ERBIL, Kurdistan Region— Security officials in Iran deny that any protesters were detained in connection with the demonstrations in Mahabad in early May over the death of a Kurdish hotel maid, Farinaz Khosrawani, who officials said died after falling from a hotel balcony.
Ali Radfar, the deputy governor of Iran’s Western Azerbaijan province, told reporters on May 8 that 25 people were injured during the riots, including seven policemen, but rebuffed accusations that any of the demonstrators were detained. Radfar also categorically denied reports that security personnel had used live ammunition against demonstrators.
Meanwhile, Iran’s deputy police chief, Said Montazar, told reporters on May 9 that “individuals who are believed to have masterminded the riot” were arrested following the riots. Montazr did not give details about the number or whereabouts of the detainees.
In amateur videos obtained by Rudaw, sporadic gunshots are heard followed by what appears to be groups of protesters carrying wounded demonstrators to safety.
Kurdish activists told Rudaw at least 50 demonstrators were wounded and more than 70 others were arrested by police forces.
“Many of the wounded did not seek medical treatment for fear of police investigations,” an activist who wished to remain anonymous told Rudaw. “Most of the detainees are between 18 and 30 years of age.”
Akam Tallaj, 25, was critically wounded and is being treated in Urumiyeh state hospital for injuries he received during the riots.
Hospital sources told Rudaw Tallaj was shot at close range by a Winchester rifle.
“After three operations, his condition is still unstable,” the source from Imam Khomeini hospital told Rudaw on condition of anonymity.
Angry protesters stormed a hotel in Mahabad on May 8 after reports Khosrawani fell from the hotel balcony as she tried to escape an attempted sexual assault by a security agent.
Thousands of Kurds across the world took to social media to show solidarity with the ill-fated Khosrawani and condemned the official response in Iran.
Mahabad was the capital of the first and only Kurdish republic established in the aftermath of World War II in 1946.
One man, who is an employee of a governmental tourist office, was arrested as the only suspect of the incident.
The owner of the hotel has rejected allegations that his staff was involved “in any ways” in the incident that led to Khosrawani’s death.
“There is no trust in the judiciary system in Iran,” Dr Khalid Tawakoli, a Kurdish activist and researcher, told Rudaw. “The political and civil rights of the Kurdish people have been ignored for too long.”
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani is expected to visit the province in the coming days after a number of Kurdish activists wrote an open letter to the moderate president urging him to release the Kurdish detainees.
Relatives of detained Kurdish activist Armin Housseinpoor told Rudaw officials it has not been disclosed where the 19-year-old activist who took part in the protests is being held.
“Armin was a student and a breadwinner for his family,” one relative who wished not to be named told Rudaw.
A video image circulated on social media in recent days apparently showing Khosrawani “willingly” entering a hotel rum.
Activists say the publication of the video was to discredit the young Kurdish woman and has already discouraged protesters.
“The riot was provoked by the patriarchal mentality in the country and was ended by the same world view,” said Tahir Khadio, a political researcher in the city of Mahabad.
But the leader of a Kurdish political party says the riots were both “political and legitimate.”
“Iran’s officials are terrified of the nationalist sentiments in Kurdish regions of the country,” said Khalid Aziz, who is the leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party-Iran (KDPI).
“Officials wanted to show an aggressive image of the Kurdish people who set fire on hotel buildings,” Azizi said.
“They prevented the protests from spreading to other Kurdish cities by labeling them as a violent, aggressive riot, which in fact it was not.”
