Iran
In 1988 Iranian authorities executed 2,800–5,000 political prisoners in at least 32 cities. Sunni Muslims, mostly Kurds and Baluch, report that they may not build a mosque in Tehran; prayer halls have been closed or demolished and Eid prayers blocked. Kurdish activists and Sunni prisoners have been hanged after trials that rights groups call unfair, including a mass hanging of up to 20 Sunni Kurdish men in August 2016. On 30 September 2022 security forces shot worshippers and protesters after Friday prayers in Zahedan, killing 66–104 people, and killed 18 more in Khash five weeks later. Sunni clerics and associates of Zahedan's imam Molavi Abdolhamid have since been arrested.
Key numbers
Who is responsible
The Islamic Republic of Iran: its judiciary and 1988 'death committees' (named by HRW: Hosseinali Nayyeri, Morteza Eshraghi, Mostafa Pourmohammadi), the Ministry of Intelligence, police and security forces, and local authorities such as the Tehran municipality.
Timeline
- 1988 2,800–5,000 political prisoners executed in the summer prison massacre.
- 1996 Sunni imam Mamousta Rabiei killed in Kermanshah.
- 2010 Teacher Farzad Kamangar and four other Kurdish prisoners hanged in Evin.
- 2013 Security forces block Sunni Eid prayers in Tehran.
- 2015 Sunni prayer hall in Punak, Tehran, demolished.
- 2016 Up to 20 Sunni Kurdish men hanged in one week.
- 2021 Sunni mosque foundations demolished in Iranshahr.
- 2022 'Bloody Friday' in Zahedan and killings in Khash and Kurdish cities.
- 2023 Associates of Molavi Abdolhamid and Sunni imams arrested; 216 detained on the anniversary.
Records (17)
1988 prison massacre
In the summer of 1988 Iranian authorities executed political prisoners in at least 32 cities after questioning by 'death commissions' about their loyalty and beliefs; most were Mojahedin-e Khalq supporters, then leftists. Human Rights Watch puts the toll at 2,800 to 5,000 and calls the killings crimes against humanity.
2,800–5,000 killed
Source: Human Rights Watch: Iran's 1988 Mass Executions · Wikipedia: 1988 executions of Iranian political prisoners
Killing of Sunni imam Mamousta Rabiei
Molla Mohammad Rabiei, the Sunni Friday prayer imam of Kermanshah, was killed on 3 December 1996 and his body left near his home. His wife says Iranian intelligence agents killed him; his death set off three days of clashes between Sunni Kurds and security forces.
1 killed
Source: Radio Farda: The Day They Killed My Husband · Wikipedia: Iranian Kurdistan
Execution of Kurdish activist Ehsan Fattahian
Kurdish activist Ehsan Fattahian, 28, was hanged in Sanandaj prison after an appeal court replaced his 10-year sentence with death. Rights groups called him a prisoner of conscience convicted without due process.
1 killed
Five Kurdish prisoners hanged at Evin
Teacher Farzad Kamangar, Shirin Alam Hooli, Farzad Vakili, Ali Heydarian and Mehdi Eslamian were hanged in Evin prison on 9 May 2010; at least four were Kurds. Officials alleged links to PJAK and bombings; Kamangar's lawyer said he was sentenced 'on absolutely zero evidence'.
5 killed
Sunni Eid prayers blocked in Tehran
Security forces blocked Sunni worshippers from Sadeghiyeh prayer site and several other places of worship in Tehran on Eid al-Fitr (9 August 2013) and surrounded the site again before Eid al-Adha in October. Since 1979 Sunnis in Tehran province have reportedly been denied permission to build and run mosques.
Source: Human Rights Watch: Iran: Lift Restrictions on Sunni Worship
Sunni prayer hall in Punak demolished
A Sunni prayer hall in the Punak area of Tehran was demolished in 2015 by municipal forces with police and security support, after security forces visited the hall and searched the imam's home. Sunnis have no mosque in Tehran.
1 mosques & sacred places destroyed
Source: Radio Farda (Persian): 18 MPs criticize closure of a Sunni prayer hall · Radio Farda (Persian): Sunni clerics barred from travel
Salehiyeh Sunni prayer hall closed
The Salehiyeh Sunni prayer hall in Eslamshahr near Tehran had its activities suspended and was not allowed to hold Eid al-Fitr prayers in 2016; Eid prayers were reportedly not allowed at the Tehran Pars site either. 18 members of parliament protested to the interior minister.
Source: Radio Farda (Persian): 18 MPs criticize closure of a Sunni prayer hall
Mass hanging of Sunni Kurdish men
Up to 20 men were hanged in Iran in the first week of August 2016; reports said most, if not all, were Sunni Muslims from the Kurdish community. The UN human rights chief called it 'a grave injustice' and cited 'overly broad and vague criminal charges'.
≤20 killed
Source: RFE/RL: UN Rights Chief Deplores 'Mass Executions' In Iran · RFE/RL: Iran Hits Back At Criticism Over Executions
Pressure halts Sunni fiqh council; clerics barred from travel
Iran's Sunni fiqh council suspended its work on 13 July 2017 after members in Kurdistan were summoned and threatened; some Sunni schools in Kurdistan were reportedly closed. Sunni clerics say intelligence offices bar them from travelling to Sunni-majority cities.
Source: Radio Farda (Persian): Sunni clerics barred from travel
Sunni mosque foundations demolished in Iranshahr
On 23 January 2021 the foundations of a Sunni mosque under construction in Iranshahr were demolished. Baluch activists said it was done 'to pressure' Sunnis; the mayor said the construction was not approved.
1 mosques & sacred places destroyed
Source: RFE/RL: Activists Say Sunni Mosque Foundations Demolished
Zahedan 'Bloody Friday'
On 30 September 2022, after Friday prayers, security forces fired live ammunition, metal pellets and tear gas at protesters and worshippers near the Great Mosalla of Zahedan. Amnesty recorded 66 killed that day (82 with later incidents); Iran Human Rights later counted at least 104.
66–104 killed
Source: Amnesty International: at least 82 Baluchi protesters and bystanders killed · RFE/RL: Hundreds detained after anniversary (IHR: 104 killed)
Khash killings after Friday prayers
On 4 November 2022 security forces fired on protesters, worshippers and passers-by in Khash after Friday prayers, from the governor's building and from trucks near the al-Khalil mosque. Amnesty counted 18 killed, including two children.
16–18 killed
Source: Radio Farda (Persian): Amnesty statement on Sistan-Baluchestan · Wikipedia: 2022 Khash massacre
Crackdown in Kurdish cities
In November 2022 security forces used live ammunition against protesters in Kurdish cities including Javanrud, Piranshahr, Sanandaj and Bukan. Hengaw counted at least 42 Kurds killed on 15–21 November; Iran Human Rights counted at least 83 dead in Kurdistan, Kermanshah and West Azerbaijan provinces.
42–83 killed
Arrests of Molavi Abdolhamid's associates
In late June 2023 authorities arrested several associates of Molavi Abdolhamid, Zahedan's Sunni imam, including his grandson and staff of the Makki Mosque; an IRGC-linked outlet said they were accused of 'disturbing public minds'.
3 detained
Source: RFE/RL: Iranian Authorities Arrest Associates Of Iran's Top Sunni Leader
Arrest of Sunni imam of Rask
Molavi Fathi Mohammad Naqshbandi, Sunni imam of Rask, was arrested in public in August 2023 and charged with 'disturbing public sentiment through misleading speeches' and 'defamation against the Islamic republic'.
1 detained
Mass arrests on 'Bloody Friday' anniversary
Around the first anniversary of the Zahedan killings, Haalvsh said at least 216 people, including minors, were arrested across Sistan-Baluchestan from 30 September 2023; it identified 121, among them 38 minors.
216 detained
Execution of Sunni Kurdish prisoner Qasem Abatebeh
Qasem Abatebeh, a Kurdish Sunni prisoner sentenced to death in 2019 with six others for 'corruption on earth', was executed in a Karaj prison after nearly 14 years in prison, HRANA reported. He had thyroid cancer and had gone on hunger strikes.
1 killed
Source: RFE/RL: Kurdish Man Executed In Iran After Serving Nearly 14 Years