40 Lawyers Request Supreme Leader to Stop Execution of Ramin Hosseinpanahi
Forty lawyers have submitted a letter to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei requesting the halt of the execution order for Ramin Hosseinpanahi. Hosseinpanahi has been sentenced to death on charges of “baghi” (armed rebellion) and is on the brink of execution.
A letter signed by forty lawyers was published by the ISNA news agency on Wednesday, June 13 (June 23 in the Persian calendar) regarding Ramin Hosseinpanahi.
The lawyers who authored the letter have requested that the Islamic Republic’s leader review Ramin Hosseinpanahi’s case “with compassion and forbearance.”
Ramin Hosseinpanahi, an Iranian Kurdish citizen, is currently held in Sanandaj Central Prison awaiting execution on charges of “baghi” (armed rebellion).
“Baghi,” as defined in the Islamic Penal Code enacted in 2013, refers to “armed uprising against the government” and carries punishment of execution or, under certain conditions, discretionary imprisonment.
The authors of the letter stated: “Since the accusation of baghi is an issue under Article 287 of the Islamic Penal Code and the government is the accusing party, and based on the customary practice in the Islamic government, the Supreme Leader has the authority to order a review with forbearance, broad-mindedness, forbearance, and pardon in dealing with those accused of this charge.”
The lawyers further wrote: “He [Ramin Hosseinpanahi] does not deserve execution but rather deserves forbearance, clemency, and compassion. Without doubt, a merciful order from Your Excellency on this occasion of truthfulness and forgiveness would bring joy to his elderly and distressed parents and to the honorable people of these regions.”
According to the signatories, ordering a halt to Ramin Hosseinpanahi’s execution “would bring joy to his elderly and distressed parents and to the honorable people of these regions” and “would strengthen the spirit of brotherhood and equality among Iranian citizens.”
The authors concluded: “Violence and insecurity have always been the cause of underdevelopment and hardship in the region; therefore, we request that order to be issued from that esteemed position based on accepting a reconsideration of the case and pardoning Ramin Hosseinpanahi.”
Ramin Hosseinpanahi was arrested in Sanandaj in June 2017 and was sentenced to death on charges of “baghi” in the first branch of the city’s Revolutionary Court. Iran’s Supreme Court has also upheld this verdict, and there are concerns that the execution may be carried out after the end of Ramadan.
Source: DW
