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Iran: 1st Urgent Action: Halt the Execution of 12 Kurdish Political Activists
After the execution of the political activist Ehsan Fatahiyan on
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Iran: Mr. Ehsan Fatahiyan Was Executed as Scheduled
Written by DI Campagin Team
Monday, 09 November 2009
Mr. Ehsan Fatahiyan
Defend International were informed
by reliable sources that the political activist Mr.
Ehsan Fatahiyan would be hanged onNovember 11, 2009. He was accused of being a mohareb ("enemy of God") and "endangering state security".
Latest news:
Unfortunately Mr. Fatahiyan was executed as scheduled.
This sad news was received by DI members in the morning on 11 November 2009.
Defend International condemns this horrific and inhumane act and sends his family, friends, rights defenders, and everyone who sent appeals our deep sorrow and sympathy.
On 9 November 2009, DI had published the following campaign in support of Mr. Fatahiyan:
Category:Death
penalty / Prisoners of conscience / Arbitrary detentions / Fear of torture or
ill-treatments
The case:
According to
the information received on 8 November 2009, the Revolutionary Court of Sanandaj
confirmed the date of execution of Mr. Ehsan Fatahiyan, aged 27. He is supposed to be
hanged on November 11, 2009.
Mr. Fatahiyan was
condemned to death for his political opinions and is currently detained in the
city of Sanandaj. He have been held in solitary confinement, subjected to
torture and other ill-treatment and questioned repeatedly to obtain false
confessions. He is believed to have been convicted of being a mohareb ("enemy
of God") and "endangering state security".
His sentence was
10 years' imprisonment, but an Iranian appeal court imposed in February 2009 capital
punishment instead, which is in violation of the Iranian Criminal Code.
DI Views & Demands:
Defend International expresses its
deepest concern about Mr. Fatahiyan's death sentence, as it is further evidence
that Iran will continue its attempt to condemn those to death who fall short of
the government's expectations.
DI urges the
Iranian authorities to respect the International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Iran is a state party. We call on Iran to abolish death penalty; to ensure respect for human rights and
fundamental freedoms throughout Iran, and to refrain from any unfair or inhumane
practice that might violate international human rights standards. We also call
for the establishment of a committee of jurists to study the implementation of death
penalty and transmit a legislative proposal to abolish the capital punishment in
Iran. Moreover, we call upon Iran to ensure respect for human rights
and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion.In addition, the international community, namely the EU, should urge the
Iranian authorities to "adhere and comply with the relevant international norms
and standards" [1].
Defend International is
unconditionally opposed to the death penalty, under all
circumstances and in all countries, since it is a violation of the right to life andan extreme form of cruel,
inhuman, and degrading punishment. DI is also categorically opposed to torture and
other cruel punishments under any condition.
Defend International will continue monitoring the
situation in Iran closely.
DI campaign:
Please
copy the following appeals, add your signature and address and send them to
arrive as soon as possible.
By this letter, I would like to express my deepest
concern regarding the case of Mr. Ehsan Fatahiyan, a political
activist, condemned to death and currently detained in the city of Sanandaj. Mr. Fatahiyanis supposed to be
hanged on November 11, 2009. I call upon the Iranian judicial authorities to halt
this execution immediately and to guarantee in all circumstances the physical
and psychological integrity of Mr. Fatahiyan. I call on you to release him
immediately and unconditionally since his detention is arbitrary, as it seems
to sanction his opinions.
Furthermore I call for an impartial investigation into
the allegations that Mr. Fatahiyan was tortured and inhumanely treated while in
custody. I urge you also to ensure that he has access to adequate medical
treatment and to put an end to all acts of harassment against all civil society
activists in Iran.
As member of Defend International, I am concerned about the death
sentences passed against human rights defenders, civil society activists and
protestors in general. We strongly urge the Islamic
Republic of Iran to immediately stop executions and take steps towards
abolishing the death penalty. I call for the establishment of a committee of jurists
to study the implementation of death penalty and transmit a legislative proposal
to abolish the capital punishment in Iran. I also urge the Iranian authorities
to respect the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to
which Iran is a state party.
By this letter, I would like to express my deepest
concern regarding the case of Mr. Ehsan Fatahiyan, a political
activist, condemned to death and currently detained in the city of Sanandaj. Mr. Fatahiyanis supposed to be
hanged on November 11, 2009. I call upon the Iranian judicial authorities to halt
this execution immediately and to guarantee in all circumstances the physical
and psychological integrity of Mr. Fatahiyan. I call on you to release him
immediately and unconditionally since his detention is arbitrary, as it seems
to sanction his opinions.
Furthermore I call for an impartial investigation into
the allegations that Mr. Fatahiyan was tortured and inhumanely treated while in
custody. I urge you also to ensure that he has access to adequate medical
treatment and to put an end to all acts of harassment against all civil society
activists in Iran.
As member of Defend International, I am concerned about the death
sentences passed against human rights defenders, civil society activists and
protestors in general. We strongly urge the Islamic
Republic of Iran to immediately stop executions and take steps towards
abolishing the death penalty. I call for the establishment of a committee of jurists
to study the implementation of death penalty and transmit a legislative proposal
to abolish the capital punishment in Iran. I also urge the Iranian authorities
to respect the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to
which Iran is a state party.
I hope for your urgent attention to this matter.
Yours respectfully,
________________________________
Head of the Judicial system of Iran,
His Excellency Ayatollah Sadeqh Larijani, Office of the Head of the Judiciary
Pasteur St., Vali Asr Ave. Tehran,
Islamic Republic of Iran, Email:
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By this letter, I would like to express my deepest
concern regarding the case of Mr. Ehsan Fatahiyan, a political
activist, condemned to death and currently detained in the city of Sanandaj. Mr. Fatahiyanis supposed to be
hanged on November 11, 2009. I call upon the Iranian judicial authorities to halt
this execution immediately and to guarantee in all circumstances the physical
and psychological integrity of Mr. Fatahiyan. I call on you to release him
immediately and unconditionally since his detention is arbitrary, as it seems
to sanction his opinions.
Furthermore I call for an impartial investigation into
the allegations that Mr. Fatahiyan was tortured and inhumanely treated while in
custody. I urge you also to ensure that he has access to adequate medical
treatment and to put an end to all acts of harassment against all civil society
activists in Iran.
As member of Defend International, I am concerned about the death
sentences passed against human rights defenders, civil society activists and
protestors in general. We strongly urge the Islamic
Republic of Iran to immediately stop executions and take steps towards
abolishing the death penalty. I call for the establishment of a committee of jurists
to study the implementation of death penalty and transmit a legislative proposal
to abolish the capital punishment in Iran. I also urge the Iranian authorities
to respect the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to
which Iran is a state party.
By this letter, I would like to express my deepest
concern regarding the case of Mr. Ehsan Fatahiyan, a political
activist, condemned to death and currently detained in the city of Sanandaj. Mr. Fatahiyanis supposed to be
hanged on November 11, 2009. I call upon the Iranian judicial authorities to halt
this execution immediately and to guarantee in all circumstances the physical
and psychological integrity of Mr. Fatahiyan. I call on you to release him
immediately and unconditionally since his detention is arbitrary, as it seems
to sanction his opinions.
Furthermore I call for an impartial investigation into
the allegations that Mr. Fatahiyan was tortured and inhumanely treated while in
custody. I urge you also to ensure that he has access to adequate medical
treatment and to put an end to all acts of harassment against all civil society
activists in Iran.
As member of Defend International, I am concerned about the death
sentences passed against human rights defenders, civil society activists and
protestors in general. We strongly urge the Islamic
Republic of Iran to immediately stop executions and take steps towards
abolishing the death penalty. I call for the establishment of a committee of jurists
to study the implementation of death penalty and transmit a legislative proposal
to abolish the capital punishment in Iran. I also urge the Iranian authorities
to respect the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to
which Iran is a state party.