Stop Execution of Kurdish Prisoners by Iranian Dictators

Dear Prime Minister,

We condemn these executions which were carried out without any prior warning. Despite the serious accusations against them, the five were denied fair trials.

Three of those executed - Farzad Kamangar, Ali Heydarian and Farhad Vakili - were sentenced to death for alleged membership and activities for the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). Shirin Alam-Holi, the woman who was executed, was accused of belonging to another Kurdish group, the Party for a Free Life in Kurdistan. The fifth person executed, Mehdi Eslamian, was accused of providing financial assistance to his brother.

These latest executions appear to be a blatant attempt to intimidate members of the Kurdish minority and other critics and opponents of the government in the run up to the first anniversary, on 12 June, of last year's disputed presidential election.

Trials in Iran are frequently unfair, with detainees routinely denied access to a lawyer. Proceedings outside Tehran are often summary, lasting only a few minutes.

Iran has one of the highest rates of executions in the world. To date in 2010, Amnesty International has recorded over 80 executions.

Dear Prime Minister,

We ask the Australian Government to openly condemn these inhumane behaviors of the Islamic Republic of Iran and pressure them to;

* Stop detaining, torturing and executing Innocent Kurdish people and other ethnic minorities;

* Respect people’s request for a free constitutional referendum and free presidential parliament and council elections in Iran;

* Free all the political prisoners and journalists.