ERBIL — The Hengaw Organization for Human Rights has reported a significant increase in human rights abuses in Iranian Kurdistan and across Iran during 2024, with 57 Kolbars killed and 282 others injured.

The organization’s comprehensive report also highlights a surge in executions, arbitrary detentions, and political repression, painting a grim picture of the escalating violence and systemic abuses in the region.

The Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, an independent group dedicated to documenting human rights abuses in Kurdistan and across Iran, has released a comprehensive report on the state of human rights in the region for 2024. The findings paint a grim picture, revealing a significant rise in executions, arbitrary arrests, organized violence, and other forms of repression.

According to the organization’s statistics, a total of 901 prisoners were executed in Iran during the year. In addition, 339 Kolbars—individuals who transport goods across the Iran-Iraq border—were either killed or injured. These border workers continue to face severe risks, with 81% of casualties resulting from direct fire by Iranian armed forces.

The report also highlights a disturbing trend of civilian casualties, with 57 people killed by mines and explosives. Prison conditions were equally dire, with 22 prisoners dying in Iranian jails under questionable circumstances. Over 1,200 individuals were arrested, and 33 political activists or protesters were sentenced to death.

Political dissent was met with harsh punishment: 468 political activists received a total of 1,684 years, eight months, and 20 days in prison, along with 94 years of suspended sentences and 2,547 lashes. Among the harshest statistics were reports of domestic violence, with at least 182 women killed by family members.

One of the most concerning trends highlighted in the report is the increase in violence against Kolbars. Hengaw’s findings show a notable rise in casualties, with 57 Kolbars killed and 282 injured in 2024. The most affected provinces were Sanandaj and Kermanshah, which recorded a combined 307 incidents.

The report underscores a pattern of escalating violence and repression, particularly in border areas, as authorities continue to target vulnerable populations, including Kolbars, political activists, and civilians, in a broader crackdown on dissent. Hengaw’s documentation serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing human rights violations taking place across Iran and in Kurdish regions.