This page keeps the memory of 29 people of Saqqez, in the province of Kurdistan. The list begins on 13 Aban 1392 and reaches 6 Azar 1403. The list for Saqqez is short, but the fates in it are varied: 13 people were executed, 8 were killed in protests, 4 were killed by government forces outside the protests, one person lost their life in custody and 3 people are still at risk of execution.
Years and ages
The year 1401, with 10 names, has the largest share. After it come the year 1403 with 5 names, the years 1395, 1399 and 1402 with 4 names each, and the years 1392 and 1393 with one name each. The day 13 Mordad 1395 with 3 names and the day 8 Farvardin 1399 with 2 names are days on which more than one person from this city gave their life. The ages range from 17 to 66 years, and the median is 34 years. One person was under 18, and the sources have written of 7 people, that is, a large part of this short list, that they were women.
Shirko Moarefi, the first name
Shirko Moarefi was 33 years old and unmarried. One of his friends remembers him like this: “He was a humorous and lively person and was always laughing.” The source writes that in the year 1383 he joined Komala and was a peshmerga for 4 years, and in prison he spent two nights in solitary confinement for having a book of Kurdish poetry. This sentence of his remains: “I carried on my shoulders only a backpack full of love for humanity and the caress of freedom.” On 13 Aban 1392, without his family knowing, he was hanged in the visiting hall of Saqqez Central Prison. The charge they attributed to him was moharebeh (enmity against God); this is a term the court used, not a verdict of guilt.
Fereydoun Mahmoudi and Shayan Saeedpour
Fereydoun Mahmoudi, 32 years old, was a construction steel fixer. He had left school to help with the family's expenses, and according to the source, “he loved his family very much, had a calm personality and was a very kind person.” This wish of his remains: “If only I could do something.” He was killed by a bullet on 28 Shahrivar 1401 and buried at night and without a ceremony. One of those close to him has said: “My Fereydoun had anaemia… You are not even honest with yourselves.”
Shayan Saeedpour, 22 years old, “had also achieved first place in the province and third place in the country” in zurkhaneh sport. His family say that at the time of the crime “he was exactly 17 years, 10 months and 25 days old.” He was executed on 2 Ordibehesht 1399. Navid Fathi, unmarried, was twice taken to the foot of the gallows and brought back, but was executed on 5 Shahrivar 1393 in Saqqez Prison.
Azad Shahabi and Himan Ahmadi
Azad Shahabi, 38 years old, sheikh of the Sheikh Abdolghader Gilani khanqah in Saqqez, “was married and had two children.” He had a bachelor's degree in political science and was interested in zurkhaneh sport, poetry and music. The source writes that he “helped the families of those who lost their lives in the protests in Kurdistan without anyone knowing.” On 28 Tir 1403 three unknown persons attacked his khanqah in the Tappeh Malan neighbourhood, and he lost his life in hospital. His family have said: “The family is not looking for three suspects, but for the thoughts and ideas behind these killings.” Himan Ahmadi, 45 years old, “father of one child,” was also killed outside the protests on 12 Ordibehesht 1403.
Sources and incompleteness
These 29 names are not all of those from Saqqez who lost their lives; the real number is higher and the names of many have not been published. In Saqqez, too, we include only names that a source has reported. The largest share is held by the Kurdistan Human Rights Network with 28 cases, followed by the Abdorrahman Boroumand Center and the Iran Human Rights Society with 16 each, Persian Wikipedia with 8, the Kurdistan Human Rights Network (English-language) with 6, English Wikipedia with 5, iranhrs.org with 3, HRANA with 2, and iranwire.com and Hengaw with one case each. If you knew one of these people of Saqqez, send us your memory or correction.