Latest news with #Komsay
Rudaw Net
05-05-2025
- General
- Rudaw Net
Iran's Kurdistan province hosts photography festival
Also in Iran IRGC denies Kurdish prisoner release despite jail approval: Watchdog Iran says to respond 'without hesitation' if attacked Iran arrests two over port blast, including senior government employee Hawraman marks centuries-old Komsay ceremony A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A photography festival was held in the Kurdish city of Sanandaj in western Iran (Rojhelat), bringing together over 120 photographers to hold workshops and display their work. 'A total of 120 photographers had submitted their work to the festival, but out of those 120 photographers, only 35 were selected to take photographs in Sanandaj over a three-day period and then submit their photos to the festival on the final day,' Younis Mohammed, a photographer and one of the Third National Sanandaj Photography Festival's jury panel, told Rudaw on Sunday. Mohammed explained that he led a workshop focused on documenting war photography, sharing his experience and techniques with festival participants. The festival ran from Tuesday to Saturday. 'On the second day of the festival, I conducted a workshop on how to comment on war photography or how to document war photography. The workshop focused on this topic, and many excellent photographers attended. There was a very good discussion, and it was very beneficial,' Mohammed said. To mark the 389th anniversary of Sanandaj's founding by Soleyman Khan Ardalan, the city hosted a series of cultural events, including the photography festival. Sanandaj's city council and municipality have designated April 26 as "Sanandaj Day" to celebrate the city's founding. Mohammed, a Kurdish photographer born in 1968 in Duhok and now based in Erbil, has exhibited his work internationally, including in Iran, with a notable collection titled 'In the Name of Religion' focusing on the Peshmerga and the war against the Islamic State (ISIS). In late 2021, he won third place and a bronze medal in the journalism and war category at the Tokyo International Foto Awards for his project on war-wounded individuals, and also received UNICEF's third prize for best photos of the year. Pasar Fayeq contributed to this report.
Rudaw Net
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
IRGC denies Kurdish prisoner release despite jail approval: Watchdog
Also in Iran Iran says to respond 'without hesitation' if attacked Iran arrests two over port blast, including senior government employee Hawraman marks centuries-old Komsay ceremony Nuclear talks must secure Iran's interests or be abandoned, says Khamenei aide A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) denied the conditional release of a Kurdish political prisoner despite the request being approved by the Yazd Central Prison after he served almost 17 years behind bars, a human rights watchdog reported on Sunday. 'Khaled Zamani - a Kurdish political prisoner, father of three daughters and one son, and a native of Khoy - remains deprived of both prison leave and conditional release, despite having served 6,151 days behind bars,' the Oslo-based Hengaw Human Rights Organization said. Zamani, on a 30-year prison sentence, has faced the 'ongoing denial of furlough by the IRGC's Intelligence Organization,' Hengaw added, with the latest refusal coming despite his conditional release having been approved by the Yazd Central Prison and the city's prosecutor. The denial by the IRGC comes despite 'the approval of Zamani's request by the Classification Council of Yazd Central Prison and the city's prosecutor.' He was arrested on July 1, 2008, by Iranian intelligence forces over charges of alleged membership in the Free Life Party of Kurdistan (PJAK). PJAK was established in 2003 and is considered the Iranian wing of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), but claims its links are only ideological. After its establishment in the Qandil Mountains - an area on the Kurdistan Region's border with Iran where the PKK is also headquartered - PJAK expanded its operations into the Kurdish areas of western Iran, recruiting hundreds of young men and fighting bloody battles with the IRGC. Zamani was sentenced by the Urmia Revolutionary Court to amputation of his left hand and right foot on charges of moharebeh, or enmity against God. Following an appeal, he was sentenced to 30 years in Yazd Central Prison, according to Hengaw. He has been denied furlough since then. Hengaw also reported that he has been subjected to severe physical and psychological torture during his imprisonment. Kurds and other ethnic minorities in Iran face systemic discrimination and disproportionately high rates of death sentences and executions, often on charges related to political activities such as baghi (armed rebellion) or moharebeh (enmity against God). Amnesty International's annual report, published in March, highlighted a sharp rise in executions in Iran in 2024, placing the country among the top three executioners globally. Iran, alongside Iraq and Saudi Arabia, accounted for 91 percent of all known executions worldwide. The report also censured Iranian authorities over their continued weaponization of the death penalty against dissidents, including those who participated in the Jin Jiyan Azadi (Women Life Freedom) protests and especially the minorities. In mid-September 2022, 22-year-old Kurdish woman Mahsa (Zhina) Amini died in police custody after being arrested for allegedly violating Iran's compulsory hijab law. Her death sparked nationwide protests in Iran, the longest protest movement the country had seen in four decades.
Rudaw Net
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Iran says to respond ‘without hesitation' if attacked
Also in Iran Iran arrests two over port blast, including senior government employee Hawraman marks centuries-old Komsay ceremony Nuclear talks must secure Iran's interests or be abandoned, says Khamenei aide Tehran blasts West as nuclear talks with US postponed A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iran's defense minister on Sunday criticized recent remarks from his American counterpart and said that while Tehran will not initiate war, it will respond 'without hesitation' if subjected to a military attack. 'Iran has a very large stockpile of missiles in cities, and if war is imposed, it will use them without hesitation and without consideration against targets anywhere,' Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh said in an interview, as cited by the semi-official Tasnim news agency. He was referring to recent statements from US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, who on Thursday warned Iran over its support for the Houthis in Yemen. 'You know very well what the U.S. military is capable of – and you were warned. You will pay the CONSEQUENCE at a time and place of our choosing,' Hegseth said on X. 'We see your LETHAL support to The Houthis,' he warned. Nasirzadeh further slammed Washington's remarks, saying they come at a time when American officials express a willingness to negotiate but 'regularly and through various means threaten the Islamic republic with a military attack.' On Friday, Tehran condemned the latest round of sanctions imposed by Washington, with a fourth round of indirect nuclear talks between the US and Iran postponed. Iran said the delay came at the request of the Omani foreign minister, who is serving as mediator, though Washington said the talks had not been confirmed. Nasirzadeh advised Hegseth to study the Islamic republic's history, saying, 'If they study, they will realize that they should not speak to the Islamic Republic of Iran in the language of threats.' He reiterated that Tehran would decisively respond to any military threat. 'If the war is from the US or Zionist regime, the Islamic Republic of Iran will attack their interests, bases, and forces wherever they are and whenever it deems necessary, and the defense ministry is trying to equip the armed forces on land, air, and sea,' Nasirzadeh stressed. Under a 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Tehran agreed to curb its nuclear enrichment program for much-needed relief from crippling sanctions. But the deal began unraveling in 2018 when Trump, during his first term, unilaterally withdrew and imposed biting sanctions on the Islamic republic, which in turn began rolling back on its nuclear commitments. Upon returning to office, Trump in early February restored his 'maximum pressure' policy against Tehran, arguing that it is 'too close' to a nuclear weapon and seeking a new deal with Tehran. In late March, Trump warned that 'there will be bombing' against Iranian interests if Tehran fails to reach an agreement with Washington over its nuclear program. 'If they don't make a deal [with the US] there will be bombing, and it will be bombing the likes of which they have never seen before,' he told NBC News. In an indirect response to Trump's threats, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned of a strong response if Iran is attacked. 'They threaten to commit evil,' but 'if evil is committed, the counterattack will definitely be mutually strong,' Khamenei said. Tehran has always asserted that its nuclear program is peaceful and that nuclear weapons go against the Islamic republic's doctrine.
Rudaw Net
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Iran arrests two over port blast, including senior government employee
Also in Iran Hawraman marks centuries-old Komsay ceremony Nuclear talks must secure Iran's interests or be abandoned, says Khamenei aide Tehran blasts West as nuclear talks with US postponed Iran port blast death toll reaches 70 A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iranian authorities on Sunday arrested two individuals, including a government-affiliated 'manager,' in connection with the deadly explosion that rocked the country's main commercial port late last month, state television reported. 'Following the proven negligence of some relevant officials, the process of summoning, investigating, and detaining a number of suspects is underway. In this regard, a government manager and another from the private sector have been legally detained,' Iran's state-run TV cited the committee investigating the incident as stating. The committee elaborated that 'the process of summoning and conducting field investigations is in progress,' adding that 'determining the exact and final cause of the incident requires further expert investigations and precise technical and laboratory measures.' A massive blast occurred at the Shahid Rajaee port in Bandar Abbas on April 26, when a fuel tanker exploded. The port, one of Iran's most vital commercial hubs, handles roughly 70 million tons of goods annually and is located along the Strait of Hormuz, from which one-fifth of global oil output passes. The state-run Iranian News Agency (IRNA) on Sunday quoted the southern Hormozgan Province's chief justice as stating that the port explosion resulted in '57 confirmed deaths,' revising the initial toll of 70. Mojtaba Ghahremani further noted that '46 bodies have thus far been identified,' adding that 'some fatalities were mistakenly counted due to body fragments later determined to belong to the same individual.' The explosion also resulted in more than 1,000 injuries. In response to the incident, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in late April ordered a comprehensive investigation into the blast. 'Security and judicial officials are required to conduct a thorough investigation, uncover any negligence or intent, and pursue it in accordance with regulations,' Khamenei said. The investigative committee stated on Sunday that it 'continues to rigorously examine all aspects of the incident,' pledging that the inquiry would proceed without delay or leniency. Updates will be shared as the investigation progresses to keep the public informed, the committee added. In late April, The New York Times cited an anonymous source linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as stating that the explosion involved sodium perchlorate, a key component used in solid missile fuel. However, Iran's defense ministry spokesperson Reza Talaei-Nik indirectly dismissed the suggestion, saying, 'There has been no imported or exported cargo for military fuel or military use in the area.'
