penalty—five years of imprisonment—is executable.

In addition to the prison sentence, other supplementary punishments were issued against him, including dismissal and severance from Payame Noor University of Ilam, a travel ban, passport confiscation, and a prohibition on entering Malekshahi County. According to Kurdpa's informed source, Dr. Omidi currently resides in the city of Ilam and is barred from entering or residing in Malekshahi. Furthermore, his order of severance from the university was implemented some time ago.

On the evening of Sunday, January 4, 2026, Dr. Nabi Omidi and his brother "Ali-Akbar Omidi" were violently arrested without a judicial warrant by security forces and transferred to an undisclosed location. Security forces raided the homes of his father, brother, and other relatives to arrest Dr. Nabi Omidi, arresting both brothers with severe violence, physical beatings, and physical altercations. Security forces treated Dr. Nabi Omidi with extreme violence during the arrest and severely beat him, causing fractures to his hand and nose.

After enduring 30 days of solitary confinement in an Ilam Intelligence Department detention center—during which he was deprived of access to legal counsel, family visits, phone calls, and medical care—Dr. Nabi Omidi was transferred to Ilam Central Prison. He was eventually released temporarily on bail in April 2026.

Prior to his arrest, Dr. Omidi published a video on his Instagram page in support of people facing pressure, suffering, and restrictions, emphasizing the human and civil responsibility to support them. In this video, he stated: "Due to all this pressure, suffering, hardship, and restriction against the Iranian people, we consider it our human, conscientious, social, and civil duty to protest, and officials have a duty to provide a rapid and clear response to the people's demands."

He concluded his protest message with a poem in the Laki language:

Čam-e zemestān derī, sāz-e vehārān ženī

Das melem bāġ-e to, halp-vehārān gerī

Jām-e mey hāverdgeh, mezgānī-ye Golvanī

Va re-sarī xor, zolf-e to, sour-e souriyā gerī

The English translation of which reads: "You await the end of winter and play the tunes of spring; I place my arm around your garden's neck to set off the dance and celebration of spring. The goblet of wine has been brought; this is the joyful tidings of the Golvani (traditional Laki headscarf). The sun is on its way, and your locks bring forth the grand celebration of leaders."

Dr. Nabi Omidi, a researcher in economics and development and former Associate Professor of Economics at Payame Noor University of Ilam, is recognized for his focus on political economy and Iran's structural challenges. In his scholarly works and articles, including the formulation of the "Iranian Disease" theory regarding complex mismatched systems under stagflation and institutional inefficiency, as well as clarifying the concept of "Budgetary Infertility" within the public finance system, he has conducted structural analyses of Iran's economic issues.