40 lawyers ask Khamenei to stop Hossein Panahi's execution

Forty lawyers have written a letter to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei calling for the suspension of the death sentence of Ramin Hossein Panahi. Hossein Panahi has been sentenced to death on charges of “rebelism” and is on the verge of being executed.

A letter from forty lawyers to Ayatollah Khamenei regarding Ramin Hossein Panahi was published on Wednesday, June 13, in the ISNA news agency.

The lawyers who wrote this letter have requested the Leader of the Islamic Republic to handle Ramin Hossein Panahi's case "with compassion and tolerance."

Ramin Hossein Panahi, an Iranian Kurdish citizen, is awaiting execution in Sanandaj Central Prison on charges of "rebelism."

"Rebellion" is a term used in the Islamic Penal Code, passed in 2013, to refer to "armed rebellion against the government," and is punishable by death and, under certain conditions, imprisonment.

The authors of the letter say: "Because the party accused of rebellion is the subject of Article 287 of the Islamic Penal Code, the government, and according to the customary practice at the head of the Islamic government, the Leader has the right to order an investigation accompanied by tolerance, generosity, tolerance, and forgiveness in dealing with those accused of this accusation."

The letter writer's lawyers add: "He [Ramin Hossein Panahi] does not deserve execution, but rather deserves to be treated with tolerance, compassion, and mercy. Undoubtedly, the good order of His Excellency on this Eid of sincerity and forgiveness will bring joy to his elderly parents and the honorable people of these regions."

According to the signatories of the letter, the order to halt the execution of Ramin Hossein Panahi will “provide reasons for the happiness of his late and elderly parents and the honorable people of these regions” and “strengthen the spirit of brotherhood and equality among Iranian citizens.”

The authors of the letter concluded: "Violence and insecurity have always been the cause of underdevelopment and misery in the region; therefore, they request that the High Authority issue a proper order to accept a retrial and pardon Ramin Hossein Panahi."

Ramin Hossein Panahi was arrested in July 2017 in the city of Sanandaj and sentenced to death by the first branch of the city's Revolutionary Court on charges of "rebelism." The Supreme Court of Iran has also upheld this verdict, and there are concerns that the death sentences will be carried out after the end of Ramadan.

Source: DW