Amnesty International Calls for Overturning Ramin Hossein Panahi’s Death Sentence and Fair Trial
Amnesty International called for the immediate annulment of the death sentence against Ramin Hossein Panahi, a political prisoner, and demanded a fair trial for him in accordance with international law.
The human rights organization stated in a statement, citing the words of Ramin Hossein Panahi’s lawyers, that the prisoner has been transferred from Sanandaj Prison to Rajaishahr Prison in Karaj for execution and his contact with his family has been cut off.
Amnesty International, citing Ramin Hossein Panahi’s family, wrote that the prisoner has stitched his lips and gone on a hunger strike in protest of his death sentence and deprivation of access to medical services despite his kidney problems.
The international organization, while demanding the annulment of Ramin Hossein Panahi’s death sentence, stated: “Ramin Hossein Panahi should be released unless the judicial authorities can charge him with a conventional crime under international law based on sufficient and reasoned evidence and without relying on confessions obtained under torture and other mistreatment, and provide the grounds for a fair trial without resorting to capital punishment.”
This condemned Kurdish political prisoner was transferred to Rajaishahr Prison in Karaj on Monday night, August 22, without prior notice to his lawyer or family. Some news websites reported that Mr. Hossein Panahi is being held in one of the sections designated for dangerous criminals in Rajaishahr Prison.
Ramin Hossein Panahi, who was arrested in June last year on charges of membership in the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran (KDP-I), has according to human rights organizations’ reports been subjected to severe torture during this period.
His lawyer and family say he does not deserve execution; however, the Islamic Republic often punishes membership in groups opposed to it, such as the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran, with execution.
Recently, more than two thousand political, social and civil activists signed a letter demanding the immediate cessation and annulment of Ramin Hossein Panahi’s death sentence.
Amnesty International had previously emphasized that Mr. Hossein Panahi was sentenced to death in an unjust trial.
Source: Voice of America
