HRANA News Agency – Lawyer of Ramin Hossein Panahi, political prisoner at Sanandaj Central Prison, who was tried in Branch One of the Revolutionary Court in Sanandaj on charge of acting against national security, on January 16, 2018, announced that he had received the news of the execution sentence for his client. HRANA in addition to discussing this issue with Ramin Hossein Panahi’s lawyer was able to have a brief conversation with Ramin Hossein Panahi about his death sentence.
According to the report of Human Rights Activists News Agency in Iran (HRANA), Ramin Hossein Panahi, political prisoner at Sanandaj Central Prison, who had been tried in Branch One of the Revolutionary Court in Sanandaj on January 16, 2018, was informed of his execution sentence by the Revolutionary Court on January 25.
Earlier, Ramin Hossein Panahi’s lawyer, in a conversation with HRANA, had said that his client might be acquitted of using weapon, and his charge was “Baghi”.
Hossein Ahmadi Niaz, in a brief conversation with HRANA’s reporter, in response to the death sentence for his client, said: “Yes, this sentence has been communicated to me, and I will make an appeal against this verdict within twenty days to the Supreme Court”.
He commented on the charge leading to the issuance of the sentence, adding: “The charge against my client is “Baghi”, and being a member of “Komaleh”, and has been sentenced to execution by hanging”.
Ramin Hossein Panahi’s lawyer finally stressed: “We are only concerned that such a verdict should not be issued, and the government and Iranian regime should be more tolerant. Unfortunately, they did not include the argument that “Baghi” charge is much to do with political crimes, and I will make an appeal on this issue in twenty days. I say that execution cannot be a logical and proper way to get the country out of trouble.”
In addition to Hossein Ahmadi Niaz, HRANA managed to have an “indirect” brief conversation with Ramin Hossein Panahi, who is in Sanandaj prison:
– Mr. Hossein Panahi have you been notified of your verdict?
– Today my family said that I had been sentenced to death.
– Do you know which branch and judge have sentenced you to death?
– From the Revolutionary Court, Branch One of the Sanandaj Court, headed by Judge Saeedi.
– Have you been charged with “Baghi”?
– Yes, “Baghi” and membership in “Komala”, I got trial just once. Today I called home and they said they had got the verdict.
– Do you accept this conviction?
– It is clear that no, neither a fair trial, nor the ruling were issued on the basis of facts.
– How is your medical condition now?
– My physical condition is not good, I was shot three times, my kidneys are infected, I was tortured when I was in Intelligence detention and I bled many times, the same torture caused my kidneys get infected.
– Have you been tortured?
– For six months I was at the Revolutionary Guards intelligence detention, and for a month I was in Intelligence Office. In Intelligence Office, I was tortured physically and held in solitary confinement. They did not give me any painkillers and I was bleeding there, then I returned to the Revolutionary Guards with the same behaviour, three-four people tortured me, and I did not see them, I went on strike even there.
– How were the tortures?
– By kicking and punching and whipping by cable, their effects are still visible, they always closed my eyes and I did not see anyone, they beat me and insulted me. I told my lawyer in the court as well as the judge, I told them that I have been tortured and disrespected; they did not even allow me to speak in the court room.
– Which ward are you in, now?
– I am in the Qur’anic Ward One of the Central Prison of Sanandaj.
It should be noted that Ramin Hossein Panahi was transferred to Sanandaj prison after serving more than 200 days of detention in the Revolutionary Guards intelligence and the Ministry of Intelligence solitary confinements, on January 9 of this year.
HRANA had previously reported that he had been subjected to physical and psychological torture and ill-treatment during detention in solitary confinement at the Ministry of Intelligence and the Revolutionary Guards intelligence detention centers.
Amjad Hossein Panahi, brother of Ramin Hossein Panahi, had told HRANA’s reporter: “One of Ramin’s kidney is severely infected, and he has got forgetfulness due the hits on his head in the Revolutionary Guards Intelligence detention. Now, he is not in a physically good condition.”
According to Hossein Panahi family member, Ramin Hossein Panahi was mistreated and tortured during interrogation, while this prisoner was wounded and in need of medical treatment throughout the arrest and all the time of his detention.
Amjad Hossein Panahi denied the connection between kidney infection and injuries caused by wounding during arrest, and emphasized that forgetfulness and kidney infection have occurred due to ill-treatment during the detention time.
On June 30, 2017, Amnesty International issued a statement and considered the arrest of five detainees after the recent conflict of Sanandaj as “arbitrary disappearance” and demanded that their destiny and their whereabouts to be known as well as clarity regarding the situation of Ramin Hossein Panahi who was wounded after the conflict in Sanandaj on June 30, 2017. The organization also urged Iranian authorities to promptly release the other people who were arrested solely on the basis of a family relationship with Ramin Hossein Panahi.
It should be recalled HRANA had reported previously that the IRGC forces had shot and arrested a political activist named Ramin Hussein Panahi near Sanandaj on June 22, 2017.
After the incident in Sanandaj on Friday, June 22, 2017, security forces arrested some of Ramin Hossein Panahi’s relatives, including Zibar, Ahmad and Afshin Hossein Panahi at his own house on the same day.
The last hearing on Ahmad, Zibar and Afshin Hossein Panahi was held at Branch 1 of Sanandaj Revolutionary Court headed by Judge Saeedi on October 25, 2017. At this hearing, Zibar and Ahmad Hossein Panahi were sentenced to 6 and 5 years imprisonment. Afshin Hossein Panahi, another defendant, was sentenced to eight and a half years imprisonment.
Earlier, Amjad Hossein Panahi, brother of Ramin and Afshin told HRANA’s reporter that all three had been accused of propaganda against the regime and cooperation with Kurdish opposition groups through participation in the celebration of New Year’s Eve.