Malekshahi County
County in Ilam Province, Iran
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History
In 2008, Malekshahi District[c] was separated from Mehran County in the establishment of Malekshahi County, which was divided into two districts of two rural districts each, with Arkavaz as its capital.[11] The village of Delgosha was elevated to the status of a city.[13] After the 2011 National Census, the village of Mehr became a city as well.[14]
During the 2025-2026 Iranian protests
On January 3, 2026, during the 2025-2026 Iranian protests and 2026 Iran massacres, forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Basij opened fire on protesting civilians, killing several in the Malekshahi County.[15]
Among those killed was Latif Karimi. His son confirmed on his personal social media page that Karimi was killed directly by government forces.[16] Following the incident, state-affiliated institutions promoted media narratives describing him as a member of government forces who had been killed by protesters.[17]
Demographics
Population
At the time of the 2011 census, the county's population was 22,587 people in 5,626 households.[18] The 2016 census measured the population of the county as 21,138 in 6,022 households.[2]
Administrative divisions
Malekshahi County's population history and administrative structure over two consecutive censuses are shown in the following table.
| Administrative Divisions | 2011[18] | 2016[2] |
|---|---|---|
| Central District | 16,144 | 15,374 |
| Chamzey RD | 2,957 | 2,722 |
| Shuhan RD | 829 | 675 |
| Arkavaz (city)[b] | 12,358 | 11,977 |
| Gachi District | 6,298 | 5,609 |
| Gachi RD | 2,011 | 520 |
| Kabirkuh RD | 2,086 | 2,210 |
| Delgosha (city) | 2,201 | 1,819 |
| Mehr (city) | 1,060 | |
| Total | 22,587 | 21,138 |
| RD = Rural District | ||
2026 Malekshahi massacre
The 2026 Malekshahi massacre was committed by the forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Basij on 3 January 2026 in Malekshahi County, Ilam province, Iran. The massacre began at noon when the IRGC and Basij forces opened fire on protesting civilians, killing several.[19]
See also
Media related to Malekshahi County at Wikimedia Commons
Notes
- The name in Persian (ملگشاهی) is from the old name, Melkishi, a Kurdish[3] tribe spread from Ilam to Ardahan province in Turkey. There is a Georgian counterpart to this tribe, namely the Melikishvili. The Malekshahi form one of the largest tribes in Iran, Iraq and Turkey. Melikshahi Kurdish language and dialect is Malekshahi.[4][5][6][7][8][9][10]
- Formerly Qaleh Darreh-ye Malekshahi[12]
- Formerly Arkavazi District[12]