Pejman Soltani

Pejman Soltani is a 32-year-old Kurdish “Woman, Life, Freedom” protester arrested on 15 April 2023 in Bukan. He was subjected to torture to extract confessions to the murder of an IRGC-affliated individual and collaborating with opposition groups that were later aired by state media and used as the basis of his sentence. Pejman is held in Urmia Central Prison.

CHARGES IN 1st CASE: Principal offender in the murder of Mohammad Ali Mohammadi.

STATUS: Sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) by Branch 1 of the Western Azerbaijan Juvenile Criminal Court in February 2025.

CHARGES IN 2nd CASE: Baghy (armed rebellion), moharebeh (enmity against god) and leadership and formation of a baghy group called “Association of Rebels” in support of Komala and the Kurdistan Freedom Party (PAK).  

STATUS: Sentenced to three death sentences by Branch 1 of the Urmia Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Reza Najafzadeh in July 2025. On 25 October, the sentence was overturned by Branch 39 of the Supreme Court and the case sent to a court of equal standing for retrial.