Kurdish prisoners begin a hunger strike against continuing death penalties and bad conditions in Iranian jails
On Monday, the 25th of August, 2008, at 1:00 p.m., all Kurdish prisoners in Iranian jails began a hunger strike against death penalties, the unknown destinies of many prisoners, discrimination, and generally unacceptable prison conditions.
The prisoners participating in the hunger strike demand:
1. Treatment of prisoners according to international standards
2. Rescind the death sentences and stop the execution of severe penalties immediately
3. Stop the death penalty
4. Stop the ill-treatment and torture of prisoners
5. Stop discrimination existing among prisoners, especially between political and non-political prisoners
6. All of the prisoners must be subject to international human rights organizations
7. Reform the Iranian legal system and the courts using international human rights standards
Kurdish and other prisoners live under conditions wherein ill-treatment, discrimination, torture, and killings frequently take place. Many of the prisoners have been jailed because of suspicions related to political or human rights activities. Thus, not surprisingly, many of the prisoners are journalists or human rights activists. There are also prisoners accused of participating in forbidden political activities and who have been sentenced to severe punishment. The prisoners have not had a fair trial, and are condemned to death or to other severe sentences.
It is important to mention that in order to frighten ordinary people, the Iranian government has hanged, and continues to hang prisoners in the streets in view of the public. Many of the victims have been accused of crimes they never committed.
Some of the names of the prisoners who have been condemned to death are:
1. Adnan Hassanpur (journalist)
2. Hiwa Bwtimar (journalist and civil rights activist)
3. Farzad Kamangar (journalist and civil rights activist)
4. Anwer Hussein Panahy (teacher)
5. Farhad Wakily (civil rights activist)
6. Ali Haidrian (civil rights activist)
7. Arsalan Awliaiy (civil rights activist)
8. Habibulla Latify (student and civil rights activist)
Some of the names of the prisoners who have been subjected to severe punishments are:
1. Muhamad Sadiq Kabudwand – civil rights activist – 11 year imprisonment.
2. Hana Abi – civil and women rights activist – 5 year imprisonment and deport to Grmy city in Azerbaijan region.
3. Zainab Baiazidy – civil and women rights activist – 4 years imprisonment and deportation to Zanjan city.
4. Fatima Gwftary – civil and women rights activist – 18 month imprisonment.
5. Amir Raza Ardalan – student – 2.5 years imprisonment.
6. Ali Shakry – student - 2.5 years imprisonment.
7. Suhrab Jalaly – civil rights activist – after imprisonment he deports to Kashmer.
Some of the names of the prisoners who are waiting for verdicts, or have unknown destinies are:
1. Kawa Jwanmard – journalist
2. Ysir Guly – activist
3. Hidayet Gazali – activist
4. Sabah Nasry – activist
5. Masud Kurdpur – journalist and civil rights activist
6. Rwnak Safarzada – women rights activist
7. Kamaran Alaiy – medical doctor
8. Arsh Alaiy – medical doctor
9. Khdir Raswl Marwat – student
10. Salar Yare – student
11. Farhad Haji Mirzaiy – children and women rights activist
12. Muhamad Kahby – civil rights activist
13. Sasan Babaiy – teacher and civil rights activist
CHAK supports the demands of the Kurdish prisoners, and asks powerful international political organizations, human rights organizations, Amnesty International, and all lovers of freedom to help these prisoners and press the Iranian government to stop killing innocent people for their political views or their belief in certain faiths.
You must press Iran using relevant means in order to change the government’s inhuman behaviour towards the prisoners and other civil and human rights activists.
Kurdish prisoners and the people need our help.
He Center of Halabja against Anfal and Genocide of Kurdish People (CHAK)
28.8.2008
www.chak.be
www.chaknews.com