Iran: Execution of Kurdish political prisoner Habibollah Latifi postponed

Habiollah Latifi

Iran Human Rights, December 26: According to the reliable sources in Iran, execution of the political prisoner Habiollah Latifi, who was scheduled to take place early this morning, has been postponed.

Habibollah Latifi’s lawyer and family have confirmed the news.

Since the news of his scheduled execution became known to the public, a campaign was started by the activists inside and outside Iran to save his life. There were several gatherings in protest against the scheduled execution in different cities around the world. According to some sources, last night, about 300 people had gathered in protest outside the Sanandaj prison, where he was being held.

Mr. Latifi’s family have thanked all the people who took part in this campaign and said: "We now know that your efforts will give results and that our Habibollah is not alone".

Commenting this news, Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, the spokesperson of Iran Human Rights said: "We are very happy that the efforts of the civil rights defenders in Iran gave results and Habibollah Latifi’s scheduled execution was halted, and we hope that this campaign continues until his death sentence has been removed". He added: "We must emphasize that the sentence has only been postponed and as long as the death sentence is still over him, he will be in danger".

Amiry-Moghaddam, once again asked the international community not to forget Iran during the Christmas holidays.

According to the official sources, at least seven people were executed on Christmas day in Iran.

Source: Iran Human Rights, December 26, 2010

URGENT ACTION APPEAL - From Amnesty International USA

The execution of Habibollah Latifi, a male member of the Kurdish minority in Iran, has been scheduled for 26 December, according to his lawyer. He was sentenced to death following an unfair trial. Habibollah Latifi, a law student at Azad University in the south western province of Ilam, western Iran, was transferred to solitary confinement on 16 January 2010, prompting fears that he was to be executed. It is not known how long he was held there. His lawyer has now been informed by the Iranian authorities, in accordance with Iranian law, that his execution is scheduled to take place on 26 December at Sanandaj Prison, Kordestan, in western Iran on 26 December. Executions usually take place at daybreak. It is not known whether his family has been notified of his planned execution by the authorities.

Habibollah Latifi was arrested on 23 October 2007 in Sanandaj and sentenced to death on 3 July 2008 following an unfair trial by the Sanandaj Revolutionary Court. He was convicted of moharebeh (enmity against God), a vague but capital charge, in connection with his membership of and alleged activities on behalf of the Kurdish Independent Life Party (PJAK), a proscribed armed group. His trial was held behind closed doors and his lawyer was not allowed to be present to defend him. Nor was his family allowed to attend the trial. His death sentence was upheld by the Appeal Court in Sanandaj on 18 February 2009.

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible:

* Urging the authorities to halt Habibollah Latifi's execution, scheduled for 26 December 2010, and to commute his death sentence, which was imposed for political offences after an unfair trial;

* Stating that Amnesty International recognizes that governments' have a responsibility to bring to justice those who commit crimes, in full conformity with international standards of fair trial, those suspected of criminal offences, but opposes the death penalty in all cases as the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment.

APPEALS TO:

Leader of the Islamic Republic

Ayatollah Sayed 'Ali Khamenei

The Office of the Supreme Leader

Islamic Republic Street – End of Shahid Keshvar Doust Street, Tehran

ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN

Email: Via website: http://www.leader.ir/langs/en/index.php?p=letter

Salutation: Your Excellency

Head of the Judiciary

Ayatollah Sadegh Larijani

Office of the Head of the Judiciary

Pasteur Street, Vali Asr Ave., south of Serah-e Jomhouri,

Tehran, 1316814737

ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN

Email: Via website: http://www.bia-judiciary.ir/Default.aspx?alias=www.bia-judiciary.ir/bia-en

2nd box (starred)=first name

3rd box(starred)=family name

5th box (starred)=email address

Last box=substance of message

To send, press grey box on left bottom side

Salutation: Your Excellency

COPIES TO:

Governor of Kordestan Province

Esmail Najjar

Email:

In Persian and Kurdish, send via feedback form on the website: http://www.ostan-kd.ir/Default.aspx?tabId=150&cv=4@0_1

In English, French or other languages, use the feedback form on the website: http://en.ostan-kd.ir/Default.aspx?TabID=59

Salutation: Dear Governor

Iran does not presently have an embassy in the United States. Instead, please send copies to:

Iranian Interests Section

2209 Wisconsin Avenue NW

Washington DC 20007

Phone: 202 965 4990

Fax: 202 965 1073

Email: requests@daftar.org

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY.

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