Bojnourd; Hamzeh Ahmadi Taraghi, a Young Kurd Kurmanji, Sentenced to Imprisonment, 148 Lashes, and Exile
July 17, 2026 – Hamzeh Ahmadi Taraghi, a 28-year-old Kurd Kurmanji youth from Bojnourd who was arrested by security forces during the December 2025 protests, has been sentenced to 2 years of discretionary imprisonment (Habs-e Ta'ziri), 148 lashes, and one year of internal exile to the city of Zehak in Sistan and Baluchestan province. Over the past few months, he faced four distinct charges across two fabricated cases handled by the Revolutionary and Criminal Courts of Bojnourd. He was deprived of the right to legal counsel throughout his judicial proceedings.
A well-informed source confirmed the news to Kurdpa, stating: "Hamzeh Ahmadi Taraghi, who was arrested by security forces during the 2025 protests and later released on bail, faced two fabricated cases in the Revolutionary and Criminal Courts of Bojnourd in April/May 2026."
According to the source, on April 22, 2026, Branch 2 of the Bojnourd Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Hossein Ebrahimi, sentenced him to 7 months and 15 days of discretionary imprisonment and 74 lashes on the charge of "propaganda against the state." Furthermore, arguing that the primary punishment was insufficient, the court imposed a supplementary sentence of one year of mandatory residency (internal exile) in Zehak, a county in Sistan and Baluchestan province, warning that non-compliance would result in harsher penalties.
The source added that subsequently, on May 16, 2026, Branch 102 of Criminal Court Two of Bojnourd, presided over by Judge Seyyed Mostafa Hashemi, prosecuted Hamzeh Ahmadi Taraghi under four charges based on a report by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Intelligence Organization and the case built following his detention. He was sentenced to two years of discretionary imprisonment and 74 lashes for "displaying power with a knife," one year of discretionary imprisonment for "disturbing public opinion and inciting violence in cyberspace," and two years of discretionary imprisonment for "resisting law enforcement officers while on duty." However, based on the law governing the consolidation of sentences, only the most severe punishment—namely, two years of discretionary imprisonment—will be enforceable.
The 28-year-old Kurdish youth lacked a lawyer to file an appeal against these verdicts within the statutory 20-day window.
According to the source, Hamzeh Ahmadi Taraghi was denied the right to choose legal counsel during his judicial process. Although the court ruling explicitly stated "currently released upon introducing a lawyer," he was practically denied access to one. Furthermore, court documents claimed that he had accepted the charges, whereas he not only rejected all allegations but also refused to sign any interrogation sheets attributed to him. During court sessions, he protested the charges, stating: "Bring the CCTV footage from my shop; if I had a knife or if there is any trace of me attacking the officers, execute me." Despite this, the court ignored his request.
Hamzeh Ahmadi Taraghi, a 28-year-old Kurd Kurmanji, was arrested on January 5, 2026, by the Public Security and Intelligence Police of North Khorasan. Armed plainclothes security forces in 5 to 6 vehicles raided his small shop without presenting a judicial warrant. After thoroughly searching and ransacking the shop, they transferred him to an undisclosed security detention center run by the Ministry of Intelligence.
During the raid, the security agents unlawfully confiscated the CCTV cameras and the hard drive recording the footage, which had captured the armed security forces entering without a warrant. During his detention, he was interrogated and pressured to sign fabricated cases and confess to the charges, but he refused. He was eventually released temporarily on bail after submitting two property deeds.
Born in 1998, Hamzeh Ahmadi Taraghi is a Kurd Kurmanji from Bojnourd who runs a small eatery. Following the security forces' raid on his workplace, his shop equipment suffered serious damage, and security threats and pressure against him continue.
He also suffers from a hearing impairment. Despite his physical condition, no attention was paid to his health status or special needs during both his detention and the subsequent judicial proceedings.
