Rising Conflict in Iranian Kurdistan

One of the most under-reported human rights issues in Iran is the current state of Kurdish political prisoners, and in particular, the current eighteen political prisoners who are on death row and may be facing imminent execution. Unfortunately, serious consequences and escalated conflict may be imminent if the conditions continue to be ignored.

While a few of the individuals on death row such as Farzad Kamangar, Zeynab Jalaliyan and Habibollah Latifi, have received some international attention, most of the Kurdish political prisoners facing execution are virtually unknown. There are currently eighteen Kurdish political prisoners on death row, two of whom are women. All of these individuals were subjected to torture and “tried” behind closed doors in sham trials, and in most cases, without the presence of their lawyers. Read more

40 Swedish members of parliament signed a petition to lift the death sentences against the Kurds in Eastern Kurdistan (Iran)

Rescind the death sentence against the Kurdish activists!  Developments in Iran since the election in June 2009 have been changeble.  In the Kurdish area in which a state of emergency exists, the Iranian regime has grown even more repressive. The Kurdish people have the highest number of death row political prisoners.

In Iran, there are currently thirteen Kurdish students, and civil and political activists awaiting death sentences that have been issued by Iran’s judiciary. They are accused of threatening national security or being an “enemy of God”, and so for being a dissident. Read more

A Candle for Ehsan

Candles and protests for Ehsan

Light a candle for Ehsan on Friday: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=202246368803&ref=mf

Information from Facebook for those in UK:

We are holding a memorial service for the martyr of freedom “Ehsan Fattahian” at Bradford Resources Community Centre in Bradford on the 27th of November starting at 6:00pm. Please come and join us, everybody is welcome.

Iran: Unrest following Ehsan Fattahian’s Execution

Human Rights Activists in Iran report that following Ehsan Fattahian’s execution, a peaceful demonstration was held in Sanandaj. During the rally, the people chanted slogans such as “Stop Executions”, “Yes to Free Life, No to Execution”. The demonstrators were met with anti-riot forces that dispersed the protesters using batons. Several protesters were injured and ten were arrested. The demonstrators were turned over by the police to the Sanandaj Intelligence Office.

At the same time, prisoners in Sanandaj Central Prison where Ehsan was executed, continued their hunger strike, which began following Ehsan’s transfer to solitary confinement ahead of his execution. The warden of the prison visited the political prisoner’s ward and threatened the prisoners. He threatened Habibollah Latifi, a Kurdish activist on death row, to implement the sentence soon. Following Ehsan’s execution political prisoners in Central Orumieh Prison began a three-day hunger strike. They demanded an end to the executions of Kurdish political prisoners and an improvement in their rights.