Malekshahi County () is in Ilam province, Iran. Its capital is the city of Arkavaz. The Malekshahi tribe is the largest Kurdish tribe in Ilam.
History In 2008, Malekshahi District 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. The village of Delgosha was elevated to the status of a city. After the 2011 National Census, the village of Mehr became a city as well.
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.
Among those killed was Latif Karimi. His son confirmed on his personal social media page that Karimi was killed directly by government forces. Following the incident, state-affiliated institutions promoted media narratives describing him as a member of government forces who had been killed by protesters.
Demographics Population At the time of the 2011 census, the county's population was 22,587 people in 5,626 households. The 2016 census measured the population of the county as 21,138 in 6,022 households.
Administrative divisions
Malekshahi County's population history and administrative structure over two consecutive censuses are shown in the following table.
+ Malekshahi County Population Administrative Divisions 2011 2016 Central District 16,144 15,374 Chamzey RD 2,957 2,722 Shuhan RD 829 675 Arkavaz (city) 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
2026 Malekshahi massacre
See also
Notes
References