Free Shirzad Hossein Panahi

UPDATE Hrana 2013-04-25

Editor: Human
Translator: Ramyar Hassani

HRANA News Agency – In the morning of April 21, 2013 Sirwan Hosseinpanahi and Shirzad Hosseinpanahi the two Kurdish civil activists were tried in Sanandaj revolutionary court.

According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), the two Kurdish civic activists were tried on charge of propaganda against regime and connection with Kurdish subversive parties.

Sirwan and Shirzad had no access to lawyer during the trial session and defended themselves personally against all what they are accused to.

One of their relatives wrote a report to HRANA and says “They were not sentenced after the trial session and the judge told Sirwan and Shirzad that your verdicts will be issued in one month. The two Kurdish activists who were under arrested for three months and for 50 days in absolute ignorance in Intelligence offices of Sanandaj and Ghorveh, have transferred from Ghorveh prison to Sanandaj central prison after the trial session.”

Sirwan Hosseinpanahi is a Kurdish activist and nephew of Anvar Hosseinpanahi the political-civil prisoner. He was arrested on January 9, 2013 by Intelligence agents in his home in Ghorochai village in Dehgolan city.

Shirzad Hosseinpanahi the other Kurdish activist and of Anvar Hosseinpanahi’s relatives who is from Ghorochai village as well, was arrested on January 12, 2013 by security forces and was transferred to Intelligence office of Sanandaj.

After 50 days absolute ignorance finally Sirwan Hosseinpanahi and Shirzad Hosseinpanahi were transferred from Intelligence detention center of Sanandaj to Ghorveh prison.
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UPDATE CHRR 5 March 2013
Sirvan and Shirzad Hossein Panahi transferred to Ghorveh prison

Committee of Human Rights Reporters – After 50 days of Sirvan Hossein Panahi being incommunicado, on January 27, this political prisoner was transferred along with Shirzad Hossein Panahi from the detention center of the Ministry of Intelligence in Sanandaj to Ghorveh prison.

According to CHRR, a close family friend of these 2 Kurdish activists said that Sirvan Hossein Panahi informed his family in a short phone call that he and Shirzad Hossein Panahi were transferred to Ghorveh prison. The family had not been able to get any information about the whereabouts or situation of their loved ones despite their efforts and inquiries with judicial and intelligence authorities.

On January 9th, 2013, plainclothes officials from the Ministry of Intelligence raided the home of the nephew of Anvar Hossein Panahi and detained him. The agents arrived at the home of Sirvan Hossein Panahi’s father in the rural village of Quruchay and detained Sirvan after conducting a rigorous search of his residence. Witnesses reported that it looked like his arm was broken as the agents confiscated his personal belongings. Another family member, Shirzad Hossein Panahi, who is also from the village of Quruchay in Dehgolan, was arrested on January 30, 2013 and transferred to the Ministry of Intelligence detention center.

Anvar Hossein Panahi, the eldest son in the family, is a Kurdish activist and a Dehgolan province dignitary who was arrested in 2007 and severely tortured while in detention. He spent 6 months incommunicado in custody at the Ghorveh Ministry of Intelligence detention center. In 2008 he was sentenced to death on charges of “acting against national security,” “collaborating with a Kurdish political party” and “moharebeh” (enmity with God). After tireless efforts and protests on the part of human rights activists, his death sentence was later commuted to 6 years in prison. After enduring 5 years behind bars, Anvar Hossein Panahi was granted medical furlough after posting bail.

In the past years since the incarceration of Kurdish activist Anvar Hossein Panahi, his family has faced summons, interrogations, endured constant harassment and threats, with over 30 members arbitrarily arrested.

* PETITIONS FOR ANWAR AND SIRVAN : *

FREE Anwar Hossein Panahi:
http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/free-anwar-hossein-panahi.html

Immediate & Unconditional Release of Sirvan Hossein Panahi:
http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/immediate-unconditional-release-of-sirvan-hossein-pan.html