Ashkhaneh; Amirhossein Afra, Kurmanji Kurd Detained in January, Sentenced to Imprisonment, Flogging, and Cash Fine

August 5, 2026 – "Amirhossein Afra," a young Kurmanji Kurd from Ashkhaneh in North Khorasan Province who was arrested in connection with the January 2026 protests, was recently sentenced by a branch of the Criminal Court to 12 months of discretionary imprisonment, 74 lashes, and a cash fine of 645 million Tomans.

An informed source, confirming this news, told Kurdpa: "Amirhossein Afra," who had not taken part in the protests and was arrested during the wave of mass arbitrary arrests following the January protests, was sentenced by a branch of the Criminal Court of Ashkhaneh County on charges of "disrupting public order and peace" and "resisting officers while performing their duties and clashing with them" to 12 months of discretionary imprisonment, 74 lashes, and a cash fine of 645 million Tomans.

His trial was held in absentia, and this verdict was verbally communicated to him in early August 2026. He has now appealed this verdict.

In March 2026 (Esfand 1404), following the January 2026 protests, "Amirhossein Afra" was arrested without a judicial warrant by security forces during a wave of mass arrests of citizens and transferred to an unknown location. After one week of detention, he was temporarily released on bail.

Throughout the entire period of arbitrary detention, this Kurdish citizen was deprived of the right to access a lawyer, family visits, and phone calls.