Sunday 26 December 2010

AIUK : Search actions : Iran: Political Prisoner Facing Imminent Execution

Iran: Political Prisoner Facing Imminent Execution

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Habibollah Latifi, a law student, is facing execution on Boxing Day. He was sentenced to death on 3 July 2008 following an unfair trial. He had been convicted of moharebeh (enmity against God), a vague but capital charge, for his membership of and alleged activities on behalf of the Kurdish Independent Life Party (PJAK). The PJAK is a proscribed armed group.

Habibollah Latifi is being held at Sanandaj Prison, Kordestan, in western Iran. Executions usually take place at daybreak. It is not known whether his family has been notified of his planned execution by the authorities.

UPDATE: 26 DECEMBER 2010

Reports suggest that the execution of Habibollah Latifi has been halted. Initial reports indicate that there were several hundred protesters outside the prison in Sanandaj and a heightened security presence.

The prison governor came out and announced that the execution would not take place today, referring to the Islamic holy month of Moharram and stating the execution would not take place at this time.

Habibollah Latifi's lawyers have been working round the clock in an attempt to have him considered for an amnesty, or to have his case re-examined. His parents were able to see him just after dawn.

This is good news but Habibollah Latifi remains at risk of execution so please continue taking action

Find out more

Please write to the Iranian authorities, using the appeal letter below, urging them to halt Habibollah Latifi’s execution.

  • To email Ayatollah Sayed ‘Ali Khamenei, Leader of the Islamic Republic, please paste the appeal letter below into the contact form on the Iranian authorities' website
  • To email Ayatollah Sadegh Larijani, Leader of the Judiciary, please paste the appeal letter below into the contact form on the Judiciary's website, Please note, this form is not in English. The second box = first name
    The third box = surname
    The fifth box = email address
    The last box = substance of message
    To send press grey box on the bottom left hand side

http://amnesty.org.uk/actions_details.asp?ActionID=746