Jun 01, 2010

Iranian Kurdistan: UNPO Condemnation of Executions in Iran


UNPO is shocked and dismayed by the announcement by authorities in the Islamic Republic of Iran that five political prisoners were executed in Tehran’s infamous Evin prison on Sunday May 9 2010.

UNPO openly and fully condemns these sudden executions and expresses its sincere condolences to the families and friends of the victims, four of whom were Kurdish.

UNPO is deeply concerned about the lack of information surrounding the cases. The arrests were ungrounded, there were severe legal irregularities and breaches of due processes, and accusations of inhumane treatment and torture during incarceration, at which time they were held incommunicado. This signals a government policy of relying on politically-motivated executions to strengthen its position vis-à-vis its opposition through terror and intimidation.

The five people killed were Farzad Kamangar, Shirin Alam Holi, Ali Heidarian, Farhad Vakili and Mehdi Eslamian. In 2008 they were convicted for being members of terrorist organizations, for anti-revolutionary activities, or for Mohareb (enmity towards God). All main Kurdish parties and political organizations deny all accusations.

Major flaws and irregularities in judicial procedure have emerged. No opportunity for appeal was made, and thus must be deemed illegal according to Iran’s own law.

Farzad Kamangar, a 34 year old teacher and social worker, was charged with Mohareb, convicted and sentenced to death in February 2008, after a seven-minute long trial that lacked the presentation of evidence and defence. No evidence can be found in his interrogation records, file, or in presentations by prosecutors or the judge’s decision, to support the charge.

Shirin Alam Holi, the 28 year old Kurdish woman who was also executed, denied charges of terrorism in letters she sent out the prison and explained she had been tortured to make such false confessions in front of television cameras.

The executions appear to be an effort to deter opposition activities in the run-up to the first anniversary of the 2009’s controversial Presidential election next month. This was the case already in February 2010 when four people were executed before planned opposition protests. Hopefully this is not the beginning of a new wave of executions.

UNPO General Secretary Marino Busdachin condemned the lack of fair trials and the continuing executions: “Political executions increasingly appear as an indication of the government’s insecurity in Iran. The government of Iran cannot continue to suppress and kill its minorities behind closed doors as a means of governance; this is certainly not the right way towards peace and stability”.

In a joint statement of Iranian Kurdish organizations, the enmity of the Iranian State toward the Kurdish people is reiterated. These acts of suppression, imprisonment, torture and execution are labelled as expressions of Iranian state fear to loose power and control; “We condemn the executions and express our sincere condolences to these individuals’ friends and families. We also urge human rights organizations and political organizations all around the world not to be quiet about this tragic incidence and to condemn this brutal act.”

These killings have further deteriorated the trust of the Kurdish people and other citizens in the regime, and heighten their frustration over the suppression of its youths. Accordingly, there is widespread uproar and antipathy towards the regime's disregard for human rights, especially the rights of the political prisoners. Reportedly, the Kurdish community has risen in protest, coming together at Tehran University, in Piranshahr and Kamyaran in north-west Iran. As a result martial law has been declared in the predominantly Kurdish cities of Mahabad and Sanandaj.

At least sixteen Kurdish political prisoners and eleven post-election protestors remain in danger of similar unannounced and sudden executions. This year 61 people have already been hanged, while last year saw a total of 270 executions.

While drawing little encouragement from past trials, UNPO nevertheless urges Iranian authorities to ensure fair treatment and trial and urges a cessation of all state-sanctioned executions in line with the 2007 United Nations Global Moratorium on the Death Penalty.