Two Kurdish political prisoners deprived of access to optional lawyer
19:34 - 24 November 2018
Kurdistan Press Agency (Kurdpa): Iranian Intelligence Service in Sna (Sanandaj) does not allow two Kurdish, political prisoners in Saghez Central Prison to have access to optional lawyer.
According to our correspondents, two Kurdish, political prisoners, Hooshmand Alipour, from the city of Sardasht, and Mohammad Ostad Ghader, from the city of Saghez, have been deprived of having access to optional lawyer as a consequence of Sna Intelligence Service’s interference in their cases.
Charged with “cooperating with a Kurdish, opposition group”, both Hooshmand and Mohammad were detained by Iranian intelligence forces on August 3, 108 days after which they were transferred from Sna Intelligence Service’s detention place to Saghez Central Prison.
Each of them has been given the right to in-person family visit once, according to reliable sources.
Both detainees are charged with conducting a small military operation (throwing a hand grenade at the Police Headquarters in Saghez City) by Iranian Intelligence Ministry.
They were forced to make TV confession which has raised concern among human rights organizations.
With regard to their Hooshmand’s and Mohammad’s cases, , Amnesty International released a statement on September 10. The organization stated that: “Broadcasting forced “confessions” extracted through torture is a denial of human dignity for the prisoners and a serious violation of their rights. Under Article 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), Iran is legally obliged to respect and protect the rights of all defendants to the presumption of innocence and not to be compelled to incriminate themselves. Under Article 7 of the ICCPR, as well as rules of customary international law, Iran is obliged to respect and protect the right of accused persons to freedom from torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.”
According to our correspondents, two Kurdish, political prisoners, Hooshmand Alipour, from the city of Sardasht, and Mohammad Ostad Ghader, from the city of Saghez, have been deprived of having access to optional lawyer as a consequence of Sna Intelligence Service’s interference in their cases.
Charged with “cooperating with a Kurdish, opposition group”, both Hooshmand and Mohammad were detained by Iranian intelligence forces on August 3, 108 days after which they were transferred from Sna Intelligence Service’s detention place to Saghez Central Prison.
Each of them has been given the right to in-person family visit once, according to reliable sources.
Both detainees are charged with conducting a small military operation (throwing a hand grenade at the Police Headquarters in Saghez City) by Iranian Intelligence Ministry.
They were forced to make TV confession which has raised concern among human rights organizations.
With regard to their Hooshmand’s and Mohammad’s cases, , Amnesty International released a statement on September 10. The organization stated that: “Broadcasting forced “confessions” extracted through torture is a denial of human dignity for the prisoners and a serious violation of their rights. Under Article 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), Iran is legally obliged to respect and protect the rights of all defendants to the presumption of innocence and not to be compelled to incriminate themselves. Under Article 7 of the ICCPR, as well as rules of customary international law, Iran is obliged to respect and protect the right of accused persons to freedom from torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.”
