Increased Security Pressure on Two Kurdish Journalists
Kurdish human rights journalists under threat: Himan Bayazidpour and Fayegh Rasouli receive death threats June 30, 2025 – Kurdish journalist and human rights activists Himan Bayazidpour and Fayegh Rasouli have recently been subjected to direct and systematic threats by institutions affiliated with the Islamic Republic of Iran. These threats have intensified following a fatwa issued by a Shia cleric declaring all those involved in media coverage of the recent Iran-Israel conflict as "apostates" and "corruptors on earth" — labels which, under Iranian law, can carry the death penalty. Himan Bayazidpour and Fayegh Rasouli are among the most prominent media and human rights figures in Iran's Kurdish regions. Over the years, they have consistently appeared on international media platforms, television programs, and expert panels. Their crucial role in reporting the reality of the nationwide protests sparked by the death of Mahsa (Jina) Amini, as well as their recent coverage of the 12-day war between Iran and Israel, has drawn sharp backlash from hardline elements within the Iranian regime. According to sources close to the two journalists, repeated threatening phone calls and text messages have been sent in recent days, some explicitly warning of imminent punishment — including references to execution as the “maximum penalty.” While international human rights organizations have yet to issue official statements, informed sources report that widespread efforts are underway to alert global bodies such as Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Amnesty International, and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Urgent Call for International Support In response to the threats, civil society activists, exiled journalists, and media organizations abroad have issued statements demanding immediate international action to ensure the safety and protection of Himan Bayazidpour and Fayegh Rasouli. Given the Iranian regime's track record of handing down harsh sentences against media professionals — and the historical implementation of similar fatwas — there is growing concern that the lives of these two journalists are in imminent danger. Shoresh Mohi
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