Fears of imminent execution for two Kurdish activists in Iran

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Ramin Hossein Panahi, a Kurdish activist on death row in Iran, was transferred to another prison on Tuesday, leading to his family fearing that his execution is imminent.

Ramin’s brother, Amjad Hossein Panahi, warned on Twitter that the Kurdish activist was transferred from Sanandaj to the Rajaei Shahr prison in Karaj.

“Last night, three cars belonging to the IRGC’s [Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps] intelligence moved Ramin from Sanandaj prison,” he said.

“Now, it was disclosed that this transfer was done at the order of the Prosecutor and to hang him in Rajai Shahr prison. I hope that this bad event will not happen,” Amjad wrote.

In April 2018, Iran’s Supreme Court upheld Panahi’s death sentence for his alleged membership in the “outlawed” Kurdish nationalist group, Komala, and for supposedly drawing a weapon in a clash with IRGC agents.

Panahi insists he did not participate in any armed action, nor did he reach for a weapon.

Meanwhile, 31-year-old Kamal Hassan Ramazan, a Syrian Kurd on death row, was also unexpectedly transferred to the Orumiyeh IRGC Detention Centre on Monday. There are fears he will be executed for membership in the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

Following clashes between Kurdish parties and the IRGC in Paveh, Marivan, and Oshnavieh several days ago—in which several people died—websites linked to the IRGC called for the speedy execution of Kurdish political prisoners sentenced to death, the Kurdistan Human Rights center said.

Earlier, the Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) reported that Iranian government news outlets had launched a propaganda campaign against Panahi, stating he deserves to be hung for the alleged “terrorist” activities.

Kako Alyar, a senior member of Komala, says Iran is repressing Kurds inside the country because “Kurdish political parties are the most organized among the Iranian opposition.”

“These facts, along with many others, scare the regime in Iran and make them threaten more, kill more, imprison more, and execute more, but clearly Kurds do not get scared,” he told Kurdistan 24.

“On the contrary; [Kurds are] motivated to fight even more to achieve their legitimate rights.”

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany