According to the information received, Mr. Eshan Fattahian, an activist of Kurdish origin, was executed by hanging in the prison of Sanandaj yesterday, 11th November. His arrest and detention took place sometime between April and August 2008, and was followed by a trial in which he was denied legal council. In addition, Mr. Fattahian was allegedly tortured while in detention. His original sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment to be served in exile was overturned after an appeal only to be replaced with a death sentence for the vague crime of ’’enmity against God’’ for his alleged membership in the Kurdistan Independent Life Party. Two other men, Habibollah Latfi and Sherko Maorefi arrested in October 2007 and October 2008 respectively, also remain on death row for alleged connections with Kurdish groups.
FIDH and LDDHI express their grave concern over the lack of due process for Mr. Fattahian, the alleged torture during his detention and his execution. Moreover, FIDH and LDDHI call on the Iranian authorities to give his body to his family and commute the executions or Messrs. Latfi and Moarefi. Our Organisations demand a moratorium on capital punishment until its eventual abolishment.
The Islamic Republic of Iran currently ranks second in the world for the number of executions. Since 2005 there has been an increase in the number of executions carried out in Iran, from 94 that year to 346 in 2008. A wide range of offences are punishable by death including the charge of ’’enmity against God’’ which is often used as a pretext to execute political dissidents, especially those belonging to ethnic minorities. FIDH and LDDHI have expressed their grave concern not only in regards to the increasing number of executions but also the continued execution of juveniles and consider the use of the death penalty in Iran as a state terror policy.