Case Attorney: Ramin Hossein Panahi Transferred to Karaj to Carry Out Death Sentence

A week after the transfer of Ramin Hossein Panahi, a Kurdish political prisoner sentenced to death, to Rajaei Shahr Prison in Karaj, one of this prisoner’s attorneys announced that he was transferred to that prison for the purpose of carrying out the death sentence.

Hossein Ahmadi Neaz, on Wednesday, August 31, in a conversation with the Campaign to Defend Political and Civil Prisoners, stated that as Ramin Hossein Panahi’s attorney, he confirms that his client was transferred to Rajaei Shahr Prison to carry out the death sentence, and there is a possibility of execution at any moment.

Ramin Hossein Panahi’s attorney added: “We declare that this sentence was issued in violation of the law, legal procedures were not observed in it, my client’s rights have been completely violated, and this execution is inhumane.”

Last week, Hossein Ahmadi Neaz, Osman Mazin, and Maziar Tataee, attorneys of Mr. Hossein Panahi, declared in a statement that the transfer of this prisoner to Rajaei Shahr in Karaj without the consent of their client was illegal.

This Kurdish political prisoner sentenced to death was transferred to Rajaei Shahr Prison in Karaj on Monday night, August 22, without prior notice to his attorney or family. Some news websites reported that Mr. Hossein Panahi is being held in one of the wards for dangerous criminals at Rajaei Shahr Prison.

Ramin Hossein Panahi’s attorneys stated in their statement that since the prison where the sentence was issued and where the condemned person’s relatives live has priority for holding the prisoner, and it is not possible to transfer him from one prison to another except by the prisoner’s request, his transfer to Rajaei Shahr Prison in Karaj is against his wishes and this has violated the rights of his parents and relatives in visiting him and created restrictions for them.

According to Mr. Hossein Panahi’s attorneys, this prisoner was transferred to Rajaei Shahr Prison in Karaj while, based on the agreement of the judge and prison authorities, he should have been transferred to one of the medical centers in Sanandaj for treatment of his kidney and back pain.

Some social media activists, by posting messages on social networks, suggested that Mr. Hossein Panahi’s transfer to Rajaei Shahr Prison in Karaj was for the purpose of preparing the groundwork for carrying out his death sentence.

Ramin Hossein Panahi, who was arrested in June of last year on charges of membership in the Kurdistan Komelah Party, has been severely tortured during this period according to human rights organizations.

His attorney and family say he does not deserve execution, but the Islamic Republic executes membership in groups opposed to the Islamic Republic, such as the Komelah Party.

Some time ago, more than two thousand political-social and civil activists, by signing a letter, called for an immediate halt and cancellation of Ramin Hossein Panahi’s death sentence.

Amnesty International also previously emphasized that Mr. Hossein Panahi was sentenced to death in an unfair trial.

Source: Voice of America