Four Kurdish civil society activists transferred to Bukan prison; a total of 43 months in prison await them
Four Kurdish civil society activists who were previously sentenced to a total of 43 months in prison by the Bukan Criminal Court have been sent to prison to serve their sentences.
According to the Kurdistan Human Rights Network, "Samko Marofi", "Shahu Khazri", and "Hooman Feyzi" were transferred to Bukan Prison on Monday, February 5, and "Zhaka Esmailpour" on Wednesday, February 25.
These Kurdish citizens had previously been sentenced to 3 months, 2 years, 1 year, and 4 months in prison, respectively, by Branch 101 of the Bukan Criminal Court on charges of "disturbing public order by participating in an illegal gathering."
According to available information, these four civil activists were arrested by security forces in Bukan on October 13 during public protests to condemn the Turkish invasion of Syrian Kurdistan. After a few weeks, they were temporarily released on bail until the end of the trial.
Previously, the Voice of America had announced in a report quoting the Hengaw Human Rights Network that Honar (Kabir) Hosseini and Dilshad Faraji, two citizens from Paveh who were also arrested in late October of this year in protest against the Turkish army's military operations inside Syria and against the Kurds, were sentenced to one year in prison, suspended for three years, and 74 lashes by the Criminal Court 2 of Paveh County in Kermanshah Province on charges of "disturbing public order and peace."
During the protests against Turkey's military operations in Syria, at least eight people were arrested in Marivan, 23 in Tehran, five in Sardasht, seven in Urmia, two in Baneh, eleven in Paveh, six each in Javanrud and Sanandaj, and one person each in Piranshahr, Ravansar, Ilam, Kermanshah, Bukan, Naqdeh, and Divandareh.
On Wednesday, October 8, the Turkish army began its military operation inside Syria against the Kurds, who Ankara says are collaborating with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) forces.
The United States opposed the Turkish military operation from the beginning, warning of its dire humanitarian and security consequences.
Finally, following a visit to Türkiye by US Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Ankara agreed to a five-day ceasefire in the Kurdish areas of Syria.
Source: Voice of America
