Iranian Kurdistan: PDKI Publishes Extensive List...

The preface below is taken from the linked report, published by the PDKI: Terrorism has been and remains one of the main instruments used by the Islamic Republic of Iran since its establishment to silence...

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Iran: In Face of U.S. Sanctions Against Iran,...

The article below was published by Politico:   The EU's effort to thwart U.S. President Donald Trump's Iran sanctions is open for business. France, Germany and the U.K. — the European guarantors...

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Iranian Kurdistan: PDKI Human Rights Reports Details...

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Iran: New EU Sanctions After Revelations of Attacks...

The article below was published by the EUobserver: Iran ordered four terrorist attacks in Europe in recent times, the EU has said, while imposing new sanctions. Its agents plotted to bomb an Iranian...

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Iranian Kurdistan: 69 Kurdish Citizens Executed...

The article below was published by Hengaw Organization for Human Rights   Hengaw: Over the year 2018, at least 69 Kurdish citizens were executed in Iran's prisons. This statistic has decreased by...

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Iran: National Pressure for Regime Change Has...

The article below was published by Iran News Update: Ethnic minorities play huge role in current calls for regime changeAs the international pressure on the Iranian regime mounts, so is the domestic pressure....

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Iranian Kurdistan: Man Sentenced to Death After...

The article below was published by RadioFarda:   The Islamic Republic's judiciary has upheld the death sentence for an ethnic minority Kurdish citizen of Iran, his lawyer says. Hossein Ahmadiniaz...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Iran Executes five Kurds

The article below was published by Kurdistan24: Five Iranian Kurds (Rojhilatis) were executed on Tuesday, among them a young woman who was handed the sentence as a teenager two years after her marriage,...

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Op-Ed: A Fox Guarding the Henhouse: The Case of...

In fact, beyond outrage at the misuse of public money, Iranians have taken to the streets to protest against the judiciary’s lack of action when tackling corruptions cases. Behind all speculations...

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Iran: Minorities Campaign for Right to Education...

According to Hamid Hajbabaie, the minister of education, in 2012 70% of students who started their education in Iran did not have Farsi (Persian) as their mother tongue. Instead of accepting the fact that...

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Ahwazi & Iranian Kurdistan: Cross National...

The article below was published by the Egypt Independent:   A deadly attack on an Iranian military parade may strengthen hard-liners in the country and send already heightened tensions across the...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Man Sentenced to Death for...

The article below was published by BasNews: Iranian judiciary authorities issued the death penalty to a Kurdish inmate over political activities and alleged membership in a Kurdish party. Mohiaddin Ebrahimi,...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Strikes After Bombing of PDKI...

Article originally published by K24: Iranian Kurdish shopkeepers on Wednesday began Rojhilat-wide (Iranian Kurdistan) strike against the executions of Kurdish activists and the bombing of opposition parties...

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Iran: UNPO Strongly Condemns the Bombing of the...

With 15 reported killed and more than 50 people wounded, this attack is only the latest episode in the systematic human rights abuses carried out by Iran. The bombing happened in Koya, the capital of Iraqi...

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Op-Ed: The Dystopian reality of Iran

Being born in 2001 I never experienced life before the Islamic Revolution of 1979 however, from what I have heard from my parents who experienced life before and after the revolution and going through...

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UNPO Commemorates International Day of the Victims...

The United Nations has repeatedly expressed concern over enforced disappearances, not only by attempting to draw attention to the issue at large, but also by issuing resolutions to hold those who commit...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Kurdish Professor Awarded Prestigious...

  Below is an extract of the article published by BBC: One of the most prestigious prizes in mathematics, the Fields Medal, has been handed out at a ceremony in Brazil. Caucher Birkar, Alessio...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Fear of Extensive Attacks by...

The article blow was published by Kurdistan 24: A senior Iranian Kurdish official warned that Tehran is planning extensive attacks on Iranian Kurdish parties amid economic turmoil, electricity cuts, and...

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Opinion: Once Again EU Fails to Adopt Resolution...

On July 2018, the European Parliament’s Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI) met to discuss the draft of the Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy in the World and the European Union’s...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Two Killed by Iranian Shelling...

This article was published by UNPO Member the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI):  Earlier today, July 17 [2018], Iran’s terrorist Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) heavily...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Two Killed by Iranian Shelling...

This article was published by UNPO Member the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI): Earlier today, July 17 [2018], Iran’s terrorist Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) heavily shelled...

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New Inclusive Coalition of Iranian Opposition...

The council is a coalition of political organisations made up of the Iranian Democratic Front; the Iranian Kurdistan Party; the Democratic Solidarity Party of Al-Ahwaz; the Azerbaijani Cultural and Political...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Shepherds and Families Arrested...

The article below was published by Kurdistan24: Iranian border guards crossed into the Kurdistan Region and detained shepherds and their families overnight after the guards had confiscated about 1000...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Water Crisis in Qaladze

The article below was published by RUDAW: The Kurdistan Region town of Qaladze is facing a water crisis after Iran restricted the flow of the cross-border Little Zab river, the town’s mayor told...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Suicide Rates on the Rise

  The article below was published by Rudaw: Amid increased economic hardship and unemployment, several people have committed suicide in Iranian Kurdistan this week, 27 May – 1 June, 2018....

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Iranian Kurdistan: Poverty Forces Kolbars into...

The article below was published by Bextiyar Qadir: Between the Kurdistan Region and Iranian Kurdistan, kolbars smuggle goods by foot.They say poverty has forced them into this occupation."The reasons...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Workers Solidarity against...

The article below were published by pdki.org For the past three weeks, the cities in eastern (Iranian) Kurdistan bordering southern (Iraqi) Kurdistan have witnessed strikes in response...

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Iranian Kurdistan: MPs Threaten Resignation Over...

  The articles below were published by Rudaw: Fifteen Kurdish members of the Iranian parliament announced they will collectively resign if their proposed changes to the law are not made, highlighting...

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UNPO Members Bring Testimony to Journalism Festival...

The speech of Mr Abdirahman Mahdi is enclosed to this article. Watch the full intervention here. On 14 April 2018, the Italian radio “Radio Radicale“ organised a panel entitled...

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Iran: Hidden Costs of European Investments in...

During these protests, a majority of experts on Iran stated that it was a unique moment. What distinguished these protests from previous ones was that they were set in motion without a particular leadership,...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Kurdish Cities Enact General...

This article has been published by UNPO Member the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI): In response to the Iranian regime’s closure of the border between eastern (Iranian) and southern...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Strike Continues in Response...

  The article below was published by VOA News: Kurds in northwestern Iran have gone on strike for a fifth day to protest Tehran’s extended closure of border crossings that they rely upon for...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Supreme Court of Iran Confirms...

  This article has been published by the Center for Human Rights in Iran: The Supreme Court of Iran failed to fully consider the defense’ arguments before it upheld the death sentence against...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Scholar and Activist Commended...

Below is article published by : Kurdistan 24 A Kurdish scholar and human rights activist was recently recognized for her leadership and outstanding commitment to the elevation of women during a prestigious...

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Kurdistan: Iranian Authorities Arrest 9 for Protesting...

Below is a press release published by the Kurdistan Human Rights Network, orginally posted on Rudaw: Iranian authorities have arrested several people protesting against Turkey’s military operation...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Killing of Two Kurdish Activists...

This article has been published by Al Arabiya English.   In less than a week, two military commanders of Iranian Kurdish opposition parties, Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and Democratic Party...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Execution of Kurdish Citiz...

The following article was originally published in Basnews: The Iranian authorities carried out execution sentences given to three Kurdish citizens in the western province of Kermanshah, sources said. Iranian...

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Imminent Execution for Ramin Hussein Panahi

Ramin Hussein Panahi was shot and arrested on 23 June 2017, in Sanandaj ,a city in Iranian Kurdistan, after meeting with Kurdish citizens to inform them on human rights issues. After his detention, he...

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The ‘Carrot & Stick’ Policy: Iran’s...

For a long time now, the ‘carrot and stick’ policy has been Iran’s principal way to deal with the demands of the Iranian population: on one hand promises of minor reforms, but on the...

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Iranian Minorities and Oppositions Discuss the...

The conference was held in two panels and opened by MEP Martina Michels (GUE/NGL). In her speech, Ms Michels criticised the European position toward Iran and was especially critical of the German position...

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What is Happening in Iran?

Starting in Mashhad last Thursday [28 December 2017], low income workers took to the streets in response to hyperinflation that saw the price of staple foods, such as eggs and poultry, increase by 50%....

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Freedom of Expression Should Be Guaranteed to...

UNPO is monitoring with attention the ongoing events in Iran as it counts among its members four ethnic communities living in Iran: the Ahwazi Arabs, the Southern Azerbaijanis, the Baloch, and the Kurds....

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Iranian Kurdistan: Solidarity for the Independence...

This article was published by Rudaw: A Kurdish woman in Iran has been sentenced to receive 50 lashes for participating in street celebrations for the Kurdistan Region independence referendum.  Zamaneh...

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UNPO Announces Launch of Council of Iranian Democrats...

The following final resolution was unanimously approved by all the participants: Whereas the current turmoil, and political, economic and social crisis that has been imposed on Iran over the past four...

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UNPO Strongly Condemns Death Sentence of Ramin...

Below is an article on this recent decision by Kurdistan 24 ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – The Iranian intelligence agency informed the Hossein Panahi family on Thursday that their missing...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Increased Pressure Imposed...

This article below was published by Kurdish Human Rights Network. In the past few days, Iranian security forces have arrested several Kurdish citizens in various cities of Kurdistan where there is also...

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UNPO Side-Event to the 36th Session of the UNHRC:...

The conference was opened and moderated by Mr Fernando Burgés, UNPO Programme Manager, who underlined common misconceptions that some politicians and the Western media have on Iran, most notably,...

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HRC SIDE-EVENT: ENFORCED DISAPPEARANCES IN IRAN...

Despite his campaign promises, President Hassan Rohani has not fulfilled Iran´s obligations to respect human rights. On the contrary, under his government the ongoing marginalisation of ethnic minorities...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Human Rights Groups Decry Murders...

Below is an article published by Kurdistan 24  In a joint statement presented to the United Nations, Kurdish and international rights groups urged Iran to stop killing and detaining Kurdish civilians. Ensemble...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Crackdown on Peaceful Demonstrators...

This article was published by the Komala Party of Iranian Kurdistan: Over the past few days, several demonstrations took place in the Kurdistan area of Iran, leading to several injured and detained by...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Protest Arise Following The...

The article was published by Rudaw.net   In wake of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards killing two Kurdish porters for carrying goods across the Iran-Kurdistan Region border, a large number of people...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Poverty Decreases Educational...

Below is an article published by KMMK: According to a report from the Kurdistan Human Rights Association, more than 40 female students have left school in the new year of 2017, in Bijar, east of Kurdistan,...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Number of Kurdish Porters Killed...

Below is an article published by NRT A total of 21 Kurdish kolbars (porters) have fallen victim in a one-month period near the Iranian border due to coming under fire by Iranian security forces, the Iranian-Kurdistan...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Detained Komala Party Member...

Below is an article published by Kurdistan24: Kurdish Peshmerga shot and arrested by Iranian guards has lost a kidney under torture and might lose his life, family told Kurdistan24. On June 23 [2017],...

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UNPO Condemns Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’...

    The article below was published by The Center for Human Rights in Iran:  Four relatives of a member of a Kurdish militant organization who was recently shot in a clash with the Islamic...

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UNPO’s XIII General Assembly Adopts Resolution...

Resolution on Iranian Kurdistan to the UNPO XIII General Assembly    The political and security situation in Iran has in many respects worsened during the past couple of years, especially when...

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Hudson Institute Conference Highlights Urgency...

  After welcoming the event’s speakers and participants, the conference’s host, Eric B. Brown, opened the event by pointing out that Iran is an ethno-religious mosaic which includes...

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UNPO and Hudson Institute Co-Organise Conference...

Iran is an ethno-religious mosaic that includes Persian Shia in addition to a diversity of minority groups such as Azerbaijani Turks, Ahwazi, Baloch, and Kurds. Many non-Persians have felt politically...

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BPP’s Nasser Boladai’s Outlook on the 2017...

  Find below an article published by Nasser Boladai (UNPO, BPP): Iran’s political system discriminates against its citizen based on a variety of criteria, such as gender, religious affiliation,...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Tehran Executes 27 Kurds in...

  This article has been published by NRT The Kurdistan Human Rights Association said the government of Iran had executed 30 people in 2016 for political and security reasons, 27 of them Kurds. The...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Report Points to Increasing...

  Below is an article published by Rudaw:   Sixty-four kolbar, Kurdish cross-border porters, “the poorest among Iran’s most poor Kurds,” lost their lives in 2016, according...

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Iran: Swiss Parliament Conference Raises Awareness...

  The article below was published by the Ahwaz Human Rights Organisation: Wednesday 8th of March (2017), Human rights organisations and political parties representing nationalities in Iran held...

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EU Sets Human Rights Priorities for 2017

This year, the Council of the EU promises to engage in facilitating the participation of indigenous peoples’ representatives in meetings of relevant UN bodies. This certainly underpins the work that...

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Ahwazi, Iranian Kurdistan & West Balochistan:...

Below is an article published by the Ahwaz Human Rights Organisation: The Middle East Forum for Development co-organised a panel event on 27th of February together with the All-Party Parliamentary Human...

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Iranian Kurdistan: PDKI Supports Pan-Kurdish Solidarity...

Below is an article published by the RUDAW: Representatives from the four parts of greater Kurdistan came together to take part in a Kurdish conference in Moscow, discussing the future of the nation...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Activists Launch Social Media...

  Below is an article published by Rudaw: Iranian Kurds launched a social media campaign on Friday calling for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to be declared a terrorist organization. ` “It...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Kolbar Questioned by Iranian...

  The following article was published by Rudaw:   A Kurdish kolbar, porters carrying goods on their backs across the Kurdistan Region-Iran border, was questioned by Iranian intelligence officials...

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Iranian Kurdistan: PEN Intl Urges Turkey to Release...

Below is an article published by Kurdistan 24: An international organization on Friday [3 February 2017] urged Turkey to release a Kurdish-Iranian writer and his friend who were visiting the Kurdistan...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Two Activist Writers Detained...

The article below was published by Kurdistan24: Turkish authorities arrested two Kurdish activists from Iranian Kurdistan while they were at a cafe in Mardin, PEN Kurdish reported on Monday. Sajad Jahanfard...

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HRW World Report 2017 Reminds Global Community...

According to the World Report’s emphasis, the most egregious human rights violations against indigenous populations in 2016 can be seen in the crackdowns on Oromo in Ethiopia, the lingering human...

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Iranian Kurdistan/Southern Azerbaijan: Ayatollah...

The article below was published by Kurdistan24: TEHRAN, Iran (Kurdistan24) – A funeral turned into an opportunity to voice dissent on Tuesday as an estimated two million gathered on the streets...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Is an Independent Nation Taking...

  The following article was published by Catch News:   Walking around the streets of Erbil, an Iraqi city with close to half a million inhabitants, strong cues of the birth of a new nation...

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UNPO Organises Meeting with European Parliament...

Ms Mona Silavi from the Democratic Solidarity Party of al-Ahwaz (DSPA) reported about the suffering of the Arabs in Ahwaz, in the South West of Iran. Even though their region provides more than 90% of...

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Iranian Kurdistan: MP Denounces Iranian Government’s...

  Below is an article published by Kurdistan 24: A Kurdish representative in the Iranian parliament stated that the government has not kept their promise to provide services in the Kurdish...

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Democracy and Rule of Law Are Human Rights

  On international Human Rights Day, UNPO reiterates its commitment to the promotion of democracy, rule of law, and human rights everywhere. The first United Nations Forum on Human Rights, Democracy...

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The Role of Women in the Middle East

Speakers from UNPO and the Rojhalat Women’s Organisation gave their views on "the role of women in the Middle East: how to obtain more rights for women and build up a better democracy". Moira Holden...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Justice Sought for Victims...

The article below is courtesy of The Metro: Having had five relatives executed, Omid knows better than most what justice for the thousands killed in Iran in 1988 could bring. The teenager’s...

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Iranian Kurdistan: No Future for Human Rights...

Below is an article published by the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan: The Progressive Alliance organized a Parliamentarian Conference on 17-18 October 2016 at the European Parliament in Brussels...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Child Bride Faces Death Pe...

  Below is an article published by Rudaw: An Iranian Kurdish child bride who is accused of killing her abusive husband faces “imminent execution” as early as October 13, though she...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Protesters Call for Release...

Below is an article published by the National Council of Resistance of Iran: The clerical regime’s security forces arrested five protesters and organizers of the rally in Marivan (Kurdistan, western...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Local Activists Condemn Oppressive...

The article below is courtesy of ARA news Hundreds of Kurds took to the street in western Iran on Tuesday to protest against what they called the “oppressive practices” of Iranian authorities.  Activists...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Release of Prominent Local...

The article below is published by rudaw.net A Kurdish journalist and activist, jailed in Iran for being an enemy of God, has been released after spending ten years in jail. Adnan Hassanpour was arrested...

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How the Iranian Opposition can Unite and Win

Below you can find the English translation of the original Arabic text published in Ashargh Al-Awsat:   By Karim Abdian, PhD* For the past 37 years, the Iranian regime has cleverly been able to...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Negligent Ignorance by International...

  Below is an article published by Rudaw:  Earlier this month Iran executed at least two dozen political prisoners on various charges of activities against the regime or membership in extremist...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Victims Tortured Prior to Execution,...

The article below is published by The Tower The families of 25 Kurdish prisoners who were executed by Iran earlier this month told an Iranian human rights organization that their relatives’...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Kurdish Weightlifter Wins Gold...

  Below is an article published by Rudaw:  Kianoush Rostami, a Kurdish weightlifter from Iran, has won his country’s first gold medal at the Rio Olympic Games by beating his own previous...

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Iranian Kurdistan: UN Deems Recent Wave of Executions...

The article below is published by Rudaw The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights condemned the execution of Kurdish prisoners in Iran as a “grave injustice.” “The application of overly...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Political Activists Executed...

  Below is an article published by Ara News: The Iranian authorities executed a number of Kurdish activists accused of involvement in terrorist activities, local sources said on Wednesday [3 August...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Political Parties Look to EU...

The statement below is from the Komala Party of Iranian Kurdistan Last week, several Kurdish political parties (including and on the initiative of Komala) submitted a request to the commission of foreign...

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Iran: Number of Executions of Opposition Activists...

  Below is an article published by ARA News:  The Iranian regime has executed dozens of opposition activists across the country by hanging them to death in public squares, local sources reported...

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Iranian Kurdistan: PDKI Calls for Peaceful Strike...

  Photo courtesy of Rudaw. Below is an article published by Rudaw:  The Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran (KDPI) has asked the public, members and supporters across Iranian Kurdistan to mark...

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UNPO Roundly Condemns Iranian Military Aggression...

  Clashes between the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI)’s Peshmerga Forces and Iran’s IRGC have erupted on 15 June and further escalated into a full-scale war waged by Iran...

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Iranian Kurdistan: PDKI Condemns Recent Iranian...

Below is an article published by pdki.org The IRGC has shelled villages and senior Iranian military officials have threatened to target refugee camps and civilians in southern (Iraqi) Kurdistan. PDKI...

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Discrimination of Minorities in Iran Worse Since...

  Photo courtesy of Ahwaz News. Below is an article published by Ahwaz News: Ethnic rights in Iran gained a high level congressional audience this week as Ahwazi Arab lobbyist Dr Karim Abdian led...

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Situation of Iran’s Minorities Raised at 6th...

  Photo courtesy of Abolition Now:  Below is the speech of Ms Monireh Shirani: Ethnic minorities have long suffered discrimination as they have been viewed with suspicion and considered outsiders...

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Iranian Kurdistan: PDKI Leader Addresses Kurdish...

Below is an article published by PDKI.org Against the backdrop of heavy clashes between PDKI’s Peshmerga Forces and Iran’s terrorist paramilitary Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Far from Being Treated Equ...

  Below is an article by Al Arabiya: While the West mainly views Iran through the prism of the nuclear deal – reached between P5+1 and the Islamic Republic – as well as the resulting...

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AHRO and Ibn Khaldun Center Organise Symposium...

Other speakers include: -      Keynote Address by Mehrangiz Kar, Prominent Iranian lawyer, human rights activist and author of Crossing the Red Line -     ...

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Ahwaz: Iranian Interior Minister Recognises Social...

Photo courtesy of Ahwaz News.  Below is an article published by Ahwaz News: Ahwaz has this week been singled out by Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli as one of three cities in Iran facing...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Imprisoned Human Rights Activist...

  Below is an article published by Payvand: Source: International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran Mohammad Sediq Kaboudvand, a prominent Kurdish human rights activist who is in his ninth...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Activists Publicly Executed...

  Photo courtesy of AraNews. Below is the report published by AraNews: Authorities of the Islamic Republic of Iran executed five Kurdish rights activists in the northwestern Urmia city, officials...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Iran Condemned by UN for Refusing...

  Photo courtesy of Kurdistan24.  Below is an article published by Kurdistan24:    A group of human rights experts warned on Wednesday that a large number of political prisoners...

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Iranian Clampdown Sees Youths Detained

  Below is an article published by the National Council for Resistance of Iran: NCRI - According to reports received from Iran, the clerical regime has resorted to widespread arrests in Ahwaz and...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Armed Struggle Not the Answer...

  Below is an opinion piece published by Rudaw: An Iranian Kurdish leader once said of their armed struggle in Iran that they used to sneak into villages in the middle of the night, gather everyone...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Rappers in Germany Help Teenagers...

  Photo courtesy of Rudaw. Below is an article published by Rudaw:     For Kurdish teens growing up in Germany, it was hard to find idols like athletes and musicians to look up...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Several Arrests During Newroz...

  This article was published by Payvand Iran News.  Kordpa reported on Thursday March 24 that at least 20 activists in Kurdish regions of Iran were arrested on the last day of the Iranian calendar...

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Iranian Kurdistan: PDKI Leader Reiterates Commitment...

  Photo courtesy of Rudaw. Below is an article published by Rudaw:    The leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party-Iran (KDP-I) says the party has decided to move its Peshmarga forces...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Kurds Condemn Attacks on Yarsan...

  Below is an article published by Kurdistan 24 News: Kurds continue to condemn the attacks on the holy site of the Yarsan faith after they were denied a permit to hold a peaceful protest on Sunday...

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Iranian Kurdistan: PDKI and KDP-I to re-unite...

Photo courtesy by pdki.org    Here is an article published by: rudaw.net   A day after it held its party congress in the city of Koya the Kurdistan Democratic Party (of Iran) has been...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Environmental Group Wins Award...

  Below is an article by Rudaw,    An Iranian Kurdish environmental organization has been awarded by Iran's National Elite Foundation for its work to protect Lake Zrebar in Mariwan.  The...

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'Let's Argue Only Once We Have a Parliament...

UNPO President Mr Nasser Boladai, also spokesperson of the Congress of Nationalities for a Federal Iran (CNFI) and of the Balochistan People’s Party (BPP), expressed concern on the isolation of the...

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UNPO Announces House of Commons Conference: 'Iran's...

The conference will bring together activists, representatives of Kurdish political parties, academics, British politicians and policy advisers, students and other interested parties. The event will analyse...

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Iranian Kudistan: Tehran Rejects High Number of...

  Below is an article by Rudaw   Iranian authorities have rejected the candidacy of many who have applied for parliamentary elections next month, endorsing only six reformist candidates –...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Alarming Rates of Executions...

  Below is an article published by Rudaw: At least 24 people from various parts of the country were executed in Iran last week, according to official media. The Iranian judicial authorities announced...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Recognition of Activists on...

  Below is an article published by Rudaw: Dec 10, the International Day of Human Rights came and went almost unnoticed. The historic occasion marks the day when in 1948 the United Nations General...

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International Relations Students Visit UNPO

UNPO was happy to receive this large number of enthusiastic young people in order to acquaint them with the situation of unrepresented and marginalised nations and peoples. The UNPO Treasurer Jeroen Zandberg...

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Visit to Dutch Parliament

The visit was provided by members of a political party in parliament: the Vrijzinnige Partij. The parliamentarian of the Party welcomed the participants and during a meeting they were able to share experiences...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Minorities Use Internet to...

  Most minority communities in Iran have a long and troubled history of grievance with the central government. Some activists are using online spaces to give voice to these tensions, though others...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Minority Activists Find Ways...

This post was written by James Marchant, the research manager for Small Media based on the research report National Fabric: Iran’s Ethnic Minorities. Most minority communities in Iran have a long...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Youths Informed About UNPO

On October 18 [2015], Dr. Ali Abdelzadeh, representative of Iranian Kurdistan to the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO) and member of the UNPO presidency, gave a lecture about the UNPO...

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Beyond the Nuclear Deal: Side-Event at UN Discusses...

Mr Nasser Boladai, UNPO President, opened the conference with an overview of the differing opinions that surround the Iranian nuclear deal.  While some groups consider the agreement to be a positive...

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Iranian Kurdistan: "Guaranteed Unemployment"...

  Below is an article by Rudaw Although this fact is lost in the news, Iranian Kurds are among the giant crowd of migrants and refugees trying to find a home in Europe, contributing to one of the...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Tension among Factions Amplified...

  Below is an article by Rudaw Now is not the right time for Kurdish groups to restart an armed conflict with Iranian security forces, a senior leader of the Iranian Komala party said, criticizing...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Kakai Forced To Flee as Result...

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region—Hundreds of Iranian followers of the Yarsan faith, known as Kakai, have joined the new wave of migration to Europe, leaving behind a country that has failed to recognize their...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Rouhani Government Executes...

TEHRAN – Behrouz Alkhani, a 30-year-old Kurd has been transferred out of Urmia prison’s general ward, and executed on Wednesday [26 August 2015]. On Tuesday Amnesty International called on...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Language Studies, a Significant...

To access the article published by Al-Monitor, please click here.

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Iranian Kurdistan: Tehran Accused of Planning...

The Komala Party of Iranian Kurdistan said that four bombs had been defused at its camp near Sulaimani on Sunday and accused Tehran of being behind the potential terrorist attack. "Komala had already...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Impressions of Rouhani Visit...

  Below is an article by Rudaw   In his country’s Kurdish heartland, Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani made new promises to his country’s millions of Kurds last week. He promised...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Rouhani Visits Province

Below is an article published by Rûdaw:   Iranian President Hassan Rouhani arrived Sunday in Sanandaj, the capital city of Iranian Kurdistan, and marked his first visit to Kurdistan province...

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Joint Public Statement on the 21st Anniversary...

The Islamic Republic of Iran is now under periodic review by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, which will decide on the country’s implementation of the treaty in its 71st session, in January...

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Iranian Kurdistan: How Will Nuclear Deal Affect...

  Kurds stepping to the Halperka beat also featured in the street celebrations across Iran after Tehran signed a landmark nuclear deal with world powers on Tuesday. But what does the agreement,...

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UNPO's XII General Assembly Adopts Iranian...

Below is the full text of the resolution:   The UNPO General Assembly,   The political and security situation in Iran has in many respects worsened during the past couple of years, especially...

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New Chapter with Iran: An Opportunity to Bring...

The sensitive nature of the nuclear negotiations with Iran has for years served as a reason – if not excuse – for Western governments and the European Union not to get too involved in anything...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Political Prisoner Unexpectedly...

  Below is an article published by Rudaw:   A well-known Kurdish political prisoner was executed without notice to family earlier this week, sending shock and outrage through the opposition...

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Iranian Kurdistan: PDKI Leadership Convenes with...

Below is an article published by the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan: Mustafa Hijri, leader of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI), visited Germany at the end of May and met with German...

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Iranian Kurdistan: PDKI Leader Expresses Concern...

  Below is an article published by PDKI: On May 18th Mr. Hijri met with representatives of Germany’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. During the meeting Mustafa Hijri discussed the negative role...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Repression Highlighted in ...

  Farinaz Khosrawani, an employee of the Tara Hotel in Mahabad, a mostly Kurdish city in northwestern Iran, leaped to her death from the fourth floor of the hotel building Monday, according...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Situation of Five Kurdish Activists...

Below is an article by Rudaw ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Families of six Kurdish activists who were sentenced to death in Iran for alleged links to outlawed Kurdish parties say authorities have not...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Kurdish Now Taught in Scho...

Students in Iranian Kurdistan now have the option of choosing Kurdish as part of their high school and college coursework following a decision to include the language as an elective in schools across the...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Families of Executed Kurdish...

Below is an article published by Ekurd Daily After the execution of six Kurdish prisoners, their bodies were not given to their families some of whom had traveled from far distances to Rajai Shahr, in...

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Iranian Kurdistan: 23 Female Activists Behind...

  Below is an article published by BasNews: Local lawyers in Iranian Kurdistan say that 23 Kurdish women activists are currently behind bars in Iran. According to the lawyers, 21 of the...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Six Sunni Muslims Executed...

  Below is an article published by Radio Free Europe Six Iranian Kurds have reportedly been executed despite human right defenders’ calls on Iranian authorities to spare their lives. The...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Azad University to Offer Kurdish...

Below is an article published by NRT:    The Islamic Azad University’s Sanandaj branch is set to open a Kurdish language center for the following year. Muhammad Qurban Kiani, the dean...

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UNPO Alternative Report to CRC Highlights the...

The Alternative Report aims to examine the compliance with and implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child by the Iranian Government, focusing especially on children of the Ahwazi Arab,...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Iran Executes 22-Year-Old Kurdish...

  Below is an article published by RUDAW   Iran executed 22-year-old Kurdish activist Saman Naseem on Friday, ignoring international pleas to halt the sentence. Saman’s family said...

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Iraqi Kurdistan: On the Verge of Independence...

  Below is an article published by The Economist: The Kurds, at least 25m-strong, are one of the world’s most numerous peoples without a state. Other small nations in their region have a home...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Human Rights Group Calls for...

Below is an article published by Vatican Radio: An Iranian Kurdish man who was arrested when he was 17 years old and alleges he was tortured into confessing has been informed he will be hanged next week,...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Human Rights Watch Reports...

  Below is an article published by Bas News:   In the 656-page world report, its 25th edition, Human Rights Watch, concludes there have been no significant improvements in human rights in...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Political Prisoners Stage Hunger...

Over two dozen Iranian Kurdish political prisoners incarcerated in a prison in the western city of Orumieh have staged a hunger strike since Thursday to protest against the transfer of non-political prisoners...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Prison Authorities Allegedly...

Below is an article published by BasNews:   In Urmia city Prison, which is located in the North West of the Kurdistan region of Iran, prison authorities has withhold medical treatment for Kurdish...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Komala Party Calls for International...

  Below is an article published by Digital Journal: FLORENCE, Italy, Oct. 13, 2014 -- The Islamic State's assault on Kobani and the brave resistance of Syrian Kurds has brought the Kurds' suffering...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Representative meets with US...

A senior Kurdish Iranian opposition leader has met with United States officials regarding the latest clashes in Iranian Kurdistan. Tehran authorities are not happy with the meeting. On Friday [10 October...

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Iranian Kurdistan International Conference: Justice...

Brussels, 25 August 2014 The Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organisation (UNPO), in tandem with the International Network of Iranian Kurdistan Human Rights (INIKHR), will host a half-day international...

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Iranian Minorities Delegation Informs US Congress...

On the picture (from left to right): Mr. Nasser Boladai, Congressman Steve Chabot, and Mr. Loghman H. Ahmedi. Despite having a rich cultural diversity, the Islamic Republic of Iran prioritizes Shi’a...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Kurdish Identity and Culture...

Below is an article published by Your Middle East: On May 11 [2014], The Iranian Consulate released a statement about Iran's perspective regarding its relationship with the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. This...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Increasing Concern Over Air...

Below is an article published by Rudaw An invisible killer is claiming lives in Iranian Kurdistan, where the cities of Sanandaj and Kermanshah figure in the World Health Organization’s (WHO) top...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Human Rights Situation Dramatically...

Below is an article published by : Asia Times As many as 700 people were sentenced to death in Iran last year, according to United Nations estimates. Most were charged with drug-related crimes and belonged...

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UNPO’s UPR Reports Denounce Human Rights Situation...

Photo by Izahorsky On the occasion of the 20th Session of the United Nations Universal Periodic Review, UNPO has submitted two reports denouncing the human rights situation in the Republic of Iraq and...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Increase In Executions Of Kurds...

Below is an article published by the Gatestone Insitute for International Policy Council. The Kurdish people, one of the largest minorities in Iran, have been heavily targeted by the Islamic Republic...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Prominent Kurdish Scholars...

Below is an article published by Rudaw: Iranian scholars honored the late Mohammad Qazi and Ebrahim Yunesi, two Kurdish scholars and translators known for their contribution to Kurdish and Persian literature,...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Two Local Journalists Arrested...

Below is an article published by The Independent:It’s been over 100 days into Rouhani’s Presidency in Iran, and two more Kurdish-Iranian journalists have been arrested and detained. Forty year...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Representation in the Parliament...

Below is an article published by Rudaw: Iran’s large minority Kurds continue to be underrepresented in the Iranian parliament, where out of 20 new seats that are to be added to the 290-seat Majlis...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Deteriorating Human Rights...

Below is an article by Ahwaz News Agency: http://www.ahwaziarabs.info/2013/12/ihr-after-nuke-deal-world-must-now.html Human rights should now be the focus of international dialogue with Iran following...

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Ahwazi: Iran’s Human Rights Issues Need Att...

Below is a statement by the IHR:  Human rights should now be the focus of international dialogue with Iran following the break-through on nuclear talks in Geneva, says the Norway-based Iran Human...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Barzani Could Help Iran’s...

Below is an article published by Rudaw: After seeing Kurdistan Region President Massoud Barzani and singer Sivan Perwer in Turkey’s Kurdish heartland of Diyarbakir last weekend, Iranian Kurds wonder...

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Iranian Kurdistan: London Conference Addresses...

Below is an article published by Rudaw:    “Kurdish women in Iran face a double-whammy: They are a minority ethnicity and they are women in an unequal society,” according to Margaret...

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UNPO General Secretary Speaks At European Parliament...

In cooperation with the Delegation for Relations with Iran, the Sub-committe on Foreign Affairs at the European Parliament held an exchange of views on the situation in Iran on Thursday, 26 September 2013,...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Foreign Ministry Opens Office...

Below is an article by Tansimnews: Iranian Foreign Ministry officially opened an office in the city of Sanandaj, the provincial capital city of Iran's Kurdestan province on Monday [23-09-2013], with the...

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Exploring the Path of Federalism in the Middle...

Wednesday 2 October 2013 14:00 – 16:00  Room ASP 5E3 European Parliament, Brussels   18 September 2013, Brussels - The office of Mr. Tunne Kelam MEP (EPP) and the Unrepresented Nations...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Kurdish National Conference...

Below is an article published by Rudaw: The head of the Kurdish Institute in Tehran has asked Iran’s top officials to send a delegation to the Kurdish National Conference, which is due to take place...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Calls For Release Of Jailed...

Below is an article published by the payvand.com: The Observatory reports that Khosro Kordpur was arrested on March 7, 2013 in Mahabad, and two days later the Ministry of Intelligence arrested his brother,...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Suspicions Rise At Government...

Below is an article published by Rudaw:   Tehran’s announced intention of establishing a new security force in its western regions worries Kurdish groups and residents, who fear disguised...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Growing Labour Discontent Marks...

Below is an article published by Los Angeles Times: One of the laid-off workers told the semiofficial Iranian Labor News Agency that most were from the Zagros Steel Factory and had spent the night in...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Revolutionary Guards Kill Two...

Below is an article published by Iran Briefing:     Soldiers of Iranian Revolutionary Guards have perpetrated another extrajudicial execution on eastern Kurdistan border. Two Kurds were killed and...

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Successful UNHCR Side Event Sheds Light on the...

  Geneva, 11 June 2013 - The Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO) and the Nonviolent Radical Party held a Side Event on Tuesday, June 11th, in the Palais des Nations in Geneva entitled...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Presidential Candidates Discuss...

Below is an article published by Trend: All national and ethnic minorities living in Iran, especially Kurdish intellectuals will work in the Cabinet of Ministers, the former IRGC chief commander Mohsen...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Rally For Political Prisoners...

Below is an article published by Payvand Iran News: With presidential elections one week away, Iranians in one of the largest cities in Iran, Isfahan, chanted slogans this week against the government...

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Iranian Minorities: What Future After Ahmadin...

On behalf of the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO) and the Nonviolent Radical Party, you are cordially invited to attend the parallel event ''Iranian minorities: what future after Ahmadinejad?''...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Protesting Sexist Punishm...

Below is an article published by gaystarnews:  Kurdish men from the Marivan County in the Kurdistan province of Iran have launched a cross-dressing campaign to redress outmoded concepts of masculinity...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Protesting Sexist Punishm...

Below is an article published by gaystarnews Kurdish men from the Marivan County in the Kurdistan province of Iran have launched a cross-dressing campaign to redress outmoded concepts of masculinity and...

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Iranian Kurdistan: CNFI Concludes Conference in...

Below is an article published by Ahwaz News Agency   The Eighth Congress of Nationalities for Federal Iran concluded on Sunday after two days of continuous debate. The representatives of several...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Businessman Detained Without...

Below is an article published by iranhumanrights: Two Iranian Kurds, including the brother of acclaimed filmmaker Bahman Ghobadi, were arrested in Sanandaj on November 3, 2012, on non-specific national...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Province Remains Poor And ...

Below is an article published by Rudaw: Iran’s Kurdistan province is rich in agriculture and other natural resources but remains poor and neglected by Iranian authorities, officials and local media...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Two Kurdish Journalists Among...

Below is an article published by pdki.org:     According to reports elven journalists, among them two Kurdish journalists, have been arrested in Tehran after being accused of cooperation with...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Reduced Iranian Investment...

  Below is an article published by Rudaw: A number of Iranian companies say that economic sanctions as well as Iran’s currency crisis have forced them to end their investment in the Kurdistan...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Unified Kurdish Cause

  Below is an article published by Rudaw: Abdullah Hijab, the representative of the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran (KDPI) has been elected to represent the Kurdish nation in the Unrepresented...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Possible Unification Among...

Below you can find an article published by Rudaw: The Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (KDPI) and Iran’s Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) met for the first time this week since splitting into...

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Strong Presence Of UNPO Representatives At Fifth...

More than thirty representatives of twelve UNPO Members (Afrikaner, Ahwazi, Assyria, Crimean Tatars, East Turkestan, Haratin, Hmong, Iranian Kurdistan, Iraqi Kurdistan, Khmer Krom, Ogaden, and West Balochistan)...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Kurd Attacked By Iranian Revolutionary...

  Below is an article published by PDKI: Kurdistan Press Agency (Kurdpa) reports that several members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps attacked a young Kurdish man by the name of Nader...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Kurdish Rights Activist Released...

Below is an article published by Women News Network: The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran and Campaign for Equality announced today after receiving reliable news that Kurdish political...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Dramatic Killings By Air-strike...

Below is an article published by Rudwa:   In the latest air strikes by Turkish warplanes, 2 Kurdish civilians were killed in the district of Pishdar last week and 2 others were injured. The two...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Kurds Hold Key To Profound...

Below is an article published by Haaretz:   The "Kurdish spring" that has affected three parts of Kurdistan - in Iraq, Turkey and Syria - may appear to have bypassed the Kurds of Iran. But in fact,...

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Iranian Kurdistan: UN Special Rapporteur Reports...

Below is an artivle published by Reuters:   Human rights activists in Iran are subjected to beatings with batons, mock hangings, rape, sleep deprivation, and threats that family members...

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UNPO General Secretary Briefs Delegation for Relations...

Also present in the human rights briefing were representatives of Amnesty International, the Human Rights Democracy Network, the Christian Solidarity Network, the International Rehabilitation Council for...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Political Cooperation For ...

Below is the translated excerpt of the “Memorandum of Agreement” published by Iranian.com: Introduction The liberation movement of the Kurdish people in Iranian Kurdistan has traversed different...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Increased Cooperation Between...

Bellow is an article published by PDKI:     Following talks and meetings between Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan and Komala Party of Iranian Kurdistan to discuss and analyze important...

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Iranian Kurdistan: U.S. Urges Iran to Release...

Below is an article published by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty: The U.S. State Department says it is concerned over reports that Iranian Kurdish activist Mohammed Seddigh Kaboudvand and human rights...

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European Parliament Urgency Resolution Reiterates...

Brussels, 14 June 2012 – During the plenary session in Strasbourg on 14 June 2012, Members of the European Parliament discussed the situation of ethnic minorities in Iran in the latest declaration...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Journalist on Third Hunger...

Below is an article published by The Guardian: Many imprisoned Iranian journalists, stripped of their basic rights by the government, are going on long hunger strikes to draw attention to their plight...

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CNFI Representatives in Brussels Advocate for...

  Brussels, 6 June 2012 Two days of meetings in Brussels on 4-5 June 2012 have enabled representatives of the Congress of Nationalities for a Federal Iran (CNFI) to raise the issue of...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Cultural Institute Works Against...

Below is an article published by Rudaw: http://www.rudaw.net/english/news/iran/4792.html Wajdi Hatami, the head of the Ahmadi Xani Cultural Institute, says that his is the only Kurdish civil organization...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Civilians Face State Violence...

Below is an article published by Kurdpa News Agency: Iranian para-military forces opened fire on a group of Kurdish field pickers in the mountains of Oshnawieh city in West-Azerbijan province, killing...

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Iranian Kurdistan: UN Condemns Rights Violations...

Below is a press release from the OHCHR: A group of United Nations independent experts condemned the on-going arrests and harsh sentencing of human rights defenders in the Islamic Republic of Iran, and...

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Iranian Kurdistan: US Calls To Release Human Rights...

Below is an article published by Rudaw: In a press conference, U.S. State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland called on the Iranian government to release Muhammad Kaboudvand, a Kurdish human rights...

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UNPO Report Outlines Threats to Indigenous Peoples’...

UNPO has submitted an Alternative Report to the UN Committee on Cultural, Economic, and Social Rights (CESCR) ahead of Iran’s review at the 49th Session in May 2012.  This report to the Treaty...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Human Rights Organization Celebrates...

Below is an article published by Rudaw: The Human Rights Organization of Kurdistan will celebrate its fifth anniversary in the absence of its founder, serving an 11-year sentence in Evin Prison in Tehran. Muhammad...

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Iranian Kurdistan, Iraqi Kurdistan: Norouz Celebrations...

Below is an article published by Radio Free Europe: For the more than 30 million Kurds scattered across several countries including Turkey, Iraq, Iran and Syria, Norouz has long been a symbol of their...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Letter From Political Prisoner...

Below is an article published by Eurasia Review:   Iranian political prisoner Habibollah Golparipour says security forces took him “to the verge of death with physical and psychological torture.” The...

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UNPO Co-Hosts "Minority Rights In Iran"...

  Wednesday, 14 March 2012   Together with Minority Rights Group International, UNPO hosted an event on Wednesday, 14 March 2012 at the 19th Session of the UN Human Rights Council titled...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Situation Political Prisoners...

Below is an article published by Rudaw:   Rahim Mahmoudi, the head of the Council for Defending Political Prisoners in Iran, said that due to the lack of free media in Iran, there is no correct...

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All Eyes On Iran During UN Human Rights Counc...

Photo: Ahmed Shaheed, Special Rapporteur on Iran addresses during the 19th Session Human Rights Council. 12 March 2012. Photo by Jean-Marc Ferré - UN Information Service - Geneva Geneva,...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Prominent Iranian Kurds Not...

Below is an article published by Rudaw:   A number of Kurds who wanted to run in Iran’s upcoming parliamentary elections, including former MPs and some notable figures, have been disqualified...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Amnesty Reports On Surge Of...

The following article was published by Amnesty International:   Iran’s crackdown on freedom of expression has dramatically escalated in the run up to this week’s parliamentary elections,...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Death Sentences Upheld

Below is an article published by Iran Human Rights: The Iranian Supreme Court has upheld the death sentences of two Kurdish political prisoners, local sources told the International Campaign for Human...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Human Rights Activist Sent...

Below is an  article published by Radio Zamaneh: Iranian-Kurdish human rights activist Mohammad Seddigh Kaboodvand, has been transferred to hospital by Iranian prison authorities after spending nearly...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Protest Against Turkish Killings...

Below is an article published by PressTV: The Iranian Kurds staged a protest rally in front of Ankara's Embassy in the capital of Tehran On Tuesday.  On December 28, 2011, 35 people were killed...

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UNPO Representatives Prominent At UN Forum On...

  Photo: UNPO and Minority Rights Group participants pose for a photograph at the close of the first day of the UN Forum on Minority Issues Close to thirty representatives of nine UNPO Member...

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Ahwazi: UN Human Rights Body Concerned Over Executions...

Below is an article published by UN The United Nations committee tasked with reviewing compliance with international human rights treaties today voiced concern over Iran’s record on upholding the...

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UNPO UN Report Outlines Civil And Political Rights...

UNPO has submitted an Alternative Report to the UN Human Rights Committee ahead of Iran’s review under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) at the 103rd Session in October...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Massive Protests have Erupted...

Below is an article published by Medya News 27 Aug 2011 – In protest to diversion of many rivers that feed one of the largest salty lake in the world, Lake Orumieh in north western Iran residents...

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Iranian Kurdistan: 32nd Anniversary of Khomeini’s...

Below is an article published by Rojhelat News Today 19th August is the 32nd anniversary of Jihad declared by the founder of the Iranian Islamic Regime against the Kurdish people in East of...

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Southern Azerbaijan: An Open Letter to the United...

Below is an article published by the Huffington Post.   To: Dr. Ahmed Shaheed United Nations Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Iran  Allow me to begin with my best wishes for a great...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Detained Political Activist...

Below is an article published by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty: Jailed Kurdish journalist Kamal Sharifi is on a hunger strike to protest the poor prison conditions and the violation of his rights,...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Iraqi Kurdish MP says Iranian...

Below is an article published by Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Council of Resistance of Iran: NCRI - The Kurdish Taghyeer parliamentary faction asked the Iraqi government to summon the Iranian...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Islamic Republic Security Forces...

Below is an article published by Payvand Iran News: Zamaneh's correspondent reports that Jamal Ghaznavei, a trader in Oshnouyeh, was shot by security forces, and three other citizens injured in the same...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Execution is closing in on...

Below is an article published by Rudaw This news comes in the midst of increasing pressure by Iranian security forces on Kurdish human rights activists in Iran, among them Kawa Kermashani, a human rights...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Calls on Tehran to Stop Arresting...

Below is an article published by Rudaw:  Iranian Kurdish activists call on Iran to stop arresting Kurdish teachers in that country and they hope to name May 19th, the first anniversary of the execution...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Local Politicians Foresee Popular...

Below is an article published by Rudaw:  The wave of protests currently engulfing the Middle East has reached Iran, prompting the Iranian Kurdish opposition parties to call on the Kurds in the country...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Tehran Executes 10 Kurdish...

  Below is an article published by the Peoples Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan:   During the past couple of day’s family members of Kurdish political prisoners raised fear that...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Prominent Lawyer Khalil Bahramian...

Below is an article published by Medya News: Human rights organization, RAHANA reported that Khalil Bahramian, defence attorney to several Iranian political prisoners, was sentenced to 18 months in prison...

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Iranian Kurdistan : Kurdish Political Prisoners...

  Below is a press release  published by Medya News:   A Kurdish political prisoner sentenced to death in Iran has been taken to an unknown location from Ward 4 of the Raji-Shahr prison...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Execution of Another Political...

Below is an article published by the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan: Kurdish political prisoner Farhad Tarom from the village of “Lavark” of the Dashtabel district of Oshnavieh city...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Two Thirds of Population Live...

Below is an article published by Medya News: Mr. Mohammad Ali Pertewi represents the people of Serdesht and Piranshar in the Iranian Parliament. He stated that over 60 percent people Kurdish people in...

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Hearing on Tehran’s Ethno-Cultural Discrimination...

Political representatives of three different ethnic minority groups, Mr Nasser Boladai (Balochistan People’s Party), Ms Sedigheh Adalati (Federal Democratic Movement of Azerbaijan) and Mr Miro Aliyar...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Two Kurds Executed In Iran...

  Below is an article published by Rudaw:   Lawand’s prison term was going to finish next year. His 15-year old daughter and 10-year old son have ticked many cells of a calendar that...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Bomb Blast Targets Army Parade...

  Below is an article published by Medya News:   A bomb has torn through a military parade in the Kurdish city of Mahabad in Iranian Kurdistan killing 11 people and wounding 58 more as the...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Iran Launches News Agency

  Below is an article published by Medya News:   The Islamic Republic of Iran has launched a new agency called Kurd Press. Officially the news agency will report on regional and international...

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Iran: U.N. Urges Iran To Tackle Racism

Below is an article published by Reuters: GENEVA (Reuters) - Iran should do more to protect its ethnic minorities such as Arabs, Kurds and Baloch, a United Nations human rights body said on Friday. The...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Iran Should Release And Provide...

  Below is an article published by Human Rights Watch: The Iranian Judiciary should provide urgent medical care to Mohammad Sadigh Kaboudvand and free him from his unfair detention, Human Rights...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Female Political Prisoner at...

  Below is an article published by International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran:Call on UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to Urge Suspension of ExecutionsKurdish political prisoner Zeynab...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Fate of Bodies of Executed...

   Below is an article published by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty:A month after the execution in Tehran of five imprisoned activists, a lawyer involved in the case has told RFE/RL’s...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Parents of Detained Kurdish...

  Below is an article published by Medya News: Twelve of the students were later released on bail, but three – identified as Tofiq Partouyi, Dana Lenj Abadi and Aram Veisi – are still...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Relatives Of Kurds Executed...

  Below is an article published by Medya News:“The government’s refusal to hand over the bodies to the families appears to stem from a fear of antigovernment demonstrations during...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Political Executions Indication...

 Below is an article published by: Iran Human Rights The Campaign condemned the execution of five political prisoners, including Farzad Kamangar, a 34-year-old teacher and social worker, who...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Official Security Forces Spread...

Below an article published by Medya News: Kurdistan Media reported that the regime’s security forces have set up mob groups in Iranian Kurdistan cities to be present on streets...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Pressure forces Tehran to exit...

  Below is an article published by HostedNews.comIran, under fire from Western countries over its human rights record, has decided not to seek a seat next month on the
Geneva-based UN Human...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Another Kurdish Political Prisoner...

 Below is an article published by Medya News:  Kurdistan Media a source from Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan quoting Mokryan News Agency announced today [23 April] that a Kurd from city...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Kurds Complain Of Crackdown...

 Below is an article published by Radio Free Europe :The Iranian-based Human Rights Organization of Kurdistan says its members are being prosecuted because of their human rights activities, RFE/RL's...

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Periphery Voices from Iran

Iran’s population is a mosaic of ethnicities, but the non-Persian groups are largely located in the peripheries. Unfortunately, their geographical location in the margins is matched by cultural,...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Rising Conflict in Iranian...

Below is an article published by Kurdish Herald: One of the most under-reported human rights issues in Iran is the current state of Kurdish political prisoners, and in particular, the current eighteen...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Arbitrary Detention of Kaveh...

  Below is an appeal published by International Federation for Human Rights: The Observatory has been informed by reliable sources of the arbitrary arrest of Mr. Kaveh Ghasemi Kermanshahi, a...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Iraqi President in Iran Seeking...

   Below is an article published by AFP: "President Talabani on Sunday pays a secret visit to Tehran to ask President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to intervene with the chief of the judiciary...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Death Penalty as Political...

  Below is an article published by the New York Times:In Iran, where there is precedent for executions to surge in the wake of a crisis, human rights groups said there was mounting evidence that...

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UNPO Iranian Members Recommend Steps to Effective...

  The session was based on the theme of “Minorities and Effective Political Participation” and representatives utilised the platform to identify obstacles to their involvement in political...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Rights Group Urges Iran to...

  Below is an article published by Washington TV: Ehsan Fattahian is scheduled to be executed on Wednesday at a prison in the western city of Sanandaj, capital of Iran’s Kurdistan Province.The...

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Iranian Kurdistan: 3 Americans Arrested for Illegal...

 Below is a statement issued by The Associated Press: Iran says 3 Americans arrested for illegal entry Iran has arrested three Americans who strayed across the border from Iraq on allegations...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Rezaei Seeks Trials for Iran...

   Below is an article published by Associated Press:Criticism of Iran's mass prosecution of political activists widened Sunday [2 August 2009] with the main conservative challenger...

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Iranian Kurdistan: General Strike

   Below is an article published by the Kurdish Aspect: On the 20th anniversary of the assassination of the Kurdish leader and former General-Secretary of the Democratic Party of Iranian...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Political Murder in Vienna...

  Below is an article published by AFP: The murder of a Kurdish opposition leader in Vienna, in which Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's name has been dragged, is still shrouded...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Activists Sentenced

   Below is an article published by Iran Focus:An Iranian Kurdish man was sentenced to over six years in prison on charges of acting against national security and spreading propaganda against...

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Speech, Nasser Mobaraki

 For a PDF version of this speech, please click here.   Ladies and Gentlemen: First of all I would like to thank UNPO and in particular Maggie for providing us with such a platform and opportunity...

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Speech, Hossein Ladjevardi (Persian)

Mr. Ladjevardi's speech is in Persian. Please click here to read it.

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Speech, Golmorad Moradi (English and Persian)

For a PDF copy of the speech in English,please click here. For a PDF copy of the speech in Persian, please click here.   Ladies and Gentlemen, It is an honour for me to be here for this Conference...

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Presentation, Afrasiab Shekofteh

    Dr Shekofteh's powerpoint presentation can be downloaded in PDF format, by clicking here.

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Iran Conference Press Release, March 24 2009

European Parliament to Host Meeting of Leading Iranian Dissidents   Brussels, 24 March 2009   Leading Iranian opposition figures will be meeting in Brussels, Belgium for a two-day conference...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Women’s Rights Activists...

   Below is an article published by: Amnesty International Kurdish student Hana Abdi was released from prison on Thursday [27 February 2009] after spending nearly 16 months in detention....

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Iraqi Kurdistan: Census Plan

   Below is an article published by: Reuters UK Iraq will hold a nationwide census in October [2009], its first in 22 years, mapping ethnic divisions in a survey which could encourage reconciliation...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Iran Harass Kurdish Minority...

   Below is an article published by: Voice of America Human rights monitors say Iranian authorities continue to detain and harass men and women of Iran's ethnic Kurdish minority. According...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Political Prisoners in Spo...

 Below is an article published by: Voice of America Human rights monitors say Iranian authorities continue to detain and harass men and women of Iran's ethnic Kurdish minority. According to the...

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Iraqi Kurdistan: Provincial Elections Result

    Below is an article published by: The New York Times The Dawa Party of Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki was the overwhelming winner of Iraq’s provincial elections, the...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Woman Condemned To Death

    Below is an article published by: Kurdistan Peace and Development Society  Kurdish political prisoner Ms. Zaynab Jalalian aged 27, was condemned to death by Kermanshah Revolutionary...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Rights Activist Detained

 Below is an article published by AFP:Iran's appeals court has confirmed an 11-year jail term for a Kurdish rights activist and journalist after he was convicted of acting against national security,...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Female Activist Imprisone...

Below is an article published by Adnkronos International:Kurdish feminist and journalist, Neghin Sheikholeslami, has been arrested and detained in the capital Tehran's notorious Evin prison .Sheikholeslami...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Minorities Suffer in Iran

Below is an article published by voanews.com:On September 10th [2008], security agents arrested more than nineteen Azeri-Iranians -- journalists, university instructors, and poets -- gathered in a private...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Arrest of Kurdish Journali...

Below is an article published by CNW Telbec: Reporters Without Borders today [18 September 2008] called for the release of a Kurdish contributor to national and foreign media, Massud Kurdpoor, who was...

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Iranian Kurdistan: ‘Defend the Rights Political...

Below is the petition issued by the Iranian Political Prisoners Association :   On August 25th 2008 a large number of Kurdish political prisoners went on a hunger strike, to protest against the...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Group Destroys Land Mine S...

Below is an article published by the International Herald Tribune : Anti-land mine campaigners say an Iranian Kurdish group has destroyed its stockpile of the weapon.Geneva Call says the Democratic Party...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Eight Activists Sentenced to...

Below is an article published by the Iranian Poitical Prisoners Association: According to reports from the "Campaign to stop the death penalty in Kurdistan", so far 8 political activists...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Journalist Jailed for Five...

Below is an article published by Adnkronos: A prominent Iranian journalist of Arab ethnicity has been sentenced to five years in jail. Yousuf Ben Azizi, was found guilty of 'subversive activities'...

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Iranian Kurdistan: EU Condemns Violation of Kurds'...

Below is an article published by EUbusiness :The EU presidency on Wednesday [6 August 2008] condemned human rights violations committed against the Kurdish minority in Iran and urged Tehran to scrap the...

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Discrimination Thrives Against Kurds in Iran

Below is an article published by Human Rights Digest:  Iran’s government is failing in its duty to prevent discrimination and human rights abuses against its Kurdish citizens, particularly...

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Iranian Kurdistan: At Least 86 Kurdish Civilians...

Below is an article published by the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan: Iranian securities forces have detained a large number of Kurds following a general strike on the 19th anniversary of the assassination...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Activists Sentenced to Dea...

Below is an article published by Iranian Political Prisoners Association : The Iranian High Court announced the death penalty of a teacher and Human right activist , Farhad Kamangar , and two...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Woman’s Rights Activist Sentenced...

Below is a press release issued by the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran: (21 June 2008)  Hana Abdi, a student and women’s rights activist from Sanandaj in Kurdistan who has...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Woman Activist Sentenced to...

Below is an article published by the Iranian Political Prisoners Association:   21 year old Hana Abdi, former student of PayamNoor University of Bijar, and member of women's association...

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Statement in Support of Iranian Women

 STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF IRANIAN WOMEN ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF 12 JUNE 2006 DEMONSTRATION We, the undersigned, representing international women's and human rights organizations,  express...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Kurdish Activist Dies in C...

The Leadership Council for Human Rights is outraged and saddened by the world’s lack of concern for the death in detention of Kurdish political activist Kaveh (Kawa) Azizpour, as information has...

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Women’s Rights Are Under Constant Assault in...

Below is a summary of a report issued by the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran: Iranian authorities have systematically thwarted peaceful and legal civil society efforts to advocate for...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Students Detained and Tort...

Three Kurdish students; Sabah Nassiri, Hedayat Ghazali and Yasser Gholi, have been detained and are facing torture and interrogation.Two of these students: Sabah Nassir and Hedayat Ghazali have been held...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Court Closes Kurdish Weekly...

Below is an article published by Reporters Without Borders:  Reporters Without Borders condemns the 11 April [2008] decision of a criminal court in Sanandaj, in Iran’s northwestern Kurdish...

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Iran: People Threatened By Old & New Materie...

Although littered with mines, the Iranian regime is adding new minefields, exporting new mines, and lacks any concerted de-mining plan. Below is an appeal issued by the Iranian Minorities Human Rights...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Yet Another Sentenced to ...

Three members of the Kurdish minority in Iran have been sentenced to death after being severely tortured by the oppressive regime of president Ahmedinejad.  Below is an article published by Iranian...

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Iran: Petition Hopes To Save Persecuted Gays

Two young men risk the death penalty under Iran’s hard-line administration – a petition may be their one chance of a reprieve. Below is an article published by the EveryOne Group: The Islamic...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Detained Student Dies

The suspicious death of Ebrahim Lotfollahi has raised concern among human rights monitors about ongoing abuses in Iran. Below is an article by Golnaz Esfandiari published in Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty: On...

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Iran: Execution for Offense Committed at Age...

Amnesty International condemns the Iran’s execution of Makwan Moloudzadeh who was charged for an offence he allegedly committed at age 13, violating international human rights standards prohibiting...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Eradicating Mines

The Hague, 05 December 2007 - The Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan has signed teh Deed of Commitment, a document that symbolises their opposition to landmines and commits them to undertake mine removal...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Prisoner Maltreated to Blackmail...

Iranian authorities are reportedly maltreating an imprisoned human rights activist in an attempt to lure his colleagues to present themselves at the police station and prevent them from carrying out their...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Prisoners Hunger-Strike

The lawyer for two Kurdish imprisoned journalists, who are on hunger-strike after being sentenced to death, has voiced his concern over their health. Below is an article published by The Kurdish Aspect:  Two...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Italy Condemns Death Sent...

Italy’s criticisms of increasing Iranian executions has sparked a diplomatic row, but Italian officials remain firm in their opposition to the use of the death penalty. Link: UNPO’s anti death...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Journalists Sentenced to D...

Two Kurdish journalists have been sentenced to death by an Iranian revolutionary Tribunal. They worked for a magazine which dealt with the Kurdish issue. Below are extracts from an article published by...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Journalist Arrested

Kurdish human rights activist and journalist Mohammad Sadiq Kaboudvand was once again arrested by Iranian authorities. Below is an article published by the MEMRI blog: On July 1, 2007, Iranian security...

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Iraqi Kurdistan: Security Accord

Iraqi Kurdistan and the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq have signed an agreement handing over security responsibility to the Kurdish government in the provinces of Dohuk, Irbil and Suleimaniya. Below is an...

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Iran: Human Rights Remain at Stake

Below is an article published by Voice of America: Nowruz marks the new year in Iran, but the Iranian people are facing all-too-familiar repressive tactics by the Iranian government. Recently, baton-wielding...

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Ahwazi: Outrage at Executions

Below is an extract from a written statement submitted to the Fourth Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) by the International Federation for the Protection of the Rights of Ethnic,...

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Iranian Kurdistan: Admitted to UNPO

The latest meeting of the UNPO Presidency, which met from 01 – 03 February at the European Parliament in Brussels, has continued pursuit of UNPO’s goal of giving a voice to all unrepresented...

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2009 UN Forum on Minority Issues: Iranian Group...

12-13 November 2009, Geneva   UNPO Participants with Ms McDougall   Karim Abdian addresses the Forum   Monireh Sulemani of the BPP             ...

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2010 Periphery Voices from Iran

  The aftermath of the Iranian elections in 2009 pushed people power and protest within Iran onto the front pages worldwide. Most media outlets failed to notice however that a substantial proportion...

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2009 Conference: Human Rights and the Question...

In conjunction with Congress of Nationalities for a Federal Iran (CNFI) UNPO organized a two day programme focusing on the possibility of federalism in Iran to act as a vehicle to combat human rights discrimination...

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Iranian Kurdistan

    UNPO REPRESENTATION: Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI) and Komala Party of Iranian Kurdistan The PDKI has been a Member of UNPO since 2007. Komala has been a Member since...

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