Four Kurdish Civil Activists Transferred to Boukan Prison; Facing 43 Months of Imprisonment
Four Kurdish civil activists who were previously sentenced to a combined 43 months in prison by Boukan Criminal Court have been transferred to prison to serve their sentences.
According to the Kurdistan Human Rights Network, “Samko Marufi,” “Shaho Khezri,” and “Homan Feizi” were transferred to Boukan Prison on Monday, February 3, and “Zhaka Ismaelpour” on Wednesday, January 30.
These Kurdish citizens were previously sentenced by Branch 101 of Boukan Criminal Court on charges of “disrupting public order through participation in an illegal gathering” to 3 months, 2 years, 1 year, and 4 months in prison, respectively.
Based on available information, these four civil activists were arrested on October 14 during protest rallies by people condemning Turkey’s military invasion of Syrian Kurdistan by security forces in Boukan. After several weeks, they were temporarily released on bail until the end of their trial.
Previously, Voice of America reported, citing the Hengaw Human Rights Organization, that Huner (Kabir) Hosseini and Delshad Faraji, two citizens from Paveh who were also arrested in late October of the current year in protest against Turkey’s military operations inside Syria and against the Kurds, were sentenced by Criminal Court 2 of Paveh County in Kermanshah Province on charges of “disrupting public order and peace” to one year in prison, which will be suspended for 3 years, and 74 lashes.
During protests against Turkey’s military operations in Syria, at least 8 people were arrested in Marivan, 23 in Tehran, 5 in Sardasht, 7 in Urmia, 2 in Baneh, 11 in Paveh, 6 each in Javanrood and Sanandaj, and 1 each in Piranshahr, Rovansar, Ilam, Kermanshah, Boukan, Naghadeh, and Divandarreh.
The Turkish military began its military operations inside Syria against the Kurds on Wednesday, October 9, whom Ankara claims cooperate with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
The United States opposed the Turkish military operations from the outset and warned of grave humanitarian and security consequences.
Finally, following the visits of US Vice President Mike Pence and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to Turkey, Ankara agreed to a five-day ceasefire in Kurdish-populated areas of Syria.
Source: Voice of America
