April 17, 2023 – Bokan (Eastern Kurdistan – Rojhilat)
31-50-year-old. Held in detention for 130 days and subjected to torture during his interrogations( strangulation, mock executions, electric shocks, sleep deprivation) before being sentenced to death twice plus 15 years in prison…
- Last update: 13:19 - First published
Rizgar Begzadeh Babamiri is a Kurdish political prisoner who was tortured for months for giving medicine to the wounded during the “Jin Jiyan Azadî” (Woman, Life, Freedom) protests sparked by the death of Jina Mahsa Amini after she was arrested for not wearing a headscarf in September 2022.
He was arrested by the intelligence services on April 17, 2023, in Bokan, in eastern Kurdistan (Rojhilat), and transferred to the prison in Urmia.
In a detailed letter, he describes the torture and abuse he suffered in an Iranian prison. He was held in detention for 130 days and subjected to torture during his interrogations: strangulation, mock executions, electric shocks, and sleep deprivation.
Rizgar Begzadeh Babamiri is being prosecuted by the 10th branch of the Revolutionary Court of Urmia for “armed rebellion, gathering and conspiracy against national security, propaganda against the state, and espionage.”
On July 7, 2025, the first chamber of the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Urmia, presided over by Judge Reza Najafzadeh and Counselor Esmail Bazrkari, sentenced him to two death penalties and 15 years in prison.
According to some reports, the court handed down these sentences without taking into account reports of torture, forced confessions, and security scenarios developed by the intelligence services at the Urmia detention center.
Physical violence
| X | Arrest |
| X | Detention / Custody |
| Hustle / Projection | |
| Prone position / lying flat on the stomach / ventral decubitus | |
| “Folding” (holding a person in a seated position with their head resting on their knees) | |
| Painful armlock | |
| Kicks, punches, slaps | |
| Feet / knees on the nape of the neck, chest or face | |
| Blows to the victim while under control and/or on the ground | |
| Blows to the ears | |
| X | Strangulation / chokehold |
| Fingers forced backwards | |
| Spraying with water | |
| Dog bites | |
| Hair pulling | |
| Painful tightening of colson ties or handcuffs | |
| Painfully pulling by colson ties or handcuffs | |
| Sexual abuse | |
| Striking with a police vehicle | |
| X | Electric shocks |
| Use of gloves | |
| Use of firearm | |
| Use of “Bean bags” (a coton sack containing tiny lead bullets) | |
| Use of FlashBall weapon | |
| Use of sound grenade | |
| Use of dispersal grenade | |
| Use of teargas grenade | |
| Use of rubber bullets weapon (LBD40 type) | |
| Use of batons | |
| Use of Pepper Spray | |
| Use of Taser gun | |
| Use of tranquillisers | |
| Execution | |
| Disappearance |
Psychological violence
| Charge of disturbing public order | |
| Charge of rebellion | |
| Accusation of beatings to officer | |
| Charge of threatening officer | |
| Charge of insulting an officer | |
| Charge of disrespect | |
| Charge of resisting arrest | |
| Aggressive behaviour, disrespect, insults | |
| Intimidation, blackmail, threats | |
| Vexing or intimidating identity check | |
| X | Mock execution |
| Intimidation or arrest of witnesses | |
| Prevented from taking photographs or from filming the scene | |
| Calls to end torment remained unheeded | |
| Prolonged uncomfortable position | |
| Failure to assist a person in danger | |
| Photographs, fingerprints, DNA | |
| Threat with a weapon | |
| Shooting in the back | |
| Charging without warning | |
| Kettling (corraling protestors to isolate them from the rest of the demonstration) | |
| Car chase | |
| Sexist remarks | |
| Homophobic remarks | |
| Racist comments | |
| Intervention in a private place | |
| Mental health issues | |
| Harassment | |
| Body search | |
| Home search | |
| Violence by fellow police officers | |
| Passivity of police colleagues | |
| Lack or refusal of the police officer to identify him or herself | |
| Refusal to notify someone or to telephone | |
| Refusal to administer a breathalyzer | |
| Refusal to fasten the seatbelt during transport | |
| Refusal to file a complaint | |
| Refusal to allow medical care or medication | |
| Lies, cover-ups, disappearance of evidence | |
| Undress before witnesses of the opposite sex | |
| Bend down naked in front of witnesses | |
| Lack of surveillance or monitoring during detention | |
| Lack of signature in the Personal Effects Register during detention | |
| Deprivation during detention (water, food) | |
| Inappropriate sanitary conditions during detention (temperature, hygiene, light) | |
| X | Sleep deprivation |
| Confiscation, deterioration, destruction of personal effects | |
| Pressure to sign documents | |
| Absence of a report | |
| Complacency of doctors |
- 07.07.2025 – Communication of the court’s verdict to the defendantt’s lawyer
- 00.00.00 – Verdict of the first chamber of the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Urmia
- 17.04.2023 – Arrest and detention of Rizgar
- Lawyer :
- Collective :
- Donations :