Iraqi Kurdistan Region; Saadullah Jahangiri, University Professor and Political Activist from Ilam, Threatened with "Abduction and Assassination"

January 30, 2026; Saadullah Jahangiri, a Kurdish university professor and political activist from “Ilam” residing in the “Iraqi Kurdistan Region,” has faced serious life threats in recent months after more than three decades of encountering security pressures, including arrest, judicial file-building, dismissal from work, deprivation of education, administrative bans, direct threats, and forced departure from Iran. According to received information, these threats include the danger of his “abduction” and “assassination” outside Iran's borders and have been communicated to him directly.

Based on the same information, threats against Saadullah Jahangiri had existed continuously before, but they intensified simultaneously with events inside Iran, including the “Zhen, Zhian, Azadi” revolutionary uprising and the protests of January 2026. Particularly with the expansion of recent popular protests in “Ilam” province and the widespread suppression of protesters, reports of increased pressure and threats against him have been received, and specific warnings regarding the risk of abduction and assassination have been given to him.

The beginning of Saadullah Jahangiri’s political and cultural activities in the 1990s and the start of administrative and family pressures and punishments (arrest, dismissal from work, travel ban and passport denial, arrest of family members, and the employment ban on his sister to force his cooperation with security agencies);

Saadullah Jahangiri began his political and cultural activities in 1992; activities formed with the aim of increasing awareness regarding Kurdish rights, history, geography, politics, and culture, and explaining the historical links of the people of the “Zagros.” These activities were pursued through holding cultural meetings and circles, both in private homes and in the mountainous regions of “Ilam.”

In 1994, coinciding with his official employment at the “Ilam Province Department of Agriculture,” the scope of these activities expanded and was met with broader public reception. However, from the early 2000s, and particularly in 2001, the sensitivity of security agencies toward these activities increased. Addressing the Kurdish issue in a province with a Shia religious majority turned into a “security” matter from the government's perspective, and security agencies identified Saadullah Jahangiri as the main agent of these activities.

In that same year, he and a number of his friends and colleagues were arrested by security agencies. Mr. Jahangiri was held in solitary confinement for 15 days under interrogation and severe psychological torture. Subsequently, to apply additional pressure, he was transferred to the ward for violent crime prisoners in “Ilam Prison;” conditions which, in his own words, reached a point where he wished to return to solitary confinement. Ultimately, he was released upon posting a bail of 55 million Tomans.

Following his release, security pressures intensified to force him to “express remorse” and cooperate with security agencies. Upon his rejection of these requests, a series of punishments were imposed on him, including a four-year travel ban, a four-year deprivation of receiving a passport, and total deprivation from continuing work in official employment at the “Department of Agriculture” and all government institutions.

To increase pressure, his younger sister, who had passed the selection stages for employment as a teacher, was arrested, and after Saadullah Jahangiri refused to cooperate, she was deprived of employment in the “Ministry of Education.” Simultaneously, his brother was also arrested and faced a prison sentence.

Security-judicial file-building, issuance of a sentence, and his becoming a “starred student” due to non-cooperation with security agencies;

After release from prison, Saadullah Jahangiri applied for a Master's degree and was accepted, but upon being summoned again to the security agencies of “Ilam” and once again rejecting the request for cooperation, he was barred from continuing his studies and introduced as a “starred student.”

After the policy of starring students was set aside after two years, he applied for education once more and was accepted, but monthly summons, pressure to sign a cooperation commitment, and bribery offers—including compensation for back pay and returning to a government job—continued, all of which met his opposition.

On the other hand, in 2010, the “Public and Revolutionary Court of Ilam Province” sentenced him to one year of discretionary imprisonment with a four-year suspension on charges of “membership in various groups against the system with the intent to disrupt security;” a sentence that indicated security-judicial file-building against him.

Leaving Iran following continued security pressures in 2010 and the continuation of cross-border pressures and threats against him through threats of “abduction and assassination,” and the arrest and hostage-taking of family members;

Following the continuation of security pressures and threats, Saadullah Jahangiri was forced to leave Iran in 2010 and took refuge in the “Iraqi Kurdistan Region.” After entry, he began working as a lecturer at “Soran University,” but the threats did not stop.

In 2012, an individual introducing himself as a representative of the “Iranian Consulate” asked him to visit the “Sulaymaniyah Consulate;” a request he rejected and informed the relevant authorities in the “Kurdistan Region” about. These contacts were repeated in 2013 with renewed promises and bribery attempts.

From 2014 onward, the contacts took on an overtly threatening nature and were repeated many times in 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022. In these contacts, especially in the final years, he was told; “If you do not stop your activities on social media, abducting you is as easy as drinking water for us; you are not greater than Ruhollah Zam, we will put you in a sack and take you.”

These threats increased significantly simultaneously with the “Zhen, Zhian, Azadi” revolutionary uprising and were even raised publicly through direct messages on social media; a matter that Saadullah Jahangiri published publicly on his social media accounts.

In the summer of 2025, his sister, who had previously been arrested and deprived of employment, was arrested again following a raid by security forces on the home, and her mobile phone was confiscated. The condition for her release was announced as Saadullah Jahangiri’s return to Iran and his surrender to security agencies. After two weeks and the rejection of this condition, his sister was released.

In 2026, and coinciding with the January protests, the threats intensified once again. Based on information conveyed to him from informed sources, Saadullah Jahangiri is on the list of “assassination” targets and has received warnings regarding serious life dangers.

It is worth noting that various threats by the “Islamic Republic” against political and civil activists abroad, especially during political events, are widespread, and the “Islamic Republic” has carried them out in various ways. From cyber and targeted attacks to threats of abduction and assassination, and the execution of hundreds of cases of assassination on the soil of the “Iraqi Kurdistan Region” against political activists and members of “Kurdish” parties, which have been officially recorded.

Prepared by; Evin Mostafazadeh