To: The Head of Iran’s Judiciary, the Prosecutor General, the Chief Justice of West Azerbaijan Province, and the public prosecutors of Oshnavieh and Piranshahr
September 22, 2026
We, the undersigned, call for an immediate, independent, and transparent investigation into the death of Niloufar Mojaver, a young Kurdish woman from Oshnavieh in Iran’s West Azerbaijan Province.
Niloufar left her family home on the evening of August 23, 2026, and remained beyond her family’s reach for approximately ten days. According to her family and published human-rights reports, she was held at an undisclosed location and subjected to severe physical and sexual violence, repeated beatings, and deprivation of food and water.
On August 31 or September 1, Niloufar was taken in critical condition to a medical facility near Piranshahr and subsequently transferred to a hospital. She had sustained extensive injuries, and doctors later declared her brain-dead. Amid their profound grief, her family consented to donating her viable organs so that other lives might be saved.
Niloufar’s family has identified Seyed Ezzat al-Din Seyed Taheri as the principal suspect in the case. He reportedly fled after Niloufar was taken for medical treatment. On September 5, however, he was arrested near the border in Baneh, in Kurdistan Province, while allegedly attempting to leave Iran. He was subsequently transferred to West Azerbaijan Province for investigation.
The suspect’s arrest must be only the beginning of a thorough judicial process. Niloufar’s family and the public have a right to know what happened between the time she left home and her arrival at the hospital, who inflicted her injuries, and whether anyone else participated in or facilitated the crimes committed against her.
We therefore call upon the Iranian judicial authorities to:
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Conduct an immediate, independent, and comprehensive criminal, forensic, and medical investigation, and disclose its findings to the public while respecting the family’s privacy.
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Ensure that Seyed Ezzat al-Din Seyed Taheri remains under appropriate judicial supervision pending the completion of the investigation. The allegations against him must be examined in a competent and impartial court, with full respect for due process. If convicted, he must receive a punishment proportionate to all offenses proven against him, without improper influence, preferential treatment, or unjustified leniency.
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Investigate separately and thoroughly the allegations of sexual assault, torture, deprivation of food and water, threats against Niloufar’s family, attempted flight, and the possible involvement or assistance of other individuals.
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Examine the response of law-enforcement and judicial authorities during the period between Niloufar’s disappearance and her hospitalization, and publicly identify any institutional negligence or failure that may have occurred.
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Protect Niloufar’s family and all potential witnesses from threats or retaliation, and guarantee the family access to independent legal representation, psychological support, and relevant information about the proceedings.
Seeking justice for Niloufar Mojaver is about defending the right to life and security of every woman exposed to violence, coercion, and abuse. Niloufar’s name must not be forgotten in the silence of an unresolved or closed case.
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