Secretiveness in Feather Clothing, Exposing IRGC Operations in Peshmerga Disguise in Iranian Kurdistan
Disguise in Feathers is not a theoretical narrative, but rather shows with confirmed field reports and evidence how IRGC forces operate against Kurdish citizens and groups in the city of Kamyaran, disguised as "Kurdish Peshmerga."
On Tuesday, March 3, a new report by the human rights organization "Hengew" shows that a group of people dressed in uniforms similar to the organizational uniforms of the Kurdish parties' Peshmerga, traveled in several Saipa vehicles on the road leading to the village of "Trohriz" near the city of Kamyaran. This movement was not done in private, but deliberately on the road and openly so that their presence would be seen; however, Hengew's investigations indicate that these people were actually members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps who appeared in this area dressed as Peshmerga.
The Hengao investigation warns that such operations are likely to be not limited to Kamyaran and will be repeated in other cities in Kurdistan. The warning advises citizens in the region to be “smart” about how they deal with these individuals, as their appearance may be deceptive and inconsistent with their true identity.
This report, while an independent update on a specific incident, must be viewed in the broader context of tensions and repression in the Kurdish regions of Iran. In recent months, there have been numerous reports of detentions, enforced disappearances, and security clashes with Kurdish citizens, including in Kamyaran, Sanandaj, Mahabad, and other cities; some of these detentions have been carried out without a warrant and have been accompanied by torture or harsh interrogations, raising serious human rights concerns.
Alongside this security situation, the IRGC’s military operations in Kurdish areas have also intensified. Just last week, IRGC-led forces were reported to have arrested at least eleven senior members of the Party for a Free Life in Kurdistan (PJAK) in Kermanshah province, a move that Iranian officials claim was “to prevent sabotage operations,” but human rights critics see as a crackdown on political opposition.
At the same time, HNGAO and other human rights organizations have reported escalating pressures on activists, ordinary people, and ethnic groups, ranging from mass arrests to the disappearance of individuals last seen during recent protests in Kamyaran.
This type of covert and paramilitary operation, especially in areas like Kurdistan, is reminiscent of past patterns of tension and conflict between Iranian security forces and Kurdish groups, a tension that has a long history and has repeatedly led to armed clashes, mass arrests, and deep distrust.
Human rights experts and activists believe that using the uniforms and clothing of local groups to conduct security operations is not only contrary to the principles of transparency and international law, but can also increase tension, undermine public trust, and escalate violence in society.
Given these developments, the international community and independent institutions should closely examine military and security activities in Iranian Kurdistan, including the use of misleading cover-ups and the disappearance of citizens, to prevent further human rights violations.
