Kurdish Activists under Continued Pressure from Security Agencies
10:39 - 7 July 2015
Kurdpa: Lately, the Intelligence Office of Wurme (West Azerbijan) Province has been putting pressure on cultural activists in attempts to hamper their activities.
Kurdpa has learned that the security offices of Wurme Province in the city of Wurme, and several other cities, have summoned more than 50 cultural activists so far.
One of those summoned told Kurdpa that, “We have been asked to limit our activities”.
According to the activist, who spoke to Kurdpa on the condition of anonymity, more than 50 people have been questioned by security agencies, and among those names there are some civil servants included, as well.
The source also confirmed that these public service employees, who are also cultural activists, were told to limit their activities otherwise their jobs would be in jeopardy.
There are reports that the security agencies have summoned all the activists to question them for their alleged political activities.
The source further revealed to Kurdpa News Agency the names of many individuals whom were interrogated for hours while blindfolded.
Earlier, Erfan Saedpana, a Kurdish cultural activist and the head of “Hawraz” Association and a Kurdish language instructor in the city of Sina and Kaweh Khosrwai, a Master’s student at Payam-Nur University in Sina, were called to the city’s Intelligence Office, and the reasons for his summoning and questioned.
Also earlier in June, Kurdish political activist, Muxtar Zarei, was summoned to Sina’s Islamic Revolutionary Court for posts he made on his Facebook profile.
Also in June, the US State Department said in its annual report on Iran that the government disproportionately targets minority groups, including Kurds, Arabs, Azeris, and Baluchis, for arbitrary arrest, prolonged detention, and physical abuse.
Writing by Kurdpa Staff Writers and editing by Sharmin Hassaniani.
Kurdpa has learned that the security offices of Wurme Province in the city of Wurme, and several other cities, have summoned more than 50 cultural activists so far.
One of those summoned told Kurdpa that, “We have been asked to limit our activities”.
According to the activist, who spoke to Kurdpa on the condition of anonymity, more than 50 people have been questioned by security agencies, and among those names there are some civil servants included, as well.
The source also confirmed that these public service employees, who are also cultural activists, were told to limit their activities otherwise their jobs would be in jeopardy.
There are reports that the security agencies have summoned all the activists to question them for their alleged political activities.
The source further revealed to Kurdpa News Agency the names of many individuals whom were interrogated for hours while blindfolded.
Earlier, Erfan Saedpana, a Kurdish cultural activist and the head of “Hawraz” Association and a Kurdish language instructor in the city of Sina and Kaweh Khosrwai, a Master’s student at Payam-Nur University in Sina, were called to the city’s Intelligence Office, and the reasons for his summoning and questioned.
Also earlier in June, Kurdish political activist, Muxtar Zarei, was summoned to Sina’s Islamic Revolutionary Court for posts he made on his Facebook profile.
Also in June, the US State Department said in its annual report on Iran that the government disproportionately targets minority groups, including Kurds, Arabs, Azeris, and Baluchis, for arbitrary arrest, prolonged detention, and physical abuse.
Writing by Kurdpa Staff Writers and editing by Sharmin Hassaniani.
