Abdorrahman Boroumand Center

for Human Rights in Iran

https://www.iranrights.org
Omid, a memorial in defense of human rights in Iran
One Person’s Story

Hossein Saremi

About

Nationality: Iran
Religion: Non-Believer
Civil Status: Unknown

Case

Date of Killing: February 4, 1982
Location of Killing: Sanandaj, Kordestan Province, Iran
Mode of Killing: Shooting
Charges: Unspecified counter-revolutionary offense

About this Case

Mr. Hossein Saremi (The Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan) is one of the 12028 individuals listed in an addendum to the Mojahed magazine (No 261), published by Mojahedin Khalq Organization in 1985. The list includes individuals, affiliated with various opposition groups, who were executed or killed during clashes with the Islamic Republic security forces from June 1981 to the publication date of the magazine.

The Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI) was founded in Mahabad (West Azarbaijan province) in August 1945 and replaced the “Komalay Ziyanaway Kurd” (Council of Kurdish Resurrection, the first Kurd political group). In January 1946, while the North West parts of Iran were occupied by the Army of the former Soviet Union, the PDKI announced self-determination of “Mahabad Republic” which lasted for only 11 months. After the fall of the Mahabad Republic, the leaders of the PDKI were executed or imprisoned; some went underground or fled to Iraqi Kurdistan. After some time, the Party resumed its activities until with the coup of 1953 and the fall of Mossadeq’s government, it was repressed and turned to armed struggle. During the Revolution of 1979, the PDKI came to power in certain areas in the Western Iran. Conflicts between the new central Shiite government of Iran and the mainly Sunni province of Kordestan, regarding the role of minorities in the drafting of the constitution, specification of Shiite as the official state religion, and particularly the autonomy of the region, ended in armed clashes between the Revolutionary Guards and the peshmerga (the militia of the PDKI) particularly in the cities of Sanandaj (Kurdistan province) and Paveh (Kermanshah province). Subsequent to such conflicts that resulted in some casualties, on August 18, 1979, Ayatollah Khomeini issued an order to the military and the armed forces to “move to Paveh and end the fighting…” In the same order, he encouraged them to use force and threatened that: “if they do not move toward Paveh within 24 hours with missiles and tanks and all necessary arsenals, I will hold them accountable. And in case of any infringement of this order, I will treat them in a Revolutionary manner” (Sahifeh-ye Emam, p. 285). On August 19, Ayatollah Khomeini called the PDKI the “party of Satan” and declared it “unofficial and illegal” noting that some of these “anti-Islamic” individuals had boycotted the referendum of April 1, when people went to polls to vote for or against the Islamic regime (ibid p. 311). In accordance with Khomeini’s order, Ayatollah Sadeq Khalkhali traveled the western region of Iran and condemned many individuals to summary execution. Mass executions and conflicts continued for many months in the region. Disagreements between PDKI and the other major Kurd Organization called Komaleh brought about the death of hundreds of members on both sides. Moreover, as a result of the ruthless repression by the Islamic Republic, many members of the PDKI fled to Iraq. The Islamic Republic continued its fights against the PDKI. Various leaders of the Party were assassinated, such as Abdorrahman Qasemlu (Vienna, 1989), and Mohammad Sadeq Sharafkandi (Berlin, 1992).

Arrest and detention

The circumstances of this defendant’s arrest and detention are not known.

Trial

No information is available on the defendant’s trial.

Charges

The charge brought against the defendant is not known.

Evidence of guilt

The report of this execution does not contain information regarding the evidence provided against the defendant.

Defense

No information is available on Mr. Saremi’s defense.

Judgment

There is no information on the verdict leading to this execution.

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