Iranian Kurdistan Human Rights Watch strongly condemns the Israeli regime’s unconventional military aggression and war against Iranian civilians, particularly women, children, and the defenseless. We express deep concern over the critical situation in the Middle East and demand the immediate intervention of international bodies to halt this catastrophic and inhumane trend.
In recent weeks, there have been reports of a wave of illegal and targeted attacks by the Israeli regime against infrastructure, residential areas, and public places across various regions of Iran. These attacks have resulted in the deaths and injuries of dozens of civilians, causing profound disruption to the psychological, social, and economic security of the people. The Israeli regime has deliberately targeted civilian infrastructure, residential homes, urban areas, and even water transfer infrastructure in various regions, killing hundreds of civilians, women, and children. In addition to Israeli bombings, terrorist and mercenary groups allied with this criminal regime have been active inside Iran, engaging in killings and bombings.
Exploitation by Terrorist Groups
Beyond the military and humanitarian dimensions of this war, the murky and anxiety-inducing atmosphere created by it has become a dangerous breeding ground for the destructive activities of terrorist and extremist groups. One of the most serious examples of this abuse is the activities of the armed and separatist PJAK group. Exploiting the tense situation in the region, particularly in border areas, PJAK has been deceiving, abducting, and recruiting Iranian adolescents and youth. Furthermore, the PAK terrorist group has expressed support for Israeli attacks against Iran and the killing of Iranian children and women.
Documented reports by Iranian Kurdistan Human Rights Watch reveal:
- This group lures victims from deprived areas of Iran to the Iraqi Kurdistan Region with promises of employment, education, or migration.
- They then transfer them to mountainous and inaccessible areas, cutting off their means of return.
- By recording propaganda videos of them in paramilitary uniforms and threatening execution if they attempt to escape, individuals are held under conditions of illegal detention, psychological pressure, and physical and sexual abuse.
- Many victims are underage children and adolescents, which constitutes a clear violation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the prohibition of child soldiery, and a war crime.
- These actions, alongside Israeli military attacks, represent an unprecedented situation of comprehensive threats against human security in Iran.
Demands for International Action
Iranian Kurdistan Human Rights Watch emphasizes the illegality of these actions under international law and calls for immediate and decisive action from relevant international bodies:
- The United Nations Security Council must urgently issue a resolution and take practical steps to stop the unconventional war and targeting of Iranian civilians by the Israeli regime. The United States is a partner in these crimes and the primary supporter of the Israeli regime and must accept responsibility for these actions.
- The United Nations Human Rights Council should form a fact-finding team to investigate recent Israeli attacks on residential areas and infrastructure in Iran.
- The Committee on the Rights of the Child, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and international human rights organizations must conduct immediate investigations into cases of child abduction, child soldiery, and sexual exploitation by the PJAK group. The Israeli regime must also be held accountable and punished for the targeted killing of Iranian children.
- The Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq is obligated to provide transparency, be accountable for the presence and activities of these terrorist groups in areas under its control, and take necessary measures to prevent the continuation of this trend.
- We urge media outlets, non-governmental organizations, civil activists, and human rights defenders worldwide to expose these atrocities and pressure international bodies, becoming the voice of the silent victims of this dual war.
While the world watches the bloodshed and destruction, we reiterate that human rights should never be sacrificed for political, military, or geographical interests. We demand an immediate end to this unequal war, a halt to the targeting of Iranian civilians, and the containment of terrorist groups exploiting this crisis. Human dignity, the right to life, security, freedom, and health are universal and inalienable rights. Defending these rights is a global responsibility.
Sincerely,
Iranian Kurdistan Human Rights Watch Date: June 16, 2025
