Release on parole of Kurdish political prisoner following protest against injustice and conditions of detention during the prosecutor's visit

May 17, 2025, Kianoush Cheraghi, a Kurdish political prisoner from Dehloran and one of the detainees of the “Jin, Jiyan, Azadi” revolutionary uprising, was released from Mahpareh Prison in Ilam after his custodial sentence was converted to a parole. The release followed a visit by a delegation from the Tehran Prosecutor’s Office and Cheraghi’s vocal protest against the inhumane and unjust prison conditions.

Cheraghi had been brutally arrested on February 17, 2025, after his electronic monitoring order was revoked, and was transferred to Mahpareh Prison to serve a sentence. During his imprisonment, he engaged in at least two hunger strikes in protest against prison conditions and the lack of due legal process.

According to a source speaking to Kurdpa, a delegation from the Tehran Prosecutor’s Office recently visited Mahpareh Prison. During this visit, Cheraghi strongly objected to the degrading prison conditions, the unfair judicial proceedings, and the violations of his rights. In response, authorities converted his sentence to a release on parole.

Despite his current release, the source noted that Cheraghi still faces multiple unresolved legal cases. These include charges such as “propaganda against the state,” “insulting and threatening law enforcement officers,” and “spreading disinformation online.” If convicted on any of these charges, his parole will be reinstated and enforced.

Background and Legal Proceedings:

Kianoush Cheraghi has been repeatedly arrested, tried, and imprisoned since October 2022, facing continuous judicial and security pressure due to his political activities:

In October 2023, he was arrested without a warrant at his residence and later released on bail after interrogation.

In November 2023, Branch 101 of the Dehloran Criminal Court, presided over by Judge Hossein Panahi, sentenced him to two years in prison and a compulsory 200-page research study on charges of “spreading false information.”

Previously, Branch 2 of the Ilam Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Seyed Reza Salahoddini, sentenced him to one year in prison for “propaganda against the regime.”

In April 2024, he was transferred to Ilam Prison to begin serving his sentences.

Electronic Monitoring and Its Revocation;

Cheraghi was temporarily released under electronic monitoring but faced severe restrictions due to the device's limited range in the rural areas surrounding Dehloran. His requests for transfer or work leave were denied.

According to informed sources, Dehloran’s newly appointed prosecutor, Hossein Panahi, played a significant role in the sudden revoking of the monitoring order. This decision was officially upheld by Branch 6 of the Ilam Court of Appeals on February 15, 2025.

Violent Arrest and Hunger Strikes;

On February 17, 2025, security forces raided Mr. Cheraghi’s residence, brutally assaulted and detained him. During his transfer to Ilam Prison, he was severely beaten, resulting in a broken tooth, and injuries to his jaw and knee.

He immediately began a hunger strike, both dry and wet, and on the seventh day, he stitched his lips shut. Due to the deterioration of his health, he was eventually hospitalized. The hunger strike lasted nine days and was suspended after authorities promised to review his case.

On March 5, 2025, after a sudden transfer to “Darreh Shahr” Prison and continued neglect of his demands, Mr. Cheraghi initiated a second hunger strike. In an audio message recorded during this protest, he described the revoking of his monitoring as “unlawful,” the beating as a “violation of human rights,” and his arrest as “beyond the legal detention period.”

Medical Neglect;

Despite suffering physical injuries from the torture, Mr. Cheraghi was denied access to medical care while in prison. Repeated medical requests were ignored, further exacerbating his condition.

This case exemplifies the broader pattern of arbitrary detention, judicial harassment, and denial of due process faced by political prisoners in Iran, particularly those from the Kurdish minority.