HRANA – Amid efforts to contain a massive wildfire in the Abidar Mountain area of Sanandaj, three environmental activists—Hamid Moradi, Khabat Amini, and Chiako Yousefinejad—lost their lives. In response to the tragedy, the governor of Kurdistan Province declared two days of public mourning.
The funeral ceremony for the victims was held with a large turnout of citizens and grieving families.
According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, around noon on July 24, a widespread fire broke out on the slopes of Abidar Mountain. During the firefighting operation, seven volunteer responders became trapped in a ring of flames in a steep valley.
Hamid Moradi, a lawyer and director of the “Shaneye Nozhin Kurdistan” association, died from 95% burns. Chiako Yousefinejad and Khabat Amini, also environmental activists, were hospitalized with severe burns and passed away after several days. Mohsen Hosseinpanahi remains hospitalized, while the other volunteers sustained minor injuries and were treated.
The incident once again highlights inadequate infrastructure, lack of equipment, insufficient training, and the negligence of responsible agencies in dealing with environmental crises. Reports indicate that none of the volunteers had fire-resistant clothing or safety gear and were relying solely on personal resources.
According to local environmental activists, the municipality had taken no prior steps to create firebreaks or prevent the spread of the blaze, and equipment promised by the Natural Resources Office never reached the volunteers. Despite repeated warnings from environmental advocates, recurring wildfires in the Abidar region—many of which are suspected to be intentional—are not properly investigated by law enforcement or the judiciary.
This tragedy also underscores the longstanding issue of the lack of official recognition and legal protections for environmental casualties. Individuals like Hamid Moradi, despite their sacrifice, are labeled merely as “dedicated servants” rather than “martyrs,” depriving their families of compensation, pensions, and legal support.
According to a report by Ham-Mihan newspaper, at least 20 environmental activists have died in recent years while combating forest fires in the Zagros Mountains. The cases of many victims—including Alborz Zarei, Esmaeil Karimi, and Mokhtar Khandan—remain unresolved and are passed between various government bodies.
Environmental organizations in Kurdistan report that nearly 99% of fires in the province’s rangelands are deliberately set, with many linked to land grabbing and military violations in border areas. Nevertheless, the government has failed to implement effective measures in prevention, training, or support for local volunteers.
The tragic incident in Abidar not only took the lives of three individuals devoted to nature but also reflects a broader pattern of neglected environmental policy and chronic institutional apathy in Iran. Until support policies, insurance structures, localized training, and state accountability are strengthened, such disasters will not only recur but may become normalized and go unanswered.
