Death Sentence Issued for Female Kurdish Political Prisoner

20 Kurdish Political Prisoners at Risk of Execution following Unfair Trials

Shirin Alam Holi

(21 January 2010) The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran expressed serious concern regarding the increasing number of death sentences issued for Kurdish political prisoners following unfair trails.

According to Kurdish human rights organizations, at least 20 political prisoners have been condemned to death. During the past few weeks, two Kurdish political prisoners, Ehsan Fatahian and Fasih Yasamini were executed, and there are credible fears of imminent executions of other political prisoners on death row.

“The Iranian Judiciary is moving fast to implement a wave of political executions, particularly of Kurdish activists. These sentences are politically motivated and the trials do not conform to internationally accepted standards of due process,” said Hadi Ghaemi, a spokesperson for the Campaign.

The latest death sentence has been issued for a female Kurdish prisoner, Shirin Alam Holi (28), by Branch 15 of Tehran’s Revolutionary Court presided by Judge Salevati. The Kurdistan Human Rights Organization reported that the trial was held on 19 December 2009, and the conviction was announced to her lawyer on 3 January 2010.

Alam Holi is from the village of Deym Shalagh near the city of Makoo in western Iran. Security forces belonging to the Revolutionary Guard arrested her on 26 May 2008. She was detained for 21 days at a secret Revolutionary Guard detention center and subsequently transferred to Evin prison ward 209, which is under the control of the Intelligence Ministry. After five months of imprisonment in ward 209, Alam Holi was transferred to the general ward for women in Evin prison, where she is currently being held.

According to an interview by her lawyer, Feridun Shami, her physical condition was so bad that Evin officials at ward 209 refused to take custody of her when she was transferred there from the Revolutionary Guard detention center. She spent a week in Evin’s medical clinic before being transferred to ward 209. Shami also alleged that her client was severely tortured while she was held at the unknown detention facility of the Revolutionary Guard.

Alam Holi is accused of enmity toward God, Moharebeh, by cooperating with armed Kurdish opposition groups. However the prosecution did not provide any evidence of armed activity by her. Her lawyer told the Kurdistan Human Rights Organization that he did not expect the death sentence for her client as it does not conform to evidence against her and that he will appeal the sentence.

In addition to Shirin Alam Holi, according to several Kurdish human rights organizations, there are 19 other Kurdish political prisoners on death row who could be executed soon.

On 11 January 2010, the Kurdistan Human Rights Organization announced the names of 17 Kurdish prisoners at risk of imminent execution: Zeinab Jalilian, Farzad Kamangar, Habibollah Latifi, Shirkoo Moarefi, Farhad Vakili, Ali Heidarian, Hussein Khazri, Rostam Arkia, Mostafa Salimi, Anvar Rostami, Rashid Akhkandi, Mohammad Amin Agooshi, Ahmad Pooladkhani, Seyed Sami Husseini, Seyed Jamal Mohammadi, Hasan Talei, and Iraj Mohammadi.

Also, on 20 January 2010 the Campaign in Defense of Political and Civil Prisoners, announced that the execution sentences of two other young Kurdish political prisoners, Mohammad Amin Abollahi (20) and Ghader Mohammadzadeh (32), have been confirmed by the appeals court in the city of Urumieh.

“The recourse to executing political prisoners under the guise of enmity towards God is deplorable. No religion allows for such summary killings and even more troubling is the naked political nature of these killings to help cement the power of extremist hardliners in charge of most institutions in Iran,” Ghaemi said.

The Campaign notes that the Iranian government extrajudicially executed thousands of political prisoners during the summer of 1988, an act that has been widely recognized by human rights organizations as a crime against humanity.

“Today, the very same officials who carried out the 1988 massacres are urging another similar massacre of political prisoners, and the world should not sit by idly until such a crime is underway. The increasing execution of Kurdish prisoners, Iran’s most vulnerable and voiceless prisoners, is an alarm bell. The UN Human Rights Council should take on its responsibility of holding Iran accountable before we face a human rights catastrophe,” Ghaemi said.

Habibollah Latifi: from birth to a death sentence

The following is a biography of Habibollah Latifi and a brief description of his case, prepared by Kuridstan Committee of Human Right Activists in Iran based on the stories by Mr. Latifi’s family and friends. Habibollah Latifi is a political prisoner on death row being held in Sanandaj prison.

Habibollah Latifi is the seventh child of Soghra and Abbas Latifi. He was born on March 21st, 1981 (first day of spring, and the start of the Iranian new year) in Sanandaj. The first seven years of his life, during the Iran-Iraq war, was spent in the village of Taysar near Sanandaj.

He loves sports and excels in soccer. He played in various soccer teams including Sanandaj Shahrdari (run by the mayor’s office). However, he had to leave the sport just before entering university, because a precondition to continue playing was being a member of the Basij militia. Latifi was an “A” student in the field of industrial engineering. He loves nature and topography in Kurdistan. As a result, Latifi took up mountain climbing. He has climbed many of Kurdistan’s summits.

Although he was born to a wealthy family, he always appeared in public dressed modestly. He was a bright student who received his high school diploma in 2001. In 2002, he was admitted to the University of Ilam for the Industrial Engineering program.

Habibollah Latifi has a keen interest in studying, and discussion and debate around Iran’s social and political issues. In particular, he is most concerned over issues pertaining to Kurdistan. He, along with his friends, was engaged in civil, cultural, environmental, and political activities ranging from involvement with NGOs to more political engagements. He also had the honour of being a member of the environmental associations: Zhianeh Vah and Shahoo.

Habibollah Latifi was arrested on an autumn evening in 2007 on Adab Street in Sanandaj. Eleven Intelligence agents arrested him while he was exiting a computing service shop. He was not able to set eyes on the outside world for four months after his arrest. He spent that time in solitary confinement and he was subject to vicious tortures by Intelligence investigators. On the ninth day of his arrest, he was transferred to a hospital in Sanandaj as a result of a kidney hemorrhage. At the hospital, he was spotted coincidentally by a relative who describes his condition as grave: “A boy with puffed eyes, grey skin, torn lips. He was unable to stand on his feet. He was being dragged by three people while eight military and plainclothes agents were escorting them.” It was later discovered that he had almost died as a result of being kicked and beaten by approximately six people who used batons. His only movement for the four weeks that followed the incident was crawling.

His head was broken in three spots and the repeated kicks had torn his lips. It is noteworthy that Habibollah Latifi protested his condition to Kamyani, the judge assigned to the case. The judge would visit him in his solitary cell to investigate. Kamyani denied any torture and accused Habibollah Latifi of lying.

Meanwhile, the provincial head of Intelligence (at the time it was Amjadi), in a conversation he conducted with Habibollah Latifi from behind a cell door’s slot, promised him that he would help him and Yasser Goli (Habib’s friend) escape, but only if Habib makes confessions against his friends and prepare a monthly report against two individuals (whose names he did not mention). Once he was faced with Habib’s negative reaction, Amjadi threatened him with a death sentence.

After the interrogation ordeal, Habibollah Latifi was transferred to another section of the prison where he was finally able to see the sunshine and his family after four long months. In summer 2008, during a trial that lasted a few minutes and without the presence of his family, Habibollah Latifi was found guilty of acting against national security and the regime. Judge Babayi, who was presiding over the case, cited a verse from the Qur’an and certain chapters from Ayatollah Khomeini’s book to conclude that Habibollah Latifi was a Moharebeh (an enemy and fighter against God). Subsequently, he was sentenced to death. Habibollah Latifi denies all the accusations.

The Court of Appeals also upheld the unlawful verdict in winter 2009.

Judge Babayi told him, “Your sentence is death anyway. You should take responsibility for the crimes of other innocent defendants whose cases are before me, and thereby close their cases.”

It should be mentioned that prior to Ehsan Fattahian’s execution and during when Habibolla’s mother joined in on prisoner hunger strike to protest the death sentences (she also threatened to set herself on fire), Babayi had threatened Elaheh (Habibollah’s sister who gave interviews to foreign media) with imprisonment and harsh legal actions. Previously, when Omid (Habib’s brother) had visited the court to follow up with his brother’s case, he was detained for half a day and beaten in public by the head of the court’s security.

While in prison, Habib’s bronchitis ,which he has been suffering from since childhood, deteriorated further. In addition, his stomach infection and dental problems (caused unsanitary prison conditions and the poor quality food served in solitary confinement) has aggravated his mental suffering. Despite repeated requests by his family and lawyer, officials deny medical care and have only once sent him to a hospital for a sonography test. The results of the test are reportedly lost.

Massoud Mehreban (former head of Sanandaj’s central prison) and Mohammad Khosravi (head of Sanandaj prison) constantly harass and pressure Habibollah Latifi by controlling his interactions with other individuals, and depriving him from family visits and phone contacts.

Only a week after the case was sent to the Supreme Court in early spring 2009, the appeal was denied. The case then went before the Pardoning Committee of the Supreme Court. After 10 months of secrecy, his lawyer, Dr. Nikbakht, was informed that the Committee had refused to hear the case.

With the disclosure of this decision, and in the wake of Eskandari (the head of execution sentences in Sanandaj) who said that there is no impediment to his death sentence being carried out, the possibility of Habibollah’s execution is stronger than ever.

There is no possibility to commute Habibollah’s death. He can be hanged one morning before sunrise any day.

We have to mention that Latifi’s family had trusted a few officials in the intelligence office and judiciary to save his life. These individuals claimed they can influence the outcome of the trial and extorted the family, but they did not deliver on their promises. The family has tried to make an appointment to see the heads of judiciary (current and former), but they were rejected.

Habibollah Latifi tried tirelessly to stop Ehsan Fattahian’s execution by taking part in a hunger strike. His attempts resulted in mounting pressure from prison officials. They searched and confiscated his personal items and cancelled his rights to visitation and phone calls to his family.

In December, he was once again taken to solitary confinement for four days to be tortured.

Moreover, at the time of Ayatollah Khamenei’s visit to Kurdistan, Intelligent agents went to his father’s home in the middle of the night to intimidate the family. As a result, Habibollah’s mother suffered from a heart attack.

Habibollah’s death sentence can be carried out any day, and his family is asking for help from human rights organization to stop his execution.

Translation by: Siavosh J.
Persian2English.com

Human rights activist banned from teaching

Committee of Human Rights Reporters: Saba Vasefi, feminist and human rights activist, was expelled from teaching at Shahid Beheshti University on January 20, 2010.

Saba is also a researcher at the Persian Language Literature Research Center at Tarbiat Modares University. She had been teaching at Shahid Beheshti University for three years.

Also, This human rights activist has been an active contributor to the field of juvenile execution.

Translation by: Siavash S.

Persian2English.com

Shiva Nazar Ahari’s Family Meets with Tehran Prosecutor

Shiva Nazar Ahari’s family met with Tehran’s prosecutor, Jafari Dolat Abadi: “Any collaboration with the Committee of Human Rights Reporters is a crime. ” Committee of Human Rights Reporters – The family of human rights activist Shiva Nazar Ahari met with the prosecutor of Tehran’s public court and Revolutionary court. They asked for attention on the case of the daughter.

Jafari Dolat Abadi told them in the meeting: “Experts of the case have reported that the website for the committee is linked to “hypocrites” (MKO), and any collaboration with the committee is considered a crime.” Shiva Nazar Ahari’s family said the meeting was positive in general and Mr. Dolat Abadi has agreed to personally meet with Shiva in prison.

Regarding the time of release for Shiva, the Tehran prosecutor answered, “She will not be released until she has a court hearing and her verdict is determined.”

Shiva Nazar Ahari, together with Koohyar Goodarzi and Saeed Hayeri, two other members of the Committee of Human Rights Reporters, was arrested on December 20th while on a bus travelling to Ayatollah Montazeri’s funeral. Currently seven members of CHRR are held in detention by security forces.

CHRR is an independent body that aims to raise awareness and defend victims of human rights violations. The committee, which is in its fourth year of activities, has published report, statements, and articles on the issue of human rights violation and has introduced itself as a civil organization without any political association to domestic or foreign activists.

Translation by: Arash Azizi Persian2English.com

Mr. Ahmadian’s Whereabouts Unknown

Committee of Human Rights Reporters- According to reports, the whereabouts of Seyed Hossein Ahmadian is unknown. Mr. Ahmadian, Chair of the Popular Committee for Mir-Hossein Mousavi’s campaign, was detained in September and imprisoned at ward 209 of Evin prison. He was scheduled to undergo kidney surgery last Saturday.

Mr. Ahmadian’s family have released the following statement: “On January 20th, we were informed that he was transferred to an unknown location. We immediately visited Evin prison, and we were reassured by prison staff that he is currently being held at Ward 209. Upon re-visiting Evin today [Thursday, January 21, 2009], we were told that he is no longer being kept in Evin. His whereabouts are unknown. Because we were concerned about his health, we contacted the hospitals, but were provided with no further information.”

Mr. Ahmadian was recently transferred to Atieh Hospital for examinations for his deteriorating health conditions. He was scheduled to undergo surgery last Saturday. Mr. Ahmadian’s disappearance has stirred great anxiety amongst his family, especially in light of his critical health situation.

Mr. Ahmadian was arrested by intelligence agents on September 9, 2009 while at his office in Seyed-Khandan. According to authorities, his affiliation with the Fact Finding Committee was the reason for his arrest.

Translation by: Xan I.

Persian2English.com

Free Abbas Khalili Dermanaki

With emphasis on unity, concurrence, and solidarity of the Iranian literary society, intellectuals and literary figures inside and outside of Iran, this petition aims to direct global attention to atrocities and the violent and inhumane conducts that have violated Iranian people’s full individual and civil rights. These calamities have not solely affected political activists and the brave and freedom-seeking students, but currently extended to several dignified and peaceful Iranian writers. Many of our intellectual and literary colleagues are currently in prisons under gruesome conditions while the Iranian literary society and their families have no information about reasons for their arrests, ensuing legal procedures, and their physical and emotional well-being. (Abbas khalil Dermanaki)Khalil Dermanaki is one of such detainees, a writer and literary critic who has been arrested since December 27, 2009 pursuant to the events triggered by the Ashoora demonstrations in Iran and has been in Evin prison since. Due to what sin? which crime?

we, the undersigend:

Iranian Poets, writers,journalists and literary activists

Dr.Reza Baraheni - Pegah Ahmadi - Pooyaazizi-Shahraam Rafiezadeh-Mohammadasef Soltanzadeh-Farhaad heydari Gooran-Mohhamad Aazarm-Partow Nooriala - Maryam Zandi - Shahab Mogharabin - Leyla Farjami- Ali Zovarekabe-Alireza behnam- Mohamadbagher Samimi-Mohsen Emadi - azita Ghahraman-Shabnam Azar - Ali Chakaav - Hooshyar Ansarifar- Solmaz Naraghi - Reza Heyrani- Mohsen Bolhasani - Ayda Amidi - Hosein Fazeli(Naanaam)- Hengameh Hoveyda - Mehrdade Fallah-Ahmad Zahedi- Soheila Mirzaee -Maryam Amoosa- Masoomeh Ziaee -Sohrab Rahimi - Maryam Hooleh -Hooman Azizi-Robab Moheb-Mahtab Keranshe-Hosna Sedghi- Nasim Khosravi Moghadam-Azadeh Davachi-Hosein Imanian-Samaneh Naeeni - Siyavash Ramesh- Maryam Afshari -Mohsen Akbarzadeh- Hesam Misaghi-Mahnaaz Baihian - Nahid Sereshki-Sheyda Mohammadi - Mohammad Mohammadali- Mehdi Rostampoor- Nahid Arjooni - Mehdi Moosavi - Hasan Zohoori - Ahmadreza Ghayekhloo-Dariush Kashani - Naser Ghiyasi -Mohamad Alijani - Bijan Baran - Mahin Khadivi - Tofigh Mozhdeh - Aboozar Karimi - Masoud Azar - Nima Naghavi - Saeed Eskandari - Siamak mirzadeh- Roozbeh Salehi - Raad Ghanbari - Arash Azarpanah - Mohammad Sanaee- Mohsen Hajihasanpoor - Azar Mahmoodi - Masoud Alimahmoodi - Mahmood Sanaee - Razieh Navidzadeh - Pantea Bahrami - Niloofar Beyzaee - Reza Ameri -Soodabeh Negahdar - Solmaz Yeganemehr - Pari Biranvand -Veryaa Mazhar - Masoomeh Kohzadi-Mehri Jafari - Lela Sadeghi - Ayoob sadeghiyani - Farshad Parvaresh - Ahmad Zahedi Langroodi - Farideh Razavi - Nasrin Mirzaee - M.Ayro - Kamran Bozorgnia - Homeyra Taari -Elhaam Malekpoor - Masoud Kabkaanian - Arash Azarpanah - Amir Khaleghi - Narges Azimi - Narges Elikaee -Mitra Saraniasl -Amin Rajabian- Behzad Beheshtipoor - Mehrdad Ghasemfar- Shole Azar - Zahra Bahram nezhad - Soodeh Negintaj - Mojtaba Veysi - Sana Nassari- Abdolghader Balouch-Mehdi sedaghatpayam- Alireza Abiz- Reza Akvanian- Mitra sarani_ Hamed Rahmati- Sattar Janalipour- Alireza Abbassi - Rahim Rasouly- Taher Akvanian- Reza _ ـ Parvin Abedi - Maryam Raies Dana- Mona Mohammadzadeh- Kamran Tahbaz- shantya- Geranaz Mousavi- Arash Nosratollahi- Parastoo Foroohar- Moniroo Ravanipou -Ali Ravatzadeh

One man was hanged in the town of Khash (southeastern Iran)

Iran Human Rights, January 21: One man was hanged in the prison of Khash yesterday morning January 20, according to the official site of the Iranian judiciary in Sistan-Baluchestan.

The man who was identified as "Allahnazar Sh." was sentenced to twice qesas (retribution) convicted of murdering two other men identified as "Parviz Sh." and "Jeihand Sh." according to the report.

The report did not mention Allahnazar’s age, but according to a Baluch activist site he was 26 years old and his full name was "Allahnazar Shahlibar".