Stop  another Kurdish National due to be executed!

URGENT ACTIONKurd’s death sentence to be carried outHossein Khezri, a member of Iran’s Kurdish minority, is at imminent risk of execution. His death sentence was sent "for implementation" on around 17 November, after the publication of a letter that he wrote from prison describing how he has been tortured.Hossein Khezri is a 28 or 29-year-old Kurd sentenced to death for “enmity against God”, for membership of the Party for Free Life of Kurdistan, although he says his activities were only political. He wrote a letter from prison to international organizations at the end of October 2010 and it was published on the website of an opposition political party on 6 November. In his letter, he said that he was tortured in detention centres belonging to the Revolutionary Guards in Kermanshah and Oromieh, north-west Iran and also at a Ministry of Intelligence detention facility. He said in his letter, written from Section 12 of Oromieh Prison, “The time of my execution has not been told to me, I do not know if it will be tomorrow, or the day after, or tonight, and I am not allowed visitors and cannot even let any one know that I am still alive.” Hossein Khezri was arrested in Kermanshah in 2008 and was sentenced to death after his trial in May 2009. His sentence was upheld on 8 August 2009. He said he was tortured and asked for an investigation, but his request was denied in March 2010. On 11 April 2010, he was moved from Oromieh Central Prison to an unknown location, which raised fears at the time that his execution might be imminent.   There are around 17 other Kurds sentenced to death for political reasons in Iran, including a 28-year-old woman, Zeynab Jalalian. Her lawyer met with the Tehran Prosecutor in July 2010 and has said that he hopes her death sentence may be overturned.  However, as of early November 2010, he had not received any written confirmation of this and Zeynab Jalalian told him in a phone call on 2 October 2010 that she still faced a death sentence. PLEASE WRITE IMMEDIATELY in Persian, Arabic, English, French or your own language:n      Urging the Iranian authorities not to execute Hossein Khezri and Zeynab Jalalian;n      Calling on them to commute their death sentences and to retry them in fair proceedings in line with international law and to disregard any evidence obtained under torture or other ill-treatment: n      Stating that Amnesty International recognizes the right and responsibility of governments to bring to justice, in conformity with international standards for fair trial, those suspected of criminal offences, but opposes the death penalty as the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment. PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 31 DECEMBER 2010 TO:

Leader of the Islamic RepublicAyatollah Sayed ‘Ali KhameneiThe Office of the Supreme LeaderIslamic Republic Street – End of Shahid Keshvar Doust Street, Tehran, Islamic Republic of IranEmail:        info_leader@leader.ir via website: http://www.leader.ir/langs/en/index.php?p=letter (English)Salutation: Your Excellency   Head of the Judiciary Ayatollah Sadegh LarijaniOffice of the Head of the Judiciary Pasteur St., Vali Asr Ave., south of Serah-e Jomhouri, Tehran, 1316814737Islamic Republic of Iran Email: Via website: http://www.dadiran.ir/tabid/75/Default.aspxFirst starred box: your given name; second starred box: your family name; third: your email addressSalutation: Your Excellency And copies to:Secretary General, High Council for Human RightsMohammad Javad LarijaniHowzeh Riassat-e Ghoveh GhazaiyehPasteur St, Vali Asr Ave., south of Serah-e Jomhuri, Tehran 1316814737Islamic Republic of IranFax: +98 21 3390 4986Email: bia.judi@yahoo.com (In subject line: FAO Mohammad Javad Larijani)

Also send copies to diplomatic representatives accredited to your country. Please check with your section office if sending appeals after the above date. This is the first update of UA 88/10. Further information: http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/MDE13/038/2010/en