Ramin Hossein Panahi's family's growing concern: "Legally, there is a possibility of execution at any moment"
Amjad Hossein Panahi, brother, told the Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that with the end of Ramadan and the start of executions in Iran, the likelihood of his brother Ramin's death sentence being carried out has increased. Given the security situation in Iranian Kurdistan and the fear of possible gatherings, family members are concerned that the sentence will be carried out without informing the lawyer or the family.
According to Hossein Ahmadiniaz, Ramin Hosseinpanahi's lawyer, the case of this 24-year-old Kurdish political activist has been referred to the Sanandaj Court's Execution Division and he is currently being held in Sanandaj Prison with a final death sentence. Amjad Hosseinpanahi also told the Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that given the finality of the sentence and previous statements by security agents, there is a "high probability" that the sentence will be carried out.
Amjad Hossein Panahi told the campaign: "Ramin's sentence is final and the retrial has been opposed, and legally, there is a possibility of Ramin's execution at any moment. Intelligence agents have previously told Ramin that the sentence will be carried out after Ramadan and before the anniversary of his arrest, which is July 3rd. Ramadan is over and there are only five days left until July 3rd and the anniversary of his arrest. Although the games of the security services are not to be trusted, Ramin and I will have a week full of anxiety."
Ramin Hossein Panahi was shot in the abdomen, back, and legs by the Revolutionary Guards on July 23, 2017, due to his membership in one of the Kurdish parties opposing the Iranian government (Komala), and was arrested. On February 25, 2017, he was sentenced to death in a short court session at Branch 1 of the Sanandaj Revolutionary Court. Branch 39 of the Supreme Court confirmed this verdict on April 10, 2018, and the case was executed by rejecting the request for a retrial by the judiciary.
After his client's death sentence was confirmed, Ramin Hossein Panahi's lawyer, in an interview with the Campaign, declared the court process unfair, saying that his client was deprived of access to his lawyer and family during the preliminary investigation and interrogation in solitary confinement, was pressured to confess on television, and his refusal to confess on television led to his prolonged detention in solitary confinement.
Amjad Hossein Panahi said that given the security situation in Kurdistan, in addition to the risk of execution, his brother may be executed without his lawyer and family being informed: "The security situation in Kurdistan is precarious, and if he is serious about carrying out the sentence, it is unlikely that they will give him a last visit or inform us and his lawyer, because our family and fellow citizens will certainly not sit idle and protest if they learn of the sentence being carried out. The fact that the execution is secret is another of our concerns and worries, so that he will not even have the opportunity to have a last visit."
Ramin Hossein Panahi has been sentenced to death on charges of "rebellion" despite his lawyer repeatedly stating in interviews with the campaign and other media outlets that his client did not shoot anyone, was not armed, and was a political protester.
On April 10, 2018, Hossein Ahmadiniaz denied the charge of rebellion and told the campaign: "Although it was proven in court that he was not armed and did not shoot at anyone, the lower court issued a death sentence on the charge of "rebellion," which is about armed operations and drawing weapons. The appeals court hastily confirmed the sentence without considering our defenses. As Mr. Hossein Panahi's lawyer, I consider this sentence unjust."
The court considered Mr. Hossein Panahi’s activities to be an example of the charge of “rebellion,” which is an Arabic word that was introduced into Iran’s Islamic Penal Code from Shiite jurisprudence. Rebellion literally means encroachment on the rights of others and is the subject of Articles 278 and 279 of the Islamic Penal Code approved in 2013. Before the 2013 Islamic Penal Code, the charge of “moharebeh” (fighting against God) was usually used instead of “rebellion.”
According to Article 287 of the Islamic Penal Code, any group that launches an armed uprising against the foundation of the Islamic Republic of Iran is considered a rebel and “if weapons are used,” its members are sentenced to death. However, Article 288 of this law states that if members of a rebel group are arrested before engaging in conflict and using weapons, they are sentenced to third-degree imprisonment if their organization and centrality exist, and to fifth-degree imprisonment if their organization and centrality have disappeared.
According to his lawyer and family, Ramin Hossein Panahi was neither armed nor shot anyone at the time of his arrest. According to the law, simply being a member of the Komala Party, like any other party, whether armed or unarmed, does not constitute rebellion.
The Kurdistan Workers' Party of Iran, of which Ramin Hossein Panahi is accused of being a member, is a group opposed to the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran that operates mainly in the Kurdish regions of Iran. The group entered into armed struggle with the Islamic Republic after the 1979 revolution in Iran. A large number of its members, as well as citizens accused of having ties to them, have been killed, executed, and imprisoned by the Islamic Republic.
Source: Iran Human Rights
