Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) – Saman Naseem, a Kurdish juvenile offender who was arrested seven years ago and was once on death row, was freed on a five billion IRR (approximately $35,000 USD) bail on October 16, 2018.
Naseem’s death sentence was commuted to five years in prison by the Appeals Court of West Azerbaijan Province, located on Iran’s northwestern border with Turkey and Iraq.
Originally scheduled in February, Naseem’s release was delayed by a new lawsuit brought against him in August 2018 by the family of a late agent of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The agent’s surviving family members — along with the family members of three others who were injured in armed clashes in 2011 — demanded “Qesas,” or “eye-for-an-eye” retribution permissible under Iran’s Islamic Penal Code.
Naseem was 17 years old when he participated in the clashes on the side of the Kurdish opposition. His role incurred charges of “Moharebeh [Enmity against God]” and “corruption on earth” in Mahabad Revolutionary Court, which sentenced him to death in 2013. Iran’s Supreme Court upheld the sentence in December of that year.
Naseem’s lawyers appealed the verdict, obtaining a retrial in a parallel appeals court. This court acquitted Naseem, commuting the capital punishment sentence to five years in prison, upholding the charge of “membership in an armed opposition group, namely the Kurdistan Free Life Party [commonly known by its Kurdish-language acronym PJAK].” The Supreme Court upheld his commutation.
Naseem — who had no access to legal representation during the preliminary investigation of his case — alleges that authorities tortured him while he was in custody, pulling nails from his fingers and toes and suspending him upside down from the ceiling.
Tag: Saman Naseem
Saman Naseem Examined by Forensic to Verify His Age
HRANA News Agency – Saman Naseem, death row juvenile offender in Uremia prison was transferred to the court for verification of his age at the time of arrest. The examination was conducted by forensic officers but no result has been publicized yet.
According to the report of Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), Saman Naseem, death row juvenile offender, who is imprisoned in ward number 12 of central prison of Uremia was transferred to the revolutionary court of Uremia in order to be examined regarding his age at the time arrest, by presence of judge and forensic officers on June 1, 2017, even though he had previously been examined and it had been confirmed by the forensic that he was under 18 at the time of the alleged crime. Continue reading “Saman Naseem Examined by Forensic to Verify His Age”
Saman Naseem Examined by the Forensic about His Mental Age
HRANA News Agency – In the case of Saman Naseem, death row juvenile offender in the central prison of Orumieh who had been warned about the execution of his sentence, during past few days, the lack of mental age at the time of the crime was emphasized by forensic tests which also has been sent to the judge.
According to the report of Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), during past few days, the lack of mental age at the time of the crime of Saman Naseem was emphasized by forensic tests and was sent to the judge. Continue reading “Saman Naseem Examined by the Forensic about His Mental Age”
“They Took our Comrade in front of our Eyes.” Mohammad Abdollahi’s Cellmates Talk
HRANA News Agency – Cellmates of Mohammad Abdollahi, a political prisoner who was hanged last week in Uremia Prison, with a glimmer of hope were waiting to see their cellmate, after his execution was denied by the provincial authorities, however, they and his family believed that they would never see him again by official confirmation of his execution.
According to the report of Human Rights Activists News Agency in Iran (HRANA), the last people who have seen Mohammad Abdollahi told HRANA that on Sunday at 8:20 a.m. they took Mohammad Abdollahi from the ward. Continue reading ““They Took our Comrade in front of our Eyes.” Mohammad Abdollahi’s Cellmates Talk”
Despite Authorities’ Denial, HRANA Confirms the Executions in Uremia Prison
HRANA News Agency – Although the families of 7 prisoners including Mohammad Abdollahi’s family had been summoned to Uremia Prison for the last visit and on August 9 the names of 5 executed prisoners were read for the families in front of the prison and at least 4 corpses were delivered to the families, the Head of Prisons Office in West Azerbaijan province denied the execution of 6 prisoners in Uremia prison. However he failed to specify if he denied the number of executed prisoners or the executions in general which has left Mohammad Abdollahi’s family in confusion.
According to the report of Human Rights Activist News Agency in Iran (HRANA), during the last hours of August 7, the families of 7 prisoners who had been taken to solitary confinements were summoned to Uremia Prison to visit their beloved ones for the last time before the execution. Continue reading “Despite Authorities’ Denial, HRANA Confirms the Executions in Uremia Prison”
Mohammad Abdollahi Ended his Hunger Strike after 32 Days
HRANA News Agency – Mohammad Abdollahi, death row political prisoner in Central Prison of Urmia who was warned about the execution of his sentence and haf gone on an unlimited hunger strike to protest at the “unjust” verdict and the way of handling his case since May 29, 2016, ended his strike by official’s promise of enable the authorities to accept his retrial after 32 days on June 30 and was transferred to the ward from solitary confinement.
According to the report of Human Rights Activists News Agency in Iran (HRANA), Mohammad Abdollahi, death row political prisoner in Central Prison of Urmia ended his hunger strike by judicial authorities’ promise of enabling the authorities to accept his retrial on June 30. Continue reading “Mohammad Abdollahi Ended his Hunger Strike after 32 Days”
A Brief Report about the Panel on Human Rights in Iran; Canadian Senate
HRANA News Agency – There was a research panel with 9 Canadian Senators’ speech, and Iranian guests and international human rights figures, held for three days in Canadian Senate, from May 10th. This is a short report of this meeting.
According to the report of Human Rights Activists News Agency in Iran (HRANA), from May 10th, in the Canadian Senate a research panel was held for 3 days, with presentations from nine Canadian Senators, including Linda Frum, Daniel Lang, James Cowan, Salma Ataullah Jan, Raynell Andreychuk, Senator Lynn Beyak, Norman Doyle, Joan Fraser and Stephen Green as well as Iranian guests and international human rights figures. Continue reading “A Brief Report about the Panel on Human Rights in Iran; Canadian Senate”
Saman Naseem and 3 other Prisoners at Imminent Risk of Execution
HRANA News Agency – Following unusual changes in recent days, the authorities of Urmia prison, summoned four prisoners, including Saman Naseem, Mohammad Abdollahi and two other criminal prisoners and warned them that considering the new judiciary procedures, there is not a long time left until their execution.
According to the report of Human Rights Activists News Agency in Iran (HRANA), Saman Naseem and Mohammad Abdullahi, death row political prisoners, were summoned to the prison’s Praying Hall, Hosseinieh, on 26th April, and the prison warden, in the presence of social workers, told them: “your status as a matter of execution, is red and the only thing that you can do is asking for forgiveness.” Continue reading “Saman Naseem and 3 other Prisoners at Imminent Risk of Execution”
Saman Naseem Still in an Undecided Situation
HRANA News Agency – There is no change in the legal status of Saman Naseem, juvenile offender whose death sentence had been suspended by the protest of the international community and human rights organizations yet, despite three deployments to the forensic for examination of his intellectual growth.
An informed source in this regard said to Human Rights Activists News Agency in Iran (HRANA), “The case of Saman Naseem has not changed currently. Despite three deployments of Saman Naseem to the forensic for examination of his intellectual growth, no sentence has been issued so far.” Continue reading “Saman Naseem Still in an Undecided Situation”
Yunes Aghayan Deprived Of Furlough In The 12th Year Of Imprisonment
HRANA News Agency – Yunes Aghayan, political prisoner in Mahabad prison, in the twelfth year of his imprisonment, is still being deprived of having furlough.
According to the report of Human Rights Activists News Agency in Iran (HRANA), Yunes Aghayan, political prisoner in Mahabad prison, in the twelfth year of his imprisonment, has handed in his furlough request to the judicial and security authorities for several times and he is waiting for their reply and the possibility of having furlough. Continue reading “Yunes Aghayan Deprived Of Furlough In The 12th Year Of Imprisonment”