Human Rights Council
Fifty-seventh session
9 September–9 October 2024
Agenda item 3
Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil,
political, economic, social and cultural rights,
including the right to development
Written statement submitted by Centre Zagros pour les Droits de l’Homme, a non-governmental organization in special consultative status
The Secretary-General has received the following written statement which is circulated in accordance with Economic and Social Council resolution 1996/31.
[12 August 2024]
The Situation of the Kurds in Iran
Introduction
The Kurds, an indigenous and ancient people, have lived on their lands for over 10,000 years. Spread across several countries, the majority of the Kurdish population is found in Turkey, Iran (Islamic Republic), Iraq, Syria, and Armenia. However, official statistics on their numbers are lacking due to the specific policies of these countries. Their population is estimated to be around 35 to 40 million. Historically, the Kurds have faced genocides and repression throughout both ancient and modern history.
Kurdish Community in Iran
In Iran, the Kurds make up approximately 16 to 17% of the population, roughly 14 to 15 million people. They mainly reside in the provinces of West Azerbaijan, Kurdistan, Kermanshah, Ilam, Lorestan, and Hamadan, with some also living in the Khorasan provinces. Religiously, the majority of Kurds in Iran are Muslims, predominantly Sunni, with a notable presence of Shia, as well as adherents of other beliefs such as Yarsanis (Ahl al-Haq), Baha’is, and Zoroastrians.
Discrimination and Human Rights
Despite the equal rights promised by the Iranian constitution, the Kurds continue to face systematic discrimination that limits their access to employment, housing, education, and political positions. Kurdish regions in Iran exhibit some of the highest unemployment rates in the country, a problem exacerbated by economic marginalization and the lack of public investment in these areas. The teaching of the Kurdish language is also absent from public schools, occurring only in private settings, posing a major obstacle to the preservation of Kurdish language and culture.
In 2024, repression against the Kurds intensified, with arbitrary arrests, acts of torture, and executions of Kurdish activists. Human rights defenders and environmental activists continue to denounce the disproportionate use of force by Iranian authorities, as well as the inhumane detention conditions in which Kurdish political prisoners are held.
Economic Conditions
Kurdish regions in Iran suffer from blatant economic neglect, leading to entrenched poverty and chronic underdevelopment. Industrial projects are limited or prohibited, and although the region is rich in natural resources like oil and gold, the benefits of their extraction do not accrue to the local populations. The revenues generated are largely directed towards the center of the country, thereby reinforcing the economic disparities between Kurdish regions and the rest of Iran.
Environment
The environmental policies of the Iranian government are severely damaging to Kurdish regions. The destruction of forests, the diversion of water resources, and the drying up of Lake Urmia and Lake Zeribar have caused dangerous natural phenomena that gravely affect local communities.
Education
The lack of educational infrastructure and the absence of teaching in the Kurdish mother tongue constitute major obstacles to the education of Kurdish children. The prohibition of Kurdish language instruction in public schools deprives young Kurds of the opportunity to be educated in their native language, threatening the transmission of their culture and identity.
Culture and Religion
Kurds in Iran face strict cultural restrictions that deeply affect their daily lives and collective identity. The state imposes limitations on the choice of Kurdish names for children, which constitutes a direct infringement on the cultural expression of the Kurds.
Religiously, although Sunni Islam is recognized, Sunni Kurds face significant discrimination. The Shia authorities in power tend to marginalize Sunni Kurds, who are often excluded from positions of power and public office. This religious marginalization is also evident in the repression of Sunni religious practices, including the closure of Sunni mosques and the arrest of Sunni religious leaders.
The Yarsani religion, primarily practiced by Kurds, is not recognized by the Iranian state. Adherents of this religion are often persecuted and discriminated against, and their places of worship are monitored or closed.
Political Rights
Kurdish political demonstrations in Iran are regularly suppressed by security forces, often with excessive violence. Kurdish activists, even those advocating peaceful solutions, are frequently arrested and sentenced to lengthy prison terms. The Iranian government justifies these actions by citing threats to national security, but human rights defenders denounce these repressions as blatant violations of political and civil rights.
Executions and Repression
During the first six months of 2024, 76 Kurdish citizens were executed in Iran. This number continues to rise, with an increasing number of death sentences handed down against Kurdish political activists, often following unfair trials based on charges of “Moharebeh” (enmity against God) or terrorism.
Extrajudicial Killings
During the first six months of 2024, 37 Kolbars were killed and more than 237 injured, often by direct gunfire from armed forces. Kolbars, Kurdish porters who carry goods across the mountainous border between Iran and Iraqi Kurdistan, are considered illegal smugglers by Iranian authorities, despite the fact that this activity is often their only means of subsistence due to the lack of economic opportunities in Kurdish regions.
Recommendations to the Islamic Republic of Iran Regarding the Respect of Kurdish Rights :
- Adherence to International Humanitarian Law;
As a signatory of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Iran should strictly comply with international humanitarian law standards. This implies a measured and proportionate use of force, in accordance with international principles of justice and human rights. Iran must also ensure that trials of Kurdish activists adhere to international standards of justice, including guaranteeing fair procedures and the absence of torture.
- Implementation of Minority Rights;
Iran is encouraged to fully implement the provisions of the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to Minorities, which covers national, ethnic, religious, and linguistic rights. This includes protecting and promoting the cultural, social, and economic rights of Kurdish communities, thereby ensuring their full integration and participation in Iranian society.
- Combat Against Intolerance and Discrimination:
It is recommended that Iran intensify its efforts to combat all forms of intolerance and discrimination, in line with Human Rights Council Resolution 16/18. This includes combating negative stereotypes, stigmatization, discrimination, and incitement to violence based on religion or belief. Active engagement in these areas would contribute to the creation of a more inclusive society that respects diversity.
Projet Démocratique du Kurdistan iranien -PDKI, Alliance for Minority Rights, Kurdistan Human Rights Reporters Center NGO(s) without consultative status, also share the views expressed in this statement.