Iran: imminent executions as we go towards june elections anniversary - 16 political prisoners on death row

Jaras: Growing concerns for conditions of Farzad Kamangar and Masoomeh Yavari, the two political prisoners condemned to death.

According to news and human rights activists reports, there are growing concerns regarding the case of Farzad Kamangar, the Kurdish teacher who was condemned to death, since judges and interrogators are exerting their influence on the case. At the same time Masoomeh Yavari who was arrested during recent protests and whose case was not revealed is among those who were condemned to death and her conditions in prison are very worrying.

According to Hrana reports, the case file of Farzad Kamangar a human rights and trade activist who was condemned to death , for unknown reasons was lost and this fact is contributing towards the execution of his death sentence and that of two of the persons involved in the same case, Farhad Vakili and Ali Heydarian.

According to this report, last September, Khalil Bahramian, Kamangar’s defence lawyer filed for the application of article 18 (case review) to Saeed Mortazavi#s office who was Tehran’s Prosecutor at the time and no one knows what happened to this file after being submitted to Mortazavi’s office.

Hrana reminded taht after Jafari Dolatabadi was assigned as Tehran Prosecutor, Kamangar’s lawyer was informed that his client’s file was found, but no changes or decisions regarding the case was made and according to Khalil Bahramian, his client can be executed at any time.

Civil rights activits and teacher, Farzad Kamangir was accused of collaboration with Pejak group. He strongly denied such accusations.

Right now there are sixteen political prisoners awaiting the execution of their death sentences.

This report also confirmed that Masoomeh Yavari who was among the post electoral protestors also was sentenced to death and she was only able to benefit from right to defence on the first day of her court hearing.

Mohamad Seif Zadeh, her lawyer said: Mrs Yavari’s court hearing will be held on May 5 and the prosecutor is demanding the death sentence for her.

He also reminded that “I had not seen my client until the first court hearing and she was deprived of the right of access to councel during this time.”

Yavari has spent six months in detention so far and branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court presided by Judge Moghyese, is proceeding with her case.

It is to be outlined that not having access to legal councel prior to the first court hearing is among the problems that most political prisoners are facing. The defence lawyer should have the right to study and prepare his defence case prior to the court hearing, but such right is not being respected in most cases.