A summery of Violations of human rights in
Kurdistan (Iran)
2009.01.01- 2009.03.04

Contents


1. Preface
This summery is a brief overview of some of the crimes against the human rights that have been committed on behalf of the Iranian authorities, police and intelligence service. The summery holds violations and crimes for the period of 1th January 2009 until March 2009.
Due to the arrests of several human rights defenders and activists, this brief summery had to replace an extensive report from inside of Kurdistan and Iran, which never came to our organizations hands. However, by a selection of some reports and articles from the archives of several well known human rights organizations, this summery has been prepared. The organizations which have been used as sources for this summery, are the following ones:
The Student Council for Defense of Human Rights in Kurdistan - Tehran
Amnesty International – UK
Defend International - Denmark
Iran Human Rights - Tehran
Kurdish Human Rights Association – Sweden
Change for equality – Tehran
Human Rights Activists In Iran – Tehran

2. Introduction
Iran's Kurdish population live mainly in the west and north-west of the country, in Kurdistan and neighboring provinces, bordering Kurdish areas of Turkey and Iraq. They have long suffered extensive discrimination. Kurdish human rights defenders, including community activists and journalists, risk arbitrary arrest, execution and torture.
Iran has become radicalized the last couple of years. This resulted in an even harder climate for journalists, human rights activists and dissidents. 177 persons were executed during 2006. This number has increased by 140 percent during 2007, where 265 people have been executed and the number has increased to 350 during 2008, according to human rights organizations (www.iranhr.net).

4. Reports from Human Rights Organizations

4.1 January 2009
Anwar Saed Muchishi has been sentenced to a One Year Suspended Sentence and the Loss of His Job
Posted on January 4, 2009
Student Council of Defense of Human Rights in Kurdistan: Anwar Saed Muchishi has been sentenced to a one year suspended sentence, five (5) years and loss of his job.
Section one of the Revolutionary Court in the City Sanandaj conducted a trial against Mr. Answear Saed Muchishi, who is a student activist, journalist and a member of the weekly journal “Kereftu” which has been suspended. Mr. Muchishi was charged with acting against national security.
The trial which was conducted without the presence of Mr. Muchishi’s defence lawyer. He was sentenced to a one year suspended sentence, 5 year probation and loss of his employment. The judge did not give Mr. Muchishi the opportunity to defend himself during his trial.
Also during this court proceeding another social activist Mr. Yaghub Saed Muchishi was also sentenced to a 4 month suspended sentence and 2 year probation.
Mr. Anwar Saed Muchishi was arrested by Ministry of Intelligence officials in his home on September 4th 2008 along with Mr. Yaghub Saed Muchishi. After two months of solitary confinement he was released on a $30 million toman bail.

A Political Activist Mr. Jalal Marasane has been Sentenced to 17 years of Imprisonment
Posted on January 4, 2009
Student Council of Defense of Human Rights in Kurdistan: A political activist Mr. Jalal Marasane was recently sentenced to 17 years of imprisonment by the Revolutionary Court in the City of Mahabad.
Mr. Marasane who is a resident in the city of Sardasht was convicted of working with a Kurdish Opposition group. He was sentenced to 17 years of imprisonment on December 22nd 2008.
Mr. Marasane’s family has reported that he was subjected to severe torture while in pre-trial custody and are extremely concerned about his well being.

Mr. Shah Kuh Moarefi has been Convicted of Being a Mohareb (Enemy of God)
Posted on January 5, 2009
Student Council of Defense of Human Rights in Kurdistan: A Kurdish activist Mr. Shah Kuh Moarefi who is 30 years old and the resident of the city of Bahen was arrested on October 1st 2008, on charges of being a member of an active Kurdish Opposition Party. From that date until present he has been in the detention centre of the Ministry of Intelligence, and how not been allowed any visitations.
Mr. Moarefi claimed refugee status in Iraq seven years ago and became a member of an active Kurdish opposition party.
According to Mr. Moarefi’s lawyer Mr. Loghman Rayzan during the time which Mr. Moarefi has been a member of this group he has not carried out any activities against the Islamic Regime. Mr. Rayzan has further stated that Mr. Moarefi came back to Iran voluntarily and turned himself in to the security forces, therefore he shouldn’t get the same treatment as a CAPTURED opposition member.
Mr. Rayzan has stated that there is not enough evidence for Mr. Moarefi’s conviction, and is extremely concerned about the conviction of Mr. Moarefi without the necessary evidence and has filed an appeal against his conviction.

Two Kurdish Activists have been Sentenced to Death
Posted on January 7, 2009
Student Council of Defense of Human Rights in Kurdistan: The Islamic Revolutioanry Courts have sentenced two individuals to death for beign members of Party for a Free Life in Kurdistan (Pejak). These two individuals Mr. Ramezan Ahmad and Mr. Farhad Chalesh were arrested three (3) months ago by “Sepahe Pasdaran” officials and taken to an unknown location.
Mr. Ahmad is a resident of “Ghamishloo” in Kurdish part of Syria and Mr. Chalesh is a resident of “Sharnakh” in Kurdish part of Turkey. They are both currently imprisoned in Orumiye Prison.

Hunger Strike of Political Prisoners in “Maku” Prison
Posted on January 11, 2009
Student Council of Defense of Human Rights in Kurdistan: A number of political prisoners entered their seventh (7th) day of hunger strike in Maku Prison. This hunger strike commenced on Sunday January 4th 2009.
This hunger strike is a protest against terrible prison conditions, violation of legal rights or prisoners by prison officials, discrimination against Kurdish political prisoners as well as not being allowed to seek necessary medical treatment and not being allowed temporary leaves from prison, which is a legal right of any prisoner.
Last week two Kurdish prisoners from this prison Mr. Ramezan Ahmad and Mr. Farhad Chalesh were sentenced to death on charges of being a Mohareb (Enemy of God).
Having any kind of communication with the outside world from the prison has been made extremely difficult by the prison officials in order to prevent the news of this hunger strike from spreading.
The names of some of the prisoners currently on hunger strike are:
1. Rostam Arkiya-Son of Rahim-Sentenced to death-Charged with being a Mohareb (Enemy of God)
2. Ramezan Ahmad-Sentenced to death-Mohareb
3. Farhad Chalesh-sentenced to death-Mohareb
4. Saeed Aghvez-3 prison sentences: 15 years, 10 years and 1 year
5. Asad Ahnameh
6. Ibrahim Eghbali
7. Hossein Amigh
8. Nabi Taghlidi
9. Hamid Teymouresh
10. Khalef haji
11. Hossein Cheylan-son of Haji Ali- 3 prison sentences: 10 years, 4 years and 15 years
12. Ardeshir Delayi Miken
13. Ali Rasuli
14. Saeed Raseghi
15. Ibrahim Farmand
16. Saeed Omarpour-so on Ibrahim- four years imprisonment
17. Mohammad Omarpour-Son of Ibrahim-2 prison sentences: 15 years and 4 years
18. Abdollah Omarpour-13 years and 6 years
19. Hossein Moravi Milan
20. Adel Mohammad Nejad
21. Hassan Talei-son of Haji Ali
22. Ibrahim Dadgostar Jeni Kanlu-60 years old
It is worth mentioning that this is the second large scale hunger strike by Kurdish Prisoners this year. Earlier this year close to 80 prisoners from 8 different prisons went on a 47 day long hunger strike to protest against their conditions. Some of the prisoners currently on hunger strike also participated in the previous hunger strike.

Unclear State of Jahangir Badvazadeh’s File and his Request for Help from all Human Rights Organizations:
Posted on January 11, 2009
Student Council of Defense of Human Rights in Kurdistan: A Kurdish political prisoner Mr. Jahangir Badvazadeh who had been previously sentenced to death, is currently waiting for a final decision on his charges, after his death sentence was overturned in 2005.
Mr. Jahangir Badvazadeh, the son of Ahmad Ezaheli, resident of the city of Mahabad, joined the Kurdistan Democratic Party in 1978 and left the Party in 1984. Mr. Badvazadeh continued his political activities until he was arrested in 2000 and sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment.
Mr. Badvazadeh managed to escape from Mahabad Prison after 3 months and crossed the border to Iraq where he applied for a refugee status. On June 11th 2004 he returned to Iran in order to try to cross the border to Turkey, and was arrested by security forces.
During initial initial interrogations and court proceedings he was convicted of carrying a weapon, being involved in political activities and being involved in the death of a Regime Agent and was sentenced to death. In 2005 Mr. Badvazadeh went on a 28 day long hunger strike. Also at this time his death sentence was overturned due to lack of evidence, however the court has not issued a new judgement and a final sentence against Mr. Badvazadeh.
According to news received by Student Council of Defense of Human Rights in Kurdistan the family of this prisoner is under terrible financial and emotional pressure. During the time he was in prison Mr. Badvazadeh has lost two of his children who were members of a Kurdish Opposition organization.
During the past eight years Mr. Badvazadeh has spent six months in solitary confinement.
Through the Student Council of Defence of Human Rights in Kurdistan, Mr. Badvazadeh would like to inform all human rights organizations of his and his family’s current situation and to ask for their help, to put pressure on the Islamic Regime Judiciary to issue a final judgment and sentence against Mr. Badvazadeh.

A Kurdish Political Activist Jebrail Khosroyi has been Sentenced to 20 Years of Imprisonment
Posted on January 12, 2009
Student Council of Defense of Human Rights in Kurdistan: A Kurdish Political activist Mr. Jebrail Khosroyi has been sentenced to 20 years of imprisonment and exile to Bandar Abbas Prison.
Mr. Khosroyi’s trial was carried out on Saturday January 10th 2008 by Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court in Sanandaj, where he was convicted of working with a Kurdish opposition organization and was found to be a Mohareb “enemy of god”. He was sentenced to 20 years of imprisonment and exile to Bandar Abbas Prison.
Mr. Khosroyi has appealed his sentence and is currently in the central Sanadaj Prison. Mr. Khosroyi was arrested one year ago in the city of Sanandaj by security forces.

Activists Demand Judicial Review of Sentence in Case of Zeinab Bayazidi
Posted on January 15, 2009
Change for Equality: A statement signed by 2000 student, women’s rights and civil society activists was released today asking for a review of the sentence issued in the case of Zeinab Bayazidi, who was sentenced to four years in prison to be served in Exile, in the City of Zanjan. . It should be noted that Zeinab was arrested on July 9, 2008 in the city of Mahabad in Kurdistan Province by Security Forces. Her appeals process, as noted by her lawyer, was unusually speeding and suffered from legal irregularities. This statement has been issued in response to her lawyers request for a judicial review of the sentence issued against Zeinab. The translation of the statement, which also request that courts respect the legal rights and take action to immediately release other imprisoned women’s rights activists including Shahnaz Gholami, Hana Abdi and Ronak Safazadeh, is provided below:
Statement by 2000 Activists Demanding Judicial Review of Sentence in Case of Zeinab Bayazidi:
Close to six (6) months has passed from the arrest of Zeinab Bayazidi. Ms. Bayazidi who is a woman’s rights activist, member of Kurdistan Human Rights Organization and the One Million Signature Campaign to change discriminatory laws against women was arrested in July 2008 in the city of Mahabad, Kurdistan Province.
Ms. Bayazidi was tried behind closed doors, without access to a defense lawyer of her choosing, in an unusually expedited and llegally unusual trial. Although less than a month had passed since Ms. Bayazidi’s arrest and pre-trial custody she was sentenced to four years of prison to be served in imprisonment and exile to Central Prison in the City of Zanjan. Within two days the sentence was confirmed in the Court of Appeals in Zanjan. She is currently serving her sentence in the Central Prison in the city of Zanjan and has not been allowed to take advantage of her right for temporary leave.
Ms. Bayazidi was convicted on the grounds that she was a member of an illegal organization, namely the Kurdistan Human Rights Organization and the court found membership in the One Million Signatures Campaign also illegal. However her most serious charges are acting against national security, support of a Kurdish political organization and propaganda against the State by conducting interviews with foreign media. Ms. Bayazadi has denied all charges against her and her defense lawyer has stated that there was not enough evidence in her file to prove her guilt.
Because of lack of due process, especially in the Court of Appeals where Ms. Bayazidi’s lawyer was not present to defend her, Ms. Bayazidi’s lawyer Mr. Saeedi Mehdi Hojati has filed an appeal based on Article 18 of the Laws Pertaining to the Establishment of Public Revolutionary Courts, asking for a judicial review of the sentence issued in the case of his client.
We the undersigned oppose the lack of due process in Ms. Bayazidi’s case as well as her treatment during the process of her arrest and her time in prison. We also announce our support for Ms. Bayazidi and her legal right to be granted temporary release from prison. Further we announce our support for Ms. Bayazidi’s lawyer and his request for an appeal in the Supreme Court of Azarbaijan Province.
Besides Ms. Zeynab Bajazidi there are other female activists who face uncertain futures. Ms. Shahnaz Gholami started a hunger strike on December 19th due to the length of her pre-trial custody in Tabriz Prison. Ms. Hanna Abdi, another women’s rights activist has not been allowed a temporary leave from prison, although this is a legal right given to prisoners. Ms. Ronak Safazadeh is still in pre-trial custody after 15 months of imprisonment, although her lawyer has submitted both a written and oral defense on her behalf.
We the undersigned are also greatly concerned about the situation of Ms. Shahnaz Gholami, Ms. Hanna Abdi and Ms. Ronak Safazadeh, and ask for their immediate release and the protection of their legal rights.


Zeynab Jalaliyan, a Female Political Activists has been Sentenced to Death
Posted on January 20, 2009
Student Council of Defense of Human Rights in Kurdistan:Zeynab Jalaliyan, a political activist has been sentenced to death for membership in a Kurdish opposition organization. In a continuation of death sentences for Kurdish activists Ms. Jalaliyan (27 years old), resident of the city of Maku, in the province of Azarbaijan has been sentenced to death.
According to Ms. Jalaliyans’ family, she was arrested eight months ago in the city of Kermanshah, and was transferred to the detention centre for the Ministry of Intelligence. There has been no news about her well being in the past eight months.
Although Ms. Jalali who did not have a lawyer, was charged with being a member of a Kurdish opposition organization. Ms. Jalali was found to be a Mohareb (enemy of god) after a few minutes long trial behind closed doors.
It should be noted that the death sentence of Ms. Jalali raises the number of Kurdish activists sentenced to death in the past two years to 16.
These individuals are:
1) Farzad Kamangar
2) Farhad Vakili
3) Ali Haydarian
4) Abdolvahed (Hiwa) Boutimar
5) Anvar Hossein Panahi
6) Arslan Oliya'i
7) Sherko Moarefi
8) Farhad Chalesh
9) Ramazan Ahmad
10) Rostam Arkia
11) Habibollah Latifi
12) Fasih Yasmini
13) Zeynab Jalalian (f)
14) Ehsan' Fattahian
15) Shorsh Mehdi xani
16) Anwar Rostami
Six Years and Six Months Prison Sentence for Mohammad Seyadi
Posted on January 23, 2009
Student Council of Defense of Human Rights in Kurdistan:Mr. Mohammad Seyadi, a student in Bu Ali Sina University in the City of Hamedan was tried last week in Branch 3 of the Revolutionary Courts in the city of Hamedan.
Mr. Seyadi was charged with advertising against the Regime, insulting Regime Officials, being involved with the creation of illegal groups.
Mr. Seyadi was arrested in June of 2008 and released on a 90 million Toman Bail. Mr. Sedaydi has been sentenced to 6 years and 6 months prison term, as well as a 250,000 Toman fine
30 Year Prison Sentence for Kamal Sharifi
Posted on January 23, 2009
Student Council of Defense of Human Rights in Kurdistan: Mr. Kamal Sharifi, a political activist and a journalist was sentenced to 30 years of imprisonment on charges of membership in a Kurdish opposition organization.
Mr. Sharifi was wounded and later on arrested by security forces in the city of Saqiz in early 2008. He was recently sentenced to 30 years of imprisonment by Revolutionary Courts. Mr. Sharifi was working actively on a website that covered news about Kurds in Iran.
The Campaign to Save Mr. Kamal Sharifi’s Life has thanked all those who helped with the campaign, and has announced that they will fight to overturn this lengthy and unjust prison term.


Reports and Evidence of Torture and Illegal Actions of Army of Sepah-e Pasdaran Against the Residents of a Kurdish Village Near “Salmas”
Posted on January 25, 2009
Student Council of Defense of Human Rights in Kurdistan:The residents of a village near the city of Solmas have filed a formal complaint against the “Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution” (Sepah-e Pasdaran) for its systematic torture and abuse of the residents of this village.
At 8:00am on Saturday January 17th 2009 Sepah-e Pasdaran officials invaded the village of “Khorkhora” attacked a residents’ home Mr. Sayed Taher Mohammadi 38 years old and after beating him severely, arrested him and took him to an unknown location. There has been no news about his whereabouts in the past week.
Further in the past week 6 other individuals have been arrested in the same way. These individuals are:
1. Davoud Pashayi (32)
2. Dariush Pashayi (29)
3. Amir Ahmadi (24)
4. Saman Laghyedi (25)
5. Jomhur Pashayi (24)
6. Mahmoud Hosseyni (47)
These 6 individuals are currently in Sepah-e Pasdaran detention centre and they have not been allowed any visitations.
The residents of “Khorkhora” have evidence to show that this is not the first time Sepah-e Pasdaran has attacked their village. Last June, Sepah once again attacked the village and arrested the sons of Mr. Ali Hamidi ( member of the village counsel). The two individuals arrested were Mr. Amir and Mr. Vali Hamidi.
After severe beatings and torture Mr. Vali Hamidi was able to escape and hide in the village. However Sepah officials attacked the homes of the villagers and started abusing and harassing them, under the guise of searching for Vali Hamidi. Eventually Mr. Ali Hamidi and his son Amir Hamidi were arrested.
Mr. Vali Hamidi is currently living underground due to his fear of what Sepah-e Pasdaran may do to him if he is found.
As a result of this incident, the residents of this village have filed a formal complaint against Sepah-e Pasdaran with the authorities. However the authorities have completely ignored their complaint and Sepah-e Pasdaran has not been held responsible for their illegal actions.
The residents of the village of “Khorakho” have asked the Student Council of Defense of Human Rights in Kurdistan to inform the general public and the international community of the situation of the residents of “Solmas” and in particular the village of “Khorakho.” They have further asked for the support of the international community and all human rights organizations.
The pictures below are of the formal complaint filed by the village counsel, as well as signs of torture on Mr. Vali Hamidi’s face.

Arrest of Two Students and One Youth in “Ravansar”
Posted on January 26, 2009
Student Council of Defense of Human Rights in Kurdistan: Two Kurdish students in the city of Ravansar were arrested on January 18th 2009 and there has been no news about them since that date.
These two students are Mr. Rahim Mohammadi and Mr. Mohammad Sadeghi. Further an 18 years old youth named Behzad was also arrested. These three individuals were arrested without being charged and for unknown reasons, beaten and taken to an “unknown” location.
The families of these individuals have tried to get information about their whereabouts however they have not been successful. Also neither Mr. Mohammadi, Mr. Sadeghi or Behzad have been able to call their families.
There is no information about what kind of charges these individuals may be facing.

Concern for Mr. Amir Masbah Ghazi- 36 days after his Arrest
Posted on January 26, 2009
Student Council of Defense of Human Rights in Kurdistan: Mr. Amir Masbah Ghazi, a Kurdish student in the city of Mahabad was arrested and continues to be imprisoned for unknown reasons. Mr. Amir Masbah Ghazi is a Kurdish social and literally activist.
Mr. Ghazi is a student in the Private University of Mahabad and was arrested 36 days ago by security forces. He was taken to a detention centre of the Ministry of Intelligence in the city of Orumiyeh.
Mr. Ghazi is a member of Literacy Association in Mahabad, an organization that operates legally and focuses on Kurdish culture and literature.
Mr. Ghazi was also arrested three years ago by security forces and spent some time in custody.

Arrest of a Blogger, Mr. Omid Valizadeh
Posted on January 29, 2009
Student Council of Defense of Human Rights in Kurdistan: Mr. Omid Valizadeh, a blogger who operated a blog about current news was arrested on Monday January 26th 2009.
Mr. Valizadeh, the write or the “Javanroud News” blog and also a political activist in the city of Javanroud was arrested on Monday night by security forces and is still in custody.
It is stated that one of the reasons for his arrest was posting critism about a government representative in the city of Javanroud.
Mr. Valizadehs’ family has no information about his current whereabouts.

Arrest of Mr. Ali Rourast and Two of his Family Members
Posted on January 29, 2009
Student Council of Defense of Human Rights in Kurdistan: Security forces in the city of Mahabad have arrested Mr. Ali Rourast, his son and sister in the past week. On Sunday January 25th 2009 security forces arrived at Mr. Rourasts’ store and after searching the store arrested him and took him to the detention centre for the Ministry of Intelligence in the city of Mahabad. Hours later security forces searched Mr. Rourasts’ home while he was still detained.
Two days after Mr. Rourasts’ arrest his son Mr. Fayegh Rourast and his sister Ms. Hajar Rourast were also arrested.
Mr. Fayegh Rourast is a freshman in the Orumiyeh University majoring in Law. Ms. Hajar Rourast is a teacher, a social activist and also works with an orphanage in the city of Mahabad.
It must be noted that these three individuals do not have a history of political activism. It is unclear why they were arrested and there is no information about the charges they may be facing.

4.2 February
Further Information About Ehsan Fatahiyan’s Prison Sentence Being Converted to a Death Sentence
Posted on February 8, 2009
Student Council of Defense of Human Rights in Kurdistan: The family of Mr. Ehsan Fatahiyan has shared some further information about Mr. Fatahiyan’s current sentence with the Student Council of Defence of Human Rights in Kurdistan. Mr. Fatahiyan’s 10 year prison sentence was recently converted to a death sentence, which has caused great concern for his family. Mr. Fatahiyan’s family have requested the help of all freedom loving people and human rights organizations in order to help save the life of Mr. Fatahiyan.
Ehsan Fatahiyan (27) was born in the city of Kermanshah and resided in the City of Sanandaj. He was arrested 9 months ago in Sanandaj and after being subjected to physical and psychological torture for three (3) months while in solitary confinement, was sent to the central prison in Sanandaj.
Mr. Fatahiyan was convicted on the charges of being a “Mohareb” (enemy of god) through armed struggle against national security. He was sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment through Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Courts in the city of Sanandaj, by Judge Babayi. He was further sentenced to serve his sentence in exile in the city of Ramharmaz in the province of Khuzestan.
The sentence was appealed by both Mr. Fatahiyan and the Prosecutor. Branch 4 of the Court of Appeal overturned the jail sentence and substituted the death sentence without hearing the defence of Mr. Fatahiyan. It must be mentioned that according to the criminal code of the Islamic Regime, criminal appeal courts do not have the power to increase sentences handed down by lower courts.
According to Mr. Fatahiyan’s family, while in solitary confinment Mr. Fatahiyan was subjected to severe torture in order to obtain a false confession, however even under those harsh circumstances Mr. Fatahiyan has never confessed to carrying arms or being involved in an armed struggle. To this day Mr. Fatahiyan has maintained that he has never carried arms and has never been involved in armed struggle. He believes his death sentence has political reasons.
Mr. Fatahiyan is currently in the Central Sanandaj Prison, however he is not allowed to have any visitations or phone calls with his family.
The Student Council of Defense of Human Rights in Kurdistan is extremely concerned about Mr. Ehsan Fatahiyan’s death sentence and current situation, and invites all national and international human rights organizations to help Mr. Fatahiyan and bring attention to his situation.

Mr. Shouresh Aminzadeh and Abbas Azizi Bahram have been sent to the Saghz Prison
Posted on February 8, 2009
Student Council of Defense of Human Rights in Kurdistan: A Kurdish activist Mr. Shuresh Amnizadeh (25) resident of Baneh who was arrested 2 months ago on charges of being involved in a Kurdish opposition group, was recently transferred to the central prison in the city of Saghz
Another Kurdish activist Mr. Abbas Azizi Bahram, resident of Saghz who was arrested on similar charges was also transferred to the central prison in Saghz.

A Two Day Hunger Strike of 45 Prisoners in Saghz Prison
Posted on February 8, 2009
Student Council of Defense of Human Rights in Kurdistan: 45 political and non political prisoners in Saghz Prison went on a two (2) day hunger strike to protest the low quality of food, increase in the prices of necessary daily products for prisoners, insult and abuse by one of the prison officials and the existence of drugs in the prison.

Latest News about the Situation of Mr. Mahmoud Arefi and Mr. Mahmoud Amani in the Central Prison of Saghz
Posted on February 8, 2009
Student Council of Defense of Human Rights in Kurdistan: A Kurdish activist named Mahmoud Arefi, resident of Bukan who was arrested a while back by security forces in the city of Sanandaj was transferred to the central Saqhz Prison 40 days ago, after spending 18 days in solitary confinement in the Ministry of Intelligence detention centre. Mr. Arefi is not allowed to have any visitation or phone calls and does not have access to a lawyer. He is currently in a very bad physical and psychological state.
Further, another Kurdish activist Mr. Mahmoud Amani who is charged with being involved with a Kurdish opposition group has also been transferred to the central prison in Saqhz, after spending some time in solitary confinement in the detention centre of the ministry of intelligence.

Three men were hanged in the prison of Kermanshah (western Iran) on February 5
Tuesday 10 February 2009
Iran Human Rights, February 10: Three men convicted of killing a businessman have been hanged in the western city of Kermanshah, The Iranian newspaper Jomuhri-Eslami reported on Monday.
Naser Ahmadi, Saeed Jannati and Farzad Jannati had kidnapped and killed Nourali Shademani in 2005, the Jomhuri Eslami reported, adding the three were hanged on Thursday February 5.

Six Years and Six Months Prison Sentence for Mohammad Seyadi
Posted on February 13, 2009
Student Council of Defense of Human Rights in Kurdistan:Mr. Mohammad Seyadi, a student in Bu Ali Sina University in the City of Hamedan was tried last week in Branch 3 of the Revolutionary Courts in the city of Hamedan.
Mr. Seyadi was charged with advertising against the Regime, insulting Regime Officials, being involved with the creation of illegal groups.
Mr. Seyadi was arrested in June of 2008 and released on a 90 million Toman Bail. Mr. Sedaydi has been sentenced to 6 years and 6 months prison term, as well as a 250,000 Toman fine.

Increase in the Number of Arrests of Kurdish Residents and Activists
Posted on February 17, 2009
Student Council of Defense of Human Rights in Kurdistan: According to recent information received by the Student Council of Defense of Human Rights in Kurdistan there has been a significant increase in the number of surveillance as well as arrests of Kurdish residents and activists.
Two Sanandaj Residents were arrested for Unknown Reasons:
Two Kurdish residents Mr. Mokhtar Hamili and Mr. Behrouz Rahimi were arrested two weeks ago by security forces, after their residence was searched. There is no information about the reason of their arrest, charges against them or where they are being held.
Arrest of a Member of the Village Council in “Ghorucha”
Mr. Farugh Hossein Panahi (34), a member of the Village Council in the village of “Ghorouche”, Ghoraveh was recently arrested by security forces and taken to an unknown location.
Mr. Hossein Panahi is a family member of Mr. Answar Hossein Panahi, an activist who has been sentenced to death. It is believed that the reason behind Mr. Panahi’s arrest is his constant follow up on the case of Mr. Anwar Hossein Panahi as well as the case of another prisoner Mr. Arsalan Evliyayi who has also been sentenced to death.
Arrest of Two Individuals in the City of Saghz
On February 9th 2009, two brothers named Iraj and Hiwa Pejohandeh were arrested on charges of assault on Regime Security forces and taken to the central prison in the city of Saqhz.
Arrest of Seven Residents in the Village of “Eshneviyeh”
In the past week seven (7) individuals from the village of “Kaniresh” have been arrested by security forces.
One resident Mr. Fatah Bengini was arrested on February 5th 2009 and the other individuals were arrested in the days following February 5th. The names of these individuals are:
1. Vahab Bengini
2. Hasel Bengini
3. Loghman Saidi
4. Shavaneh Bapiyri
5. Shahve Babkari
6. Mohammad Amin Shikhe
There is no information about where these individuals are being held.
The Student Council of Human Rights in Kurdistan is extremely concerned about the arbitrary arrest of these individuals as well as the recent increase in arrest of Kurdish residents and activists. The Council demands that the arrested individuals be granted due process, have access to a defence lawyer, be given fair trials as well as be charged with internationally recognized crimes. If they are not charged with internationally recognized crimes we demand their immediate and unconditional release.

One Year Imprisonment for Mr. Shouresh Aminzadeh
Posted on February 17, 2009
Student Council of Defense of Human Rights in Kurdistan:Mr. Shouresh Aminzadeh (25), resident of the city of Baneh who was arrested two months ago and transferred to the detention centre of the Ministry of Intelligence in the city of Saghz was recently sentenced to one year imprisonment after a trial which took only few minutes.
Mr. Aminzadeh was charged with being involved in an active Kurdish Opposition Group.

Arrest of Three (3) Residents in the City of Saqhz
Posted on February 17, 2009
Student Council of Defense of Human Rights in Kurdistan: On Friday February 13th 2009 three residents in the city of Saqhz were arrested by security forces and taken to an unknown location. These individuals are:
1. Mr. Ahmad Mahmoudi
2. Mr. Mozher Hosseini
3. Mr. Omid Padashi

Arrest of Mr. Kamel Mahmoudiyan
Posted on February 19, 2009
Student Council of Defense of Human Rights in Kurdistan: Another resident of the city of Saqhz Mr. Kamel Mahmoudiyan was arrested on February 17th 2009, at his home, by the Ministry of Intelligence Agents.
Mr. Mahmoudiyan had been arrested previously and received a 8 month suspended sentence.

Mr. Sohrab Karimi has once again been Summoned to Court
Posted on February 19, 2009
Student Council of Defense of Human Rights in Kurdistan: Mr. Sohrab Karimi, a political science student in Tehran Private University has been summoned to court for the second time in the past few months. Mr. Karimi spent 76 days in solitary confinement in Section 209 of the Evin Prison last year and was released on $150 million Toman bail.
Mr. Karimi received a summons on Tuesday February 19th 2009 asking Mr. Karimi to turn himself in to the Branch 3 of the revolutionary court in Tehran, along with his defence lawyer within a week of receiving the summons.
It must be mentioned that Mr. Karimi, a student activist was arrested last year for his participation in the student day demonstration as well as forgiving a speech during that event. He was imprisoned for 76 days and after two short appearances in court without a defence lawyer he was released on a 150 million Toman bail.
Mr. Karimi is a student activist, works with Kurdish student publications and is a member of the Kurdistan Human Rights Organization. His lawyer is currently Mr. Sezar Keshavarz.
No news about Mr. Sasan Amjadi four Months after his Arrest
Posted on February 19, 2009
Student Council of Defense of Human Rights in Kurdistan: According to news we have received by his family Mr. Sasan Amjadi was arrested four (4) months ago, after being summoned to various security and ministry of intelligence organs on numerous occasions. Since his arrest there has been absolutely no news about his whereabouts or state of his health.
Mr. Amjadi is a member of Green Kurdistan as well as numerous other social organizations.

Yaser Goli’s 15 Year Jail Sentence has been Upheld by the Court of Appeal in Kurdistan
Posted on February 20, 2009
Student Council of Defense of Human Rights in Kurdistan: Mr. Yaser Goli’s 15 year jail sentence as well as the sentence of exile to Baft Prison was upheld by the Court of Appeal in the province of Kurdistan on February 17th 2009. The sentence was upheld 17 months after Mr. Goli’s arrest. He started serving his sentence on February 18th 2009.
In an interview with the Student Council of Defense of Human Rights in Kurdistan, Mr. Goli’s lawyer Mr. Nemat Ahmadi has stated: The Judgment I received was 10 sentences long and thre is no indication that there was any evidence to prove Mr. Golis’ Guilt. Further Mr. Goli has never confessed to committing any of the offences he is being charged with during interrogation.
Yaser Goli is an Economic Development graduate from Azad University in Sanandaj. He was arrested on 17 October 2007, in front of Azad University in Sanandaj. Following his arrest, intelligence forces went to his home and after searching it took his computer case and private diary with them
After his arrest for days there was no news about his whereabouts and his family was extremely concerned especially due to the fact that Mr. Goli suffers from a heart condition.
Mr. Goli has been arrested on numerous occasions previously and imprisoned for charges of “acting against national security.”
Mr. Goli’s brother has stated that his father was also imprisoned for 6 days for following up on his son’s case. His mother Ms. Fatemeh Goftari has also been arrested on numerous occasions, she is a human rights activist and a member of Azarmehr Association of Women of Kurdistan.

Concern over the Continuing Detention of Mr. Javad Alizadeh
Posted on February 21, 2009
Student Council of Defense of Human Rights in Kurdistan:Mr. Alizadeh was arrested on Thursday January 15th 2009, while participating in a ceremony commemorating the death of Ibrahim Lotfollahi, a Kurdish student killed under torture. Mr. Alizadeh was one of the speakers at this event and was arrested by security forces. Mr. Alizadeh is a student and a human rights activist. Mr. Alizadeh was expelled from Alameh Tehran University because of his activities.
Mr. Alizadeh was tortured during interrogation which led to him suffering from a broken head as well as numerous other health problems. Recently Mr. Alizadeh was transferred to the central prison in Sanandaj, where he was attacked by numerous prisoners. As a result of this vicious attack he suffered from a broken hand as well as very serious bruises.
On February 15th Mr. Alizadeh went on a two day hunger strike along with a number of other prisoners, in protest to the torture of certain prisoners as well as torture he had undergone. He ended the hunger strike when prison officials visited him after two days and made certain promises to follow up on the torture complaints.In the last telephone conversation with his family, Mr. Alizadeh has stated that his health is extremely poor.
Student Council of Defense of Human Rights in Kurdistan is extremely concerned about the current situation of Mr. Alizadeh. Mr. Alizadeh’s presence in peaceful student gatherings and making speeches is a right given to every citizen and the detention of Mr. Alizadeh by the Islamic Regime is illegal. We ask all human rights organizations to follow up on Mr. Alizadeh’s case and help secure his freedom.

Arrest of Mr. Abubakr Hajbary in Tehran
Posted on February 23, 2009
Student Council of Defense of Human Rights in Kurdistan: A Kurdish resident of Mreyvan who had gone to Tehran to seek employment was arrested and transferred to section 209 of the Evin Prison. After his arrest his home in Mreyvan was searched and his personal belongings confiscated.
There is no information about the reason for Mr. Hajbary’s arrest of the charges he may be facing.

Ashraf Kalhori, a woman convicted of adultry, is at imminent risk of execution in Iran
Monday 23 February 2009
Iran Human Rights, February 23: One woman is at imminent risk of execution in Iran. According to the Iranian daily newspaper Etemad, the woman who is identified as Ashraf, is convicted of adultry and her death sentence could be carried out in very near future.
Shadi Sadr, Ashraf’s lawyer, told the newspaper that Ashraf’s execution was halted in 2006, and we were hoping that she will be pardoned, but we have now been informed that she will be among the first groups being executed in Tehran.
According to our sources, the woman is Ashraf Kalhori who was sentenced to death by stoning and whose stoning sentence received much attention in 2006. Ashraf was sentenced to death by stoning for having affair with Ali Akbar who was convicted of murdering Ashraf’s husband. Ashraf has denied any sexual affair with Ali Akbar, but the judge sentenced her to death based on his "insight".
Abdollah Farivar who also was sentenced to death by stoning for adultry, was hanged on Thursday February 19. after his sentence was changed from stoning to hanging.
Human rights defenders express increasing concern about the possibility that other at least 10 sentenced to stoning will be hanged in near future.

Mahmoud Amani has been Sentenced to Two (2) Years of Imprisonment
Posted on February 23, 2009
Student Council of Defense of Human Rights in Kurdistan: Mr. Mahmoud Amani a Kurdish activist who had been arrested 5 months ago in the city of Saqhz has been sentenced to two (2) years of imprisonment by the Court of Appeal. He was originally sentenced to 4 years of imprisonment during trial in the city of Saqhz.
Mr. Amani was convicted of working with organizations that were working against the Islamic Regime. He is currently in the Central Prison in Saqhz.

Update on the Arrest of Four (4) Individuals from the Village of Ghom Ghale near Mahabad
Posted on February 23, 2009
Student Council of Defense of Human Rights in Kurdistan: Four residents of the village of Ghoam Ghale who had been arrested last month have been transferred to the Ministry of Intelligence in the city of Orumiye.
Mr. Ghader Ghande, Mr. Vahab Fatahi, Mr. Hiwa Pourmand, and Mr. Akan Ghaytasi were transferred to the city of Orumiyeh a few days ago, and there has been no news about them since that date. There is no information about the charges these individuals may be facing.
Further another individual who had been detained from the same village Mr. Jalal Azizi has been released on a 100 million Toman bail.

A Young Kurd is Murdered by the Sepah Forces
Wednesday February 25, 2009
Human Righs Activists In Iran: After killing a young Kurdish boy near the boarder of Salmas, the police forces left his lifeless body amidst the snow.
Last week, the police forces in the Province of Dashivan in Salmas, captured a young 16 year old Kurdish boy , Behzad Golmohamadi, as he was crossing the boarder to Turkey, and tortured him. This young Kurdish citizen, due to the injuries suffered during the attack, lost his life. After leaving his body on Turkish soil, the police forces left the scene.

It must be mentioned that the family members of this young victim traveled to Turkey to retrieve his body. However, they have not been successful.
The pictures of this young boy are set forth below.

4.3 March
Concern over Continued Detention of Mr. Fayegh Rurast and Mr. Rahman Hosseinzadeh
Posted on March 1, 2009
Student Council of Defense of Human Rights in Kurdistan: Mr. Fayegh Rourast and Mr. Rahman Hossein Zadeh, two Kurdish students from Orumiyeh University are still in custody and there is no information about when their cause may move forward.
Mr. Fayegh Rourast (20) who is a first year law student was arrested a month ago and is still in the detention centre of the Ministry of Intelligence in the city of Mahabad. After his arrest, his father Mr. Ali Rourast and his mother Ms. Hajar Rourast, a teacher were also arrested.
Ms. Rourast was released on bail after a few days and Mr. Ali Rourast was released on bail after two weeks. Although the security forces have been making promises there is not news about when Mr. Fayegh Rourast may be released. Mr. Fayegh Rourast has not been able to have any visitations since his arrest a month ago.
Further Mr. Rahman Rahimpour a student activist from the city of Orumiyeh was transferred to the central prison of that town, after spending 100 days in the detention centre of the Ministry of Intelligence.
Mr. Rahimpour, was arrested after participating in a student demonstration in Orumiyeh University on November 4th 2008. As a result of that demonstration the pressure on student activists was increased and Mr. Rahmanpour was arrested on November 8th 2008.
Mr. Rahimpour, a resident of the city of Saghz is a very active student activist in the Orumiyeh University prior to his arrest he had been “warned” on numerous occasions about his activities.
It is worth mentioning that after lengthy pre-trial custody there is still no information about when the cases of these two individuals maybe moving forward in the courts.
Student Council of Defense of Human Rights in Kurdistan reiterates that students who are arrested are subjected to brutal and systematic torture, they are not given due process, their rights are violated and after lengthy pre-trial custody they are sentenced to lengthy prison terms.
Student Council of Defense of Human Rights in Kurdistan is extremely concerned about the continued detention of these two students as well as all detained students and demands the immediate and unconditional release of all students.

Protest of Taxi Drivers in the City of Saghez
Posted on March 1, 2009
Student Council of Defense of Human Rights in Kurdistan: Number of taxi drivers in the city of Saghz went on a strike on February 25th 2009, to protest against the treatment of taxi drivers by security forces, namely being given illegal fines, destruction of their union related pamphlets and other materials.
The protest ended when security forces attacked the protests and forced them to end their protest.

Mr. Mehdi Ghasemzadeh, a Member of “Ahle Hagh” has been Executed
Posted on March 2, 2009
Student Council of Defense of Human Rights in Kurdistan: In the early hours of Saturday February 28th 2009, Mr. Mehdi Ghasemzadeh, who was a member of “Ahle Hagh” was executed. Mr. Ghasemzadeh was 27 years old and had been imprisoned since October of 2004.
Mr. Ghasemzadeh had been convicted of being a Mohareb (enemy of god) by taking up arms against the state. Mr. Ghasemzadeh had been shot during his arrest and while in prison he was tortured brutally.
Mr. Ghasemzadeh had gone on numerous hunger strikes to protest his conditions, the last strike being the 47 day long nationwide strike of the Kurdish Prisoners.
It is noteworthy that a number of Kurdish political prisoners in Orumiyeh Prison have issued a statement protesting against the execution of Mr. Ghasemzadeh.

Iranian authorities confirm execution of a member of "Ahle Hagh" in northwestern Iran
Tuesday 3 March 2009
Iran Human Rights, March 3: The spokesperson of the Iranian security forces in the Iranian province of West Azarbaijan said to the reporters that one member of "Ahle Hagh" group was executed convicted of killing two security forces in 2004, reported the state run Fars news agency.
Iran Human Rights reported that a member of Ahle Hagh was executed on February 28.

Kermanshah (western Iran) on Sunday March 1
Tuesday 3 March 2009
Iran Human Rights, March 3: 10 people were hanged in the prison of Kermanshah (western Iran) early Sunday morning March 1, reported the state run news agency ISNA.
They were all convicted of drug trafficking according to the report. None of those hanged were identified by name or age. Three men were hanged in the prison of Kermanshah on February 5. 2009. Accordng to a report by Iran Human Rights, Iranian authorities executed at least 350 people in 2008. According to official reports, at least 73 have been executed since the beginning of 2009 in Iran.




















5. Letters from prisoners in Kurdistan (Iran)

Farzad Kemanger, NGO activist and journalist, sentesed to death penalty

Farzad Kamanger has been brutally and repeatedly tortured since his arrest in 2006. He was sentenced to death by the Iranian Revolutionary Court on February 25, 2008, charged with “endanger- ing national security” and “enmity against God.” According to his lawyer, Khalil Bahramian, who was not permitted to defend him, Farzad’s trial took place in secret, lasted only minutes, and failed to meet Iranian and international standards of fairness. Education International, which has featured his case, reports that Kamanger worked for 12 years as a teacher in the city of Kamyaran, Iran, before he was arrested and placed in detention. He also sat on the govern- ing board of both a local environmentalist group and the local branch of the teachers association. Kamanger wrote actively for the monthly journal Royan, a publication of the Department of Education of Kamyaran. He was also a writer with a local human rights organi- zation that documents human rights abuses in Kurdistan and other provinces.

I Remain a teacher and you a Prison Guard.
Zeus the god of gods ordered the imprisonment of the disobedient Prometheus and this is how our story started.
You’re the inheritor of Zeus’ prison guard to watch a child, the progeny of the Sun and light everyday. So, the prison has two different meanings for you and me. We are two people separated by a wall with an iron door and a tiny window; you are outside the cell and I am enclosed in it. So, we better get to know each other.
I am a teacher…no, no…
I am a student of Samad Behrangi who wrote Alduz, Crows, and The Little Black Fish for all us to learn how to take action. Do you know him; I know you don’t.
I am Khanali’s pupil, the teacher who taught us how to draw the Sun’s picture to scare away bats.Do you know who he was?
I am a colleague of Bahman ‘Izzati , the man who always the fresh smell of rain in the drought; a person that still remembered in Kermanshah and surrounding villages with the first drops of the long awaited rainfall. Do you really know him? I know you don’t.
I am teacher; I inherit smiles and curiosity from my students.
Now, since you know me, you tell your story; with whom you’ve been a colleague; from whom you’ve gotten this anger and hatred of yours; who inherited you those handcuffs and foot shackles? Are they relics from Zahak’s dungeons?
Tell me about yourself; who are you? Don’t just scare me with handcuffs, chains, flogs, surveillance cameras, and the iron doors and solid walls of 209; they really can’t scare me any longer; don’t yell, don’t be mad and don’t punch me in the heart for keeping my head up. I know the story of your fist and of striking the inmates in the head.
Don’t beat me for singing; I am a Kurd; my ancestors have left us their loves, pains, struggles and their existence through their songs. I shall sing and you shall listen. You must listen to my songs; I know they bother you.
Do not beat me when I walk for the sound of my feet; my mother has taught me to talk to the soil with my steps; there is pledge between me and the earth; I have pledged to fill it with beauty and smiles. So, let it hear the sound of my feet; let me walk. Let the earth know I am still alive and hopeful.
Don’t deny me my pen and papers; I want to sing the children of my land a lullaby full of hope; filled with Samad’s stories; filled with Khanali and his wishes. I want to write about ‘Izzati and his students; I want to write; I want to talk to my people from inside of my cell; from this very same place; do you understand? I know you are trained to hate light, beauty, thoughts and reflection.
But don’t be scared come to my cell; sit with me on my small, torn tablecloth as a guest; observe how I invite my students here every night and relate stories for them. But since you don’t have a permission to see; to hear, you have to become a lover; a human; you have to cross to this side of the door to appreciate what I say.
Look at me to know the difference between us; I draw the hands and the beautiful eyes of my beloved on the walls of the cell, I hold her figures in my hands and I feel the warmth of life in her hands and read passion and yearning from her eyes. But with the baton in your hand you break her figures and gauge her yearning eyes on the wall and blacken it.
Your world will always be a prison and dark and “the sense of light” will disturb you; I have wished, for months, to see a sky full of stars. To see a sky with those disobedient stars that fly from one corner of it to the other and tear down the heart of darkness with their lights. But you have lived in the dark for years and your sky is without a single star. Do you know what a sky with no stars mean? Do you know what a sky with an eternal dusk mean?
When I return to 209 next time, step into my cell; I have myriads of wishes for you; unlike your prayers, which are full of fire and the fear of hell my wishes are abundant with smiles, love and hope; step into my cell to tell you the secret of ‘Izzati’s last smile while on the gallows; I know, again I will be sent back to 209; and you will yell at me with all your might; and I feel sad for you and for the degrading world that has been built for you; I will return while I am still a teacher and have the smile of children from my homeland on my lips.
A teacher who is being sentenced to death,
Farzad Kamanger
The section of infectious diseases; the prison of Karaj
1/15/2009
Below you can read his own words:
I am Farzad Kamangar, Also known as Siamand; a teacher whom used to work for the Iranian governmental education system in the Village of Kamyaran with 12 years experience of teaching.

One year before my arrest, I was busy teaching at the Karvdanesh institute. I also was a member of the board of directors of the teachers of Kamyaran association in the Kurdistan branch and up to the point of disbandment of the association and just before the activities of the association was banned by the government; I was the head of PR.
Also I was a member of the guild writers of a cultural/educational monthly called Royan, which later came to be under the siege of the governmental education system and was later blocked. For some time I was also a member of the environmental society in Kamyaran and from 2005 onwards I begun with my human rights activities and eventually came to be one of the writers for the human rights association.

I traveled to Tehran in august 2006 in order to follow up on recovering of the health of my sick brother, whom also is a political activist in Kurdistan, and there I was arrested. On the same day I was transferred to an undisclosed location. It was a basement without and ventilation, claustrophobic and dark, the cells didn't have any floor just plain dirt, nothing was there neither a mattress nor a cover or anything else. It was very dark there; I was taken to another room. While they were writing down my details they asked me of my origins as soon as I said "Kurd" they flogged me all over my body with a hose looking whip. Also because of religion I had to endure profanities insults and battering. I was even severely battered because of the Kurdish ringtone that I had on my mobile. They would tie my hands and put me on a chair and put heavy pressure on various sensitive parts of my body... they would remove my clothes with force and threatening me with rape with a baton or sticks.

My left foot was brutally injured at this location and because of the simultaneous hits to my head as I was electrified I passed out and ever since I gained my conscious I have lost the sense of balance in my body and now shake without any control. They would chain my feet and with electric shocks who was created by small appliances that they had tied to my back, they would shock different sensitive areas of my body, they pain was immensely agonizing.

I was later transferred to the villainous 209 lockup of Evin prison. I was blindfolded as soon as I entered and in the entrance corridor (floor level- left-hand side further up than the room for execution of orders) I was put in a small room where I was battered severely with punches and kicks there as well. The following day, they transferred me to Sanandaj prison until they would arrest my brother. From the moment I entered the lockup I was facing profanities, insults and battering. I was not even allowed the usage of toilet facilities, until I was forced to wet myself. After enduring a lot of the physical and psychological pressure I was once again transferred to the 209 lockup. In the rooms on the first floor (the green interrogation rooms) I was interrogated and battered and tormented.

After all the tortures I had to endure, they were forced to take me to a doctor on the Sunday of 27th of August 2006 which was placed in connection to the interrogation rooms, where the doctor recorded the evidential residue bruises of the tortures, floggings and battering, which were clearly visible on my back, neck, head, rear, thighs and feet. I spent the two months of august and September in solitary confinement cell number 43. Because of the magnitude of the tortures and torments I had to endure I had to food strike for 33 days, they started to harass and threat my family, in order to free myself from the torture and to demonstrate against the ill treatment and the pressures against my family, I threw myself down the stairs of the first floor in order to commit suicide.

I spent close to a month in solitary isolation which smelled horribly in the end of the 113 section of the first floor. During this period I was not allowed to have visits nor telephone calls with any member of my family. During the 3 months of solitary confinement I was not allowed to go out in the free air. After enduring these months they moved me to a bigger cell, cell number 10, a cell intended for several persons, I spent close to two months there. Still I was not allowed to have any contact with a lawyer or my family. In the beginning of January of 2007 I was transferred from the 209 lockup in Tehran to the Intelligence Agency's lockup in Kermanshah, situated in the Naft centre, without any allegations made against me or a verdict in court. The lockups were unyielding small and dark and all kinds of crimes were committed there.

They removed all my clothes and after having battered me, they gave me dirty and stinking clothes and with kicks and punches in the hallway of the lockup took me to the room of the security officer in charge and from there to a another corridor which they entered in a small door. There was a really small cell hidden far away from everybody else and so far that even my screams couldn't reach anybody else. This cell was 1m x 0.6m x 0.5m. Two small light bulbs were hanging from the roof. There was no ventilation. The cell used to be a toilet before and was really stinking and cold. There was one really dirty duvet in the cell. Every time I would wake up unexpectedly I would hit my head on the wall. The cell was dreadfully cold. In order to breathe sometimes I was forced to lay my face down on the ground and breathe through the small spring between the door and the floor. During my sleep or rest the guards would periodically knock hardly on the door in order to disturb my rest or they would turn of the lights. Two days after my entrance to the prison I was taken to the interrogation room and without posing one single question they started to kick and punch me and used profanities and insulted me however they could. Afterwards I was taken back to my cell, they turned on the radio an put it on the highest volume in order to disturb my rest and concentration, I was allowed to go to the toilet two times during 24 hours. I was also allowed to wash myself once a month. The following are examples of the tortures that I suffered in the Kermanshah lockup;

1.Playing "Football"; this was a term used by the interrogators, they stripped me of my clothes and 4 or 5 persons would surround me and with punch and kicks pass me around between them. If I fell to the ground they would laugh at me and hit me savagely while I was on the floor.
2.They forced me to stand on one leg for hours and hold my hands up high and if I got tired and would slack or drop my leg or arm they would beat me up.
3.During interrogation I would be punched and slapped.
4.The basement of the lockup which was covered from the main corridor to the door which lead to the free air by trash and breadcrumbs in order to hide it form others, was another torture room which they would take me to during nights, there they would tie my hands and feet to a bed and using a whip which they called "Zolfaghar" they would flog me under my feet, my thighs and my back. The pain was incalculably unbearable and I could not even walk for days.
5.They had a cold room, because it was cold and wintertime, they would take me there in the morning for the reason to be "interrogated" but in fact incarcerate me there till the dawn.
6.In the Kermanshah lockup the usage of electrical shocks to the body was implemented, and shocks were inflicted to various sensitive parts of the body.
7.I was not allowed to use toothbrush or toothpaste, I was given diminutive amount of leftover food which stank and was completely unfit for human consumption.
Even at the Kermanshah lockup they prohibited me from having any visits and went so far that they even arrested the girl that I was interested in. Problems were created for my brothers and they were arrested. Because of the cell the duvet and the dirty and stinking unhygienic clothes, I got skin problems (fungus infection) and I wasn't even allowed to visit a doctor. For the reason that the enduring of the tortures had become harder I was forced to food strike for 12 days. The last 15 days of my lockup they changed my cell to a cell that was more smelling and dirty where there was no heating facilities. Every day I had to endure insults and beatings to the extent that I even passed out one day for the punches I got to my testicles. One night in the torture room (basement) they undressed me and threatened me that they were going to rape me right there and in order to be released from torture I banged my head hard on the wall. They forced me to confess to emotional matters and relationships and... forced me. The sound of sighs and screams could be heard and sometimes they would commit suicide.
March 18th 2007 I was transferred back to the 209 lockup in the Evin prison, even though I was put in the multiple person cell number 121, I still wasn't allowed to have any visitors. They still tortured me both physically and psychologically as arrestment of family members or encumber me from contacting them, profanities and insults and beating me.
My Case was after several months of uncertainty brought up in the revolutionary court the 30th branch in May 2007. The interrogators threatened me that with all their power they would try to get a verdict for my execution or longtime imprisonment. In case my innocence would be proved in court and I would be released they would take vengeance outside of prison. They had a strange hate towards me as a Kurd, journalist and a human rights activist. No matter what was going on they never stopped torturing me.
The revolutionary court in Tehran announced that the case was not going to be brought up in Tehran and the case was sent to the court in Sanandaj. Every time the support of the people or the human rights associations would be heard for me and against my arrestment, the tortures got more frustrated and would increase the pressures on me. In august 2007 I was transferred to the Sanandaj Lockup a place that has become "the worst nightmare" which I will never be able to forget and it will haunt me for the rest of my life. Even though according to their own law I did not have new accusations, they too started my physical and psychological terror as soon I entered.
The Sanandaj lockup had a main corridor and 5 side corridors, in the last corridor and in the last cell, they placed me. They kept changing my cell all the time, until the day that the head