CLOSED: Iran: Political prisoner facing imminent execution

This action is closed for the moment. Thank you to all those who took this action. We will continue to monitor Habibollah Latifi's case and will reactivate the action if we hear of another execution date.

For more updates on human rights in Iran, please visit www.amnesty.org.uk/iran

Habibollah Latifi, a student, was due to be executed on Boxing Day. His execution was halted at the last minute but he remains at risk. He was sentenced to death on 3 July 2008 following an unfair trial. He had been convicted of moharebeh (enmity against God), a vague but capital charge, for his membership of and alleged activities on behalf of the Kurdish Independent Life Party (PJAK). The PJAK is a proscribed armed group.

Habibollah Latifi is being held at Sanandaj Prison, Kordestan, in western Iran. Executions usually take place at daybreak. Email the Iranian Leader of Judiciary now

UPDATE: 7 JANUARY 2011

By 30 December 2010, the detained members of Habibollah Latifi's family had been released on bail of around 220 million Iranian rials (around 21,000 US dollars), each. On 6 January 2011, an NGO activist and a journalist were also released, but 10 of those arrested at the Latifi household remained in detention. Amnesty International fears they may face torture or other ill-treatment while in detention.

UPDATE 27 DECEMBER: FAMILY ARRESTED

Following the postponement of Habibollah Latifi's execution on Boxing Day, at least 20 people have been detained, including Habibollah Latifi's father, two sisters, elder brother and one other member of his family. It is not known at this point whether they have been charged with any offence.

It is feared that the authorities may proceed with Habibollah Latifi's execution in the coming hours. Please continue to send urgent appeals using the template letter below.

UPDATE: 26 DECEMBER 2010

Reports suggest that the execution of Habibollah Latifi has been halted. Initial reports indicate that there were several hundred protesters outside the prison in Sanandaj and a heightened security presence.

The prison governor came out and announced that the execution would not take place today, referring to the Islamic holy month of Moharram and stating the execution would not take place at this time.

Habibollah Latifi's lawyers have been working round the clock in an attempt to have him considered for an amnesty, or to have his case re-examined. His parents were able to see him just after dawn.

This is good news but Habibollah Latifi remains at risk of execution so please continue taking action

Background

Habibollah Latifi was arrested on 23 October 2007. His trial was held behind closed doors. 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. On 16 January 2010 he was moved into solitary confinement prompting fears he was to be executed. It is not known ho long he was held there.

According to his lawyer, Saleh Nikbakht, Habibillah Latifi denied allegations made in court that he was involved in setting off acoustic explosions in the city of Sanandaj, and then filming them; as well as attempting to assassinate a judicial official in Sanandaj.

In October 2009, fears were raised that Habibollah Latifi and other Kurdish political prisoners Sherko Moarefi and Ehsan Fattahian were at imminent risk of execution after a judge in Sanandaj, the provincial capital, received orders to carry our their executions. Ehsan Fattahian was executed on 11 November 2009. Sherko Moarefi, was arrested in October 2008 and subsequently sentenced to death and remains on death row in Saqqez prison.

Kurds are one of Iran’s many minority groups and live mainly in the west and north-west of the country, in the province of Kordestan and neighbouring provinces bordering Kurdish areas of Turkey and Iraq. They experience religious, economic and cultural discrimination.

For many years, Kurdish organizations such as the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran and the Marxist group Komala, have conducted armed opposition against the Islamic Republic of Iran. On 19 October, leaders of the armed group Kurdistan Independent Life Party reportedly called for a peaceful solution to the Kurdish issue in Iran.

Amnesty International condemns without reservation attacks on civilians, which violates fundamental principles of international humanitarian law.

This action is closed for the moment. Thank you to all those who took this action. We will continue to monitor Habibollah Latifi's case and will reactivate the action if we hear of another execution date.

For more updates on human rights in Iran, please visit www.amnesty.org.uk/iran

Habibollah Latifi, a student, was due to be executed on Boxing Day. His execution was halted at the last minute but he remains at risk. He was sentenced to death on 3 July 2008 following an unfair trial. He had been convicted of moharebeh (enmity against God), a vague but capital charge, for his membership of and alleged activities on behalf of the Kurdish Independent Life Party (PJAK). The PJAK is a proscribed armed group.

Habibollah Latifi is being held at Sanandaj Prison, Kordestan, in western Iran. Executions usually take place at daybreak. Email the Iranian Leader of Judiciary now

UPDATE: 7 JANUARY 2011

By 30 December 2010, the detained members of Habibollah Latifi's family had been released on bail of around 220 million Iranian rials (around 21,000 US dollars), each. On 6 January 2011, an NGO activist and a journalist were also released, but 10 of those arrested at the Latifi household remained in detention. Amnesty International fears they may face torture or other ill-treatment while in detention.

UPDATE 27 DECEMBER: FAMILY ARRESTED

Following the postponement of Habibollah Latifi's execution on Boxing Day, at least 20 people have been detained, including Habibollah Latifi's father, two sisters, elder brother and one other member of his family. It is not known at this point whether they have been charged with any offence.

It is feared that the authorities may proceed with Habibollah Latifi's execution in the coming hours. Please continue to send urgent appeals using the template letter below.

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