Execution of Death Sentence of Political Prisoner ‘Hamid Hossein-Nejad’ Carried Out Secretly
The death sentence of political prisoner ‘Hamid Hossein-Nejad’ was executed secretly without informing his family and lawyer.
Human rights organizations reported the secret execution of Hamid Hossein-Nejad’s death sentence, after the judicial system had accused him of ‘rebellion.’ According to statements from these organizations, Hossein-Nejad’s case file was filled with ambiguities and legal contradictions.
In November 2017, eight Iranian border guards clashed with PJAK forces in the Chaldoran region in West Azerbaijan Province, during which PJAK members were killed. Government media claimed that Hamid Hossein-Nejad had assisted PJAK forces in entering Iranian territory and facilitating their return.
The 40-year-old Hossein-Nejad, father of three children, was imprisoned through case fabrication filled with ambiguities and contradictions. According to published reports, his trial lasted no more than a few minutes, and the judge issued a death sentence based on ‘judicial knowledge.’ After objections, this sentence was referred to the Supreme Court, which confirmed the death sentence.
The death sentence was issued and a few-minute trial was held while Hamid’s family stated they were all in Turkey on the date in question and, along with his lawyer, emphasized his innocence. They possessed documented evidence that contradicted the government’s false narrative and indicated that Hamid had been subjected to severe pressure and torture, forcing him into forced confession.
According to reports from Iran’s human rights organization, Hossein-Nejad’s family was summoned to Urmia Prosecutor’s Office on Monday, and ‘Behzad Sarkhanlou,’ the prosecutor’s deputy, informed them that Hamid would be transferred from Urmia prison to Tehran and his death sentence would be executed there. However, according to ‘Henaw’ report, his death sentence was executed at Urmia Central Prison.
No precise details about the time and location of the execution of this political prisoner are available, but human rights sources reported that his execution was carried out in the early morning of Sunday, April 20 (31st of Farvardin), secretly and without informing his family and lawyer.
The ‘Fars’ news agency wrote in its report about Hossein-Nejad’s execution: ‘The execution of the death sentence by the competent authorities of West Azerbaijan Province was announced to his family,’ but the ‘Kurdpa’ website responded to this report writing: ‘This notification only occurred after the news was published in the media, and it was done by phone and informally by Urmia Revolutionary Court.’
Kurdpa website added in its report: ‘Hours after the media announcement of the execution, the family still does not know the location of the execution, nor the exact time of it, nor have they even received their son’s body. The execution under such circumstances is not only a violation of fair trial, but a fundamental violation of human dignity and criminal justice.’
It should be noted that Hamid Hossein-Nejad was transferred to solitary confinement in Urmia Central Prison on Wednesday of last week, April 16, and due to his family’s protest, his death sentence was not executed and he was transferred to the Information Department.
