Fourteen years ago, seven young men were found guilty of murder and endangering national security and were sentenced to death. Now all seven are executed. These men were part of a Salafi movement that emerged in the absence of the Baath regime in northern Iraq’s Kurdistan independent region. They were particularly active in the remote Hawraman area and posed a threat to the region’s stability. The KRG (Kurdistan Regional Government) intervened militarily and regained control of the area from these Salafi groups. During the intervention, some members of the Salafi movement fled to Iran and were settled in a military base near Mariwan. Evidence suggests that the Iranian regime had its own agenda for this ultra-religious group, hoping that it would weaken the strong Kurdish identity in the area and replace it with a more religious one.

The Salafi movement managed to establish links in all the cities across the Kurdish region, with the regime actively promoting local participation in the group. Some young individuals joined the movement without a clear understanding of its ideology and objectives. These young men were discontented with the central government’s efforts to suppress the Kurdish people and saw the Salafi movement as an alternative means to resist the regime.

Following a series of unexpected events, the government viewed the rapid growth of the Salafi movement as a concern. They believed that this movement, which they suspected was backed by Saudi Arabia, had the potential to create unrest in the area. As a result, individuals associated with the Salafi group were subjected to widespread arrests, rushed trials, and subsequent executions.

Seven individuals from Mahabad were apprehended on the charges of having links with the Salafi group and for allegedly killing Mamosta Abdul Rahim Tina, a prominent religious leader who held the position of head Imam in a local mosque. It is noteworthy that Mamosta Abdul Rahim Tina was a highly respected and admired cleric in the city of Mahabad.

On November 22, 2009, the security forces in Mahabad apprehended seven men who were subsequently transferred to Urumieh Etelaat prison. Their names are as follows: Ayyoub Karimi, Qasim Abesteh, Daoud Abdullahi, Farhad Salimi, Anvar Xzri, Xosrow Basharat and Kamran Shexe. After a final trial in 2018, all of them were sentenced to death.

Iran remains one of the few nations that persist in employing capital punishment, despite global criticism. Notably, these individuals were initially encouraged by the government to join the Salafi movement, only to be later imprisoned, tried, and executed by the same authority for their affiliation with the movement. The Iranian regime disregards traditional legal principles and employs any method necessary to eliminate dissenting voices that pose a threat to its power.

We in Nemiran Center condemn the execution and ask the international community to stop these executions.

Author: Ghader Sohrabi