ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – The family of imprisoned Ramin Hossein Panahi fear he will be executed soon as Iranian authorities appear to be making arrangements to relocate the young Kurdish man.
"Ramin is very sick and suffers from kidney disease. The authorities in Sanandaj prison told Ramin that he does not need medical treatment because he will be executed soon," his brother, Amjad Hussein Panahi, told Rudaw.
Human rights agency Hengaw reported that authorities in Sanandaj prison plan to move Panahi from Sanandaj prison in Kurdistan province to Rajai Shahr prison in Karaj, near Tehran.
The prison is well known for the use of torture, rape, and murder. It is considered one of the worst jails in Iran.
Authorities are moving Panahi ahead of his execution in a bid to stem public outcry, according to Hengaw. His case has attracted international attention with UN experts and Amnesty International condemning his death sentence.
Panahi was arrested on June 22, 2017 in Sanandaj, and charged with being a member of the Kurdish opposition party Komala. The court stated that Panahi had received military training and was carrying a gun and a grenade at the time of his arrest.
His lawyer, Hossein Ahmadi Niyaz, said his client was unarmed when he was arrested.
Panahi is a member of Komala, but Niyaz has pointed out that the charge of membership in an opposition group does not carry the death penalty.
Niyaz was prevented from visiting his client in prison, Panahi’s brother said.
"The lawyer of Ramin has visited Sanandaj prison to get the latest update about Ramin and his condition, but he was not allowed to meet Ramin and was humiliated by prison officials. They want to avoid any public reaction and support inside Iranian Kurdistan for Ramin, so they look for a good place and time to execute him" Amjad said.
"Ramin is very sick and suffers from kidney disease. The authorities in Sanandaj prison told Ramin that he does not need medical treatment because he will be executed soon," his brother, Amjad Hussein Panahi, told Rudaw.
Human rights agency Hengaw reported that authorities in Sanandaj prison plan to move Panahi from Sanandaj prison in Kurdistan province to Rajai Shahr prison in Karaj, near Tehran.
The prison is well known for the use of torture, rape, and murder. It is considered one of the worst jails in Iran.
Authorities are moving Panahi ahead of his execution in a bid to stem public outcry, according to Hengaw. His case has attracted international attention with UN experts and Amnesty International condemning his death sentence.
Panahi was arrested on June 22, 2017 in Sanandaj, and charged with being a member of the Kurdish opposition party Komala. The court stated that Panahi had received military training and was carrying a gun and a grenade at the time of his arrest.
His lawyer, Hossein Ahmadi Niyaz, said his client was unarmed when he was arrested.
Panahi is a member of Komala, but Niyaz has pointed out that the charge of membership in an opposition group does not carry the death penalty.
Niyaz was prevented from visiting his client in prison, Panahi’s brother said.
"The lawyer of Ramin has visited Sanandaj prison to get the latest update about Ramin and his condition, but he was not allowed to meet Ramin and was humiliated by prison officials. They want to avoid any public reaction and support inside Iranian Kurdistan for Ramin, so they look for a good place and time to execute him" Amjad said.
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