Labed

Labed is a small village situated within the Howmeh Rural District of the Central District in Sarpol‑e Zahab County, Kermanshah Province, Iran. According to the 2006 national census, the village had a population of 152 residents distributed among 33 families. The village is located at an elevation of approximately 1,300 meters above sea level and lies roughly 28 kilometers southeast of the county capital, Sarpol-e Zahab.

The toponym "Labed" is believed to derive from a local Kurdish dialect, with historical references to the name appearing in manuscripts from the 13th century that describe a modest settlement near a water source. Archaeological surveys in the area have uncovered remnants of a small, stone‑built temple dating to the early Sassanian period, suggesting that the site held religious importance in antiquity. In recent times, the economy of Labed has been primarily based on subsistence agriculture, with villagers cultivating wheat, barley, and various orchard crops such as pistachios and almonds. Livestock rearing, especially goats and sheep, also provides supplementary income.

Labed’s social structure reflects the broader ethnic mosaic of Kermanshah Province, with Kurdish and Luri cultural influences evident in local festivals, music, and traditional dress. The village typically observes Islamic holidays according to the lunar calendar and hosts an annual harvest festival that incorporates communal feasting and celebrations of local folklore.

Despite its modest size, Labed maintains a school that serves children from the village and nearby hamlets, and it falls within the jurisdiction of Kermanshah Province’s rural development programs aimed at improving infrastructure, educational facilities, and agricultural productivity. The village utilizes the Iranian Standard Time zone (UTC+3:30), shifting to Iranian Daylight Time (UTC+4:30) during daylight saving months.