Kurdistan; Two Weeks after General Strike

The government continues to summon and threaten bazaari merchans, arrest activists and fuel speculation that it would carry out death sentences for other political prisoners two weeks after the execution of Kurdish political prisoners and the ensuing general strike in Kurdistan. While in an interview with Rooz last Saleh Nikbakht, who represents several Kurdish political prisoners, said that “a reversal by an appellate court was the only way to prevent Habibollah Latifi’s execution,” in another interview last night he denied reports that Mr. Latifi has been scheduled for execution on June 27. He also announced “major changes” in the case of Adnan Hassanpour, the imprisoned Kurdish journalist. A relative of Mokhtar Houshmand, a Kurdish artist currently behind bars, said in a short interview with Rooz that “he has been transferred to Sanandaj’s intelligence ministry detention facility.”

Nikbakht: Still Nervous About Habib’s Execution

Last week, several reports surfaced indicating that the death sentence for Kurdish political prisoner Habibollah Latifi had been set for execution on June 27. The news was confirmed after Rooz contacted several of Mr. Latifi’s relatives, but the political prisoner’s lawyer, Saleh Nikbakht, denies the reports.

Saleh Nikbakht said, “Based on repeated inquiries by Mr. Latifi’s family members from the Sanandaj court, and information I obtained as the lawyer in this case, it became clear that the reports indicating my client’s execution on June 27 are not true. The reports were denied by the current Sanandaj prosecutor, Mr. Johari.”

Noting that Habibollah Latifi’s execution has always worried him, Nikbakht said, “From among my clients, only Mr. Latifi’s death sentence has been confirmed so far. I am always nervous about his execution, but I hope that our final appeals bear fruit and the death sentence is not carried out.”

Major Changes in Adnan Hassanpour’s Case

Saleh Nikbakht, who simultaneously represents several other Kurdish political prisoners, also announced major changes in the case of Adnan Hassanpour, the imprisoned Kurdish journalist.  

Adnan Hassanpour was arrested three years ago and sentenced in the summer of 2007 to death on the charge of moharebeh (enmity with god). The verdict was upheld by the Kurdistan province’s appellate court. Then, Saleh Nikbakht’s appeal to the supreme court was granted and Hassanpour’s verdict was reduced to 31 years imprisonment.

Now, Saleh Nikbakht says, “In the case of Adnan Hassanpour, I must say that fortunately there have been major changes in his case which I will formally announce early next week.”

Mokhtar Houshmand Transferred to Intelligence Ministry Facility

Cultural activist and the head of Marivan’s Visual Arts Association, Mokhtar Houshmand, who was arrested last week, has been transferred to an intelligence ministry detention facility in Sanandaj.

Meanwhile, two weeks after a general strike in Kurdistan to protest the execution of five political prisoners - four of whom were Kurds - Kurdistan’s bazaari merchants continue to be threatened and intimidated.

Several bazaari merchants have been threatened by security agents of losing their business licenses and were forced to sign statements indicating that they would not engage in “illegal closure of their businesses.”