HRANA News Agency – Ali Ahmad Suleiman, political prisoner and Iraqi citizen, who had spent nine and a half years in Urmia prison, is in a critical physical and psychological condition after he was exiled to Tabriz prison.
According to the report of Human Rights Activists News Agency in Iran (HRANA), Ali Ahmad Suleiman, political prisoner and Iraqi citizen, who was previously charged with combat against the God had spent nine and a half years in Urmia prison. He has been sentenced to 5 years imprisonment by a new verdict and since he has been exiled to Tabriz prison, he is in a very bad physical and mental condition and is suffering from various diseases.
Masoud Shamsnejad, the lawyer of this prisoner, in an interview with HRANA’s reporter, regarding his client’s situation, said: “He was in Urmia prison for 5 years imprisonment in exile, although he was held in Urmia prison for 9 years and a half, but he was transferred to Tabriz prison to serve his 5 years imprisonment in exile. However, later he was sentenced to 9 and a half years imprisonment to cover the time of 9 and a half years that he was held in Urmia prison.”
This senior lawyer, also, explained that the new case of his client is regarding a “murder”, and gave some explanations regarding this allegation, and said: “The allegation of murder was not factually correct. The reason is that when a person is convicted of combat, or enmity against God it means; to create fear among people, they take up arms and kill people. This is the right definition of combat (Moharebeh). He was convicted of “moharebeh” and sentenced to five years of exile in Urmia prison. Unfortunately he again was charged with murder which is itself in the definition of “moharebeh”.”
Shamsnejad with stating the new verdict for his client as an illegal sentence, continued: “I think his second conviction is illegal. At first they issued the death sentence. But, as the plaintiff knew that he is not his child’s murderer, he consented. But according to the victim’s family’s consent, the sentence was converted to 9 and a half years imprisonment, and currently, he is in Tabriz prison, in a state of exile.”
Ali Ahmed Suleiman’s lawyer, explained the problems of this prisoner in Tabriz prison and told HRANA’s reporter: “He is a citizen of Iraq and has no relatives or acquaintances in Iran, and cannot afford any cost in prison. His other problem is the Turkish language that he does not understand but he is enduring his imprisonment in Tabriz prison where they speak Turkish. He has no one and no family in Iran.”
Masoud Shamsnejad also explained that his client “is suffering from poor physical health condition, disease and skin problems” and regarding the prison security agents behavior with his client and his client’s situation at Tabriz prison, said: “He is not in prison currently because of political charges, and his charge is murder, which is a general crime, and this is including charges that the sentenced person can come on leave and use general crime prisoners facilities. Unfortunately, he is treated completely as a security prisoner and he is deprived of the rights that have been put in the prison system procedural.
He is still convicted of execution, although the victim’s family gave the consent. In fact, he is not guilty of murder and is sentenced to imprisonment, and the prison sentence must be declared to Tabriz prison then he will be able to use its benefits. But unfortunately it has not been notified, and he cannot take advantage of these benefits.”
Shamsnejad, at the end, explained his client’s mental and physical condition in Tabriz prison as “very bad” and said: “This Iraqi citizen in Tabriz prison is also financially in restriction and he is unable to work.”
Ali Ahmad Suleiman was transferred to ward 9 of the Central Prison in Tabriz, in the morning of Tuesday 4^th February, to implement the previous sentence of 5 years in exile.
This political prisoner who had been earlier held in hall 12 (political prisoners’ hall) of Urmia prison, has been accused of killing two members of Iranian Revolutionary Guards during an armed operation.
Earlier, one of his relatives told HRANA’s reporter: “The judge had convicted him to execution only at the request of Urmia Revolutionary Guards, without any evidence indicating that this prisoner had participated in an operation that killed two members of the Revolutionary Guards.”
This source also had added: “The last time the prisoner was transferred to Intelligence office in Urmia, he was asked to introduce the people that have participated in the murder of two members of the Revolutionary Guards otherwise they will accuse him with murder.”
He was alleged with connection with Ahmed Shaheed and foreign media, and propaganda against the regime from inside the prison, and was sentenced to one year imprisonment in February 2012.
Earlier it was reported that Ali Ahmad Suleiman was suffering from a slipped disc and visual impairment and he has been deprived of any treatment in the prison of Urmia.