Shirkuh Moa’refi seems to have a hanging reprieve … for now

We are pleased to report that it seems Shirkuh Moa’refi has been taken off the list for hanging in Iran.  This is very good news for him.     The pressure needs to be kept on the Iranian Government to release the other Kurdish political prisoners from this threat also.

Original report:

A Kurdish political prisoner, Shirkuh (Bahman) Moa’refi, was transferred to solitary confinement yesterday afternoon ahead of his execution, according to his lawyer, Dr. Khalil Bahramian. Shirkuh (also spelled Sherko) was held by the Saqqez Intelligence office and now transferred to the solitary confinement cells in Saqqez Central Prison. This move by Iranian authorities comes two days after the execution of another Kurdish political prisoner, Ehsan Fattahian.

No date for this execution was given, but usually, a transfer to solitary confinement occurs a day before the execution is carried out. According to a report from the Azarmehr Association of Women of Kurdistan, the execution team that carried out Ehsan’s sentence in Sanandaj will be traveling to Saqqez tomorrow.

Shirkuh Moa’refi, 30, from the city of Banneh in Iranian Kurdistan was arrested on October 31, 2008 on the outskirts of Saqqez, and was tried by the Revolutionary Court in Sanandaj. He was found guilty of acting against national security and being an Enemy of God (Mohareb) and sentenced to death. This sentence was confirmed during the appeal process by the Court of Appeal and by the Supreme Court. According to a Iranian Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRNA) report, Shirkuh was tortured and mistreated during interrogations.

Shirkuh’s lawyer released his phone number for media organizations: +989121463518

Petition to save Shirkoo from execution

13 November 2009, with thanks to: