Date: 01/19/2009 12:00 pm
Phone: 310-990-1696
Email: info@shrisc.org
website: www.shrisc.orgIran Must Halt Execution of Kurdish Women
The Iranian authorities must halt the execution of a Kurdish political prisoner sentenced to death by Tehran's Revolutionary Court under the charge of ‘Moharebeh' (enmity against God) on January 10, 2010.
Last year, Shirin Alam-Hoei, a resident of Makoo (a city in western Azerbaijan) was detained allegedly because of her connection with the opposition group PJAK (Party for a Free Life in Kurdistan)
Ms. Alam-Hoei, 28, was arrested by security agents and after going through initial interrogation proceedings; she was transferred to the general section of Evin Prison. She was held in prison waiting for the court to make a decision.
Judge Servati sentenced her to death referring to Article 186, 187 and 190 (paragraph 2) of the Criminal Code on charges of association with PJAK and sentences her to two years imprisonment citing Article 34 for crossing boarder illegally. Earlier there was news that she had been sentenced to life in prison, but Feraidon Shami, her lawyer confirmed the death sentence. The sentence is open to appeal. Shami made the statement that he such a heavy sentence was not expected at all.
Shirin has joined Zeinab and other Kurdish political prisoners on death row. The number of Kurdish prisoners sentenced to death is now 20.
Kurds, who are one of Iran's many ethnic minority groups, live mainly in the west and northwest of the country, in the province of Kurdistan, Kermanshah, West Azerbaijan and neighboring provinces bordering Kurdish areas of Turkey and Iraq. They experience ethnic, religious, economic and cultural discrimination. In addition, Kurdish women have experiencing harsh discrimination based on the gender.
The Society of Human rights in Southern California urge Iranian authorities to commute Shirin's death sentence and call on the authorities to impose an immediate and comprehensive moratorium on executions.
