Iran arrests founders of Roznewbar Kurdistan Science Institute

The Iranian state arrested Cyrus Abbasi and his brother Azad Abbasi, the founders of the Roznewbar Kurdistan Science Institute. The institute was closed.

The Iranian state closed the Roznewbar Kurdistan Science Institute, which has been providing Kurdish education for 6 years in the cities of Qorveh and Dehgolan in Rojhilat. The institute was closed on 3 September on the grounds of "promotion and recognition of the Kurdish language". The founder of the institute, Cyrus Abbasi, and his brother Azad Abbasi, who were called to give a statement on Saturday, were arrested and sent to Dehgolan Prison.

Cyrus Abbasi and Azad Abbasi were arrested before. On 30 September 2022 they were taken into custody for participating in the ‘Jin jiyan azadi’ protests that started after the murder of Jina Amini last year.

The two brothers were sent to Sine Prison after 32 days of solitary confinement. After 3 months of detention, both brothers were sentenced to 18 months in prison for "disturbing public order" and 48 months in prison for "conspiring against assembly and national security" by the Dehgolan High Criminal Court. The two brothers were later released on bail.