July 17th

Not good news

2009-07-12T09:46:00.001+01:00

ADNAN HASSANPOUR

kurd net : Iranian Kurdistan, — Adnan Hassanpour, Kurdish journalist whose death sentence was quashed in August 2008, was sentenced Wednesday to 10 years in prison by the court in the Kurdish city of Sanandaj that retried his case, Reporters Without Borders has learned from his family.

“This sentence is absurd and baseless,” Reporters Without Borders said. “One day, this journalist is sentenced to death. Two years later he gets a ten-year sentence. We reiterate our call for his immediate release.”

Kurdish journalists Adnan Hassanpur
The death sentence was passed on Hassanpour on 16 July 2007 by a revolutionary tribunal in Mariwan, in Iran’s Kurdistan northwestern region (Eastern Kurdistan), which found him guilty of subversive activities against national security, espionage and separatist propaganda.

After first confirming the sentence on 22 October 2007, the supreme court in Tehran quashed it in August 2008 on procedural grounds. It said Hassanpour could not be regarded as “mohareb” (and enemy of God).

The case was returned to an ordinary court in Sanandaj for retrial. After hearing the case on 6 September 2008 and 30 January 2009, the court issued its sentence Wednesday. Hassanpour, who has staged two hunger strikes in protest against the conditions in which he is being held, www.ekurd.net is currently in the main Sanandaj prison.

Aged 27, he was arrested outside his home on 25 January 2007, and was initially imprisoned in Mahabad, which is also in Iranian Kurdistan. He wrote about the very sensitive Kurdish issue for the magazine Asou, which has been banned by the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance since August 2005. He also worked for foreign media such as Voice of America and Radio Farda, which broadcasts in Farsi to Iran.

• November 9th 2007- Supreme court decision upholding death sentence for Kurdish journalist should be “taken seriously”

Reporters Without Borders today condemned the supreme court’s decision to uphold the death sentence for Kurdish-Iranian journalist Adnan Hassanpour for “spying.” The ruling was issued on 22 October but was not revealed until this week.

The court quashed the conviction of another journalist convicted in the same case, Abdolvahed “Hiva” Botimar, on the grounds of procedural irregularity. Botimar had also been under sentence of death.

“We have been waiting for than six months for the supreme court to decide whether to reopen the case against Iranian-Canadian journalist Zahra Kazemi’s alleged murderers, but it took the court only a few weeks to uphold Hassanpour’s death sentence, so the judicial system clearly continues to have a pro-government bias,” Reporters Without Borders said.

“We appeal to the international community to take every possible action to get this journalist released,” the press freedom organisation added. “This sentence should be taken very seriously as Iran has already executed more than 300 people since the start of the year.”

Saleh Nikbakht, one of the lawyers representing the two journalists, was notified on 5 November of the court’s decision although he was not given the details of the ruling. He said Hassanpour had been found guilty of “espionage” because he had allegedly “revealed the location of military sites and established contacts with the US foreign affairs ministry.”

He added that the court overturned Botimar’s conviction on the grounds of a “procedural irregularity,” and sent his case back to the same revolutionary court in Marivan (in the Kurdish northwest of Iran) that convicted him and Hassanpour on 16 July on charges of spying, “subversive activity against national security” and “separatist propaganda.”

Nikbakht told Reporters Without Borders: “This sentence is not only contrary to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the international conventions ratified by Iran, but it also contrary to Islamic law and the laws of the Islamic Republic.”

Good News

2009-04-06T17:47:00.002+01:00

This is a day of Good News!

Two hours ago I received the news that Hiwa Butimar has had his death sentence overturned by an Iranian court.
Hadi Butimar, Hiwa's brother, phoned me after talking with his sister-in-law, Hiwa's wife.

Hadi is in the process of putting together a thank you to all the countless people who have helped in so many ways.

Hiwa goes before another court soon to decide if he is to be released or serve a further prison sentence for the false charges.
We will keep you informed.

Meanwhile, join in the great joy we all feel for Hiwa and his family.

Sheffield Demo

2008-10-26T23:10:00.006Z

October 25th, outside Sheffield Town Hall, many Kurds and others joined together to demonstrate against the treatment of Kurdish prisoners of conscience and the torture of Ocalan in Imrali jail, Turkey.
Enjoy the pictures.

Adnan's death penalty commuted

2008-09-11T11:48:00.002+01:00

We rejoice with Kurds everywhere (and especially Adnan and his family) that Adnan's sentence has been commuted. Pray on and campaign on for dear Hiwa. There is hope.

Details here

Hunger Strike

2008-09-11T11:45:00.001+01:00

Many prisoners in jails across Iran are hunger striking demanding the abolition of the death penalty for so-called intellectual and political crimes, and trials in open court, attended by defendants and their lawyers. Many of them are ethnic Kurds.

We appeal again for you to protest

2008-04-26T09:42:00.000+01:00

Could you write a letter to one of the following and express your concern about the Kurdish journalist Hiwa Butimar. Call on the Iranian government to stop his execution and to release him immediately.

Please send your appeal to:

Secretary-General United Nations
Hon. Ban Ki-moon
United Nations Headquarters
First Avenue at 46th Street
New York, NY 10017

Supreme leader of Iran
Sayyed Ali Khamenei
E-mail via web site
http://www.leader.ir/

Iranian president
Mahmud Ahmadinejad
E-mail via web site
http://www.president.ir/en/

Head of the Judiciary
Ayatollah Mahmud Hashemi Shahroudi
Howzeh Riyasat-e Qoveh Qazaiyeh / Office of the Head of the Judiciary
Pasteur St., Vali Asr Ave., south of Serah-e Jomhouri, Tehran 1316814737, Islamic Republic of Iran

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Ms Louise Arbour
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Palais des Nations CH-1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland

Chairwoman of European parliament Human Rights committee
Ms Hélène FLAUTRE
Bureau d'Hélène Flautre au Parlement européen8G130, rue WierzB-1049, Bruxelles, Belgique

Sentenced again

2008-04-26T09:36:00.001+01:00

Hiwa Butimar has been sentenced to death by branch number one of the Revolutionary Court in Mariwan city, for a second time.

The Iranian government accused him of selling arms to Kurdish guerrilla fighters connected to P.K.K, which all of the Kurdish political parties strongly repudiate.

It seems, from sources inside Kurdistan, that Hiwa Butimar has been in solitary confinement for more than a year and has undergone torture.

His brother, Hadi Butimar says that his appeal against the sentence was referred to the same judge in Mariwan city, who confirmed it for a second time.

This is totally unacceptable, and shows the summary and arbitrary nature of executions in Iran. How can an appeal case be referred to the same judge?

Full story here

Hadi & Layli receive Journalist Awards for Adnan & Hiwa

2007-12-05T09:04:00.000Z

We are in Italy.
We collected Hiwa and Adnan's Freedom of the Press awards from ISF * on 30.11.2007 in Siena City, Toscani county. On the same day we went to Toscani local parliament in Florence and gave a speech there.

Tomorrow Layli Hasanpur and I are going to Italy's parliament in Rome at 11am.

http://www.isfreedom.org/dossierAdnaneHiwa.htm

* Information Safety and Freedom has the objective of defending press freedom throughout the world, protecting journalists and media users. This means the defence of freedom to inform and being informed.

thanks
Martin Hadi

Message from the families

2007-12-05T08:44:00.000Z

Dear Friends

We would like to thank the Italian human rights group Information, Safety & Freedom for conferring this year’s Freedom of the Press Award to Adnan Hassanpour and Hiwa Butimar.

The presentation of this award comes at a critical time, as both Adnan and Hiwa’s lives are threatened by the Iranian authorities. One week ago the Iranian Supreme Court upheld the death sentence for Adnan, and prolonged the imprisonment for Hiwa.

As families and friends of Adnan and Hiwa, we are grateful for all the support of the human right protectors of Kurdistan, Iran and the rest of the world, in particular the government and non governmental organisations whether they are in Italy, Europe or America.

We would like to take this oppportunity to intensify our efforts, as fellow humans, to demolish the death penalty all-over the world. We hope the case of Hiwa and Adnan could become the milestone for this important step of mankind.

Capital punishment does not serve the cause of peace on our planet; on the contrary, it deepens the feuds, civil unrests and creates hatred, keeping us apart while we need to pursue integration- mankind as one family. Capital punishment and torture alienates the authorities from the very people that they should represent, protect and work for their wellbeing. If this alienation is deepened, the authorities can also become the victim of these conflicts and civil unrests, as we have seen in the case of Iraq. Death and torture must not be a punishment for any crime.

We urge you to support the case of Hiwa and Adnan to be re-tried in a court that complies with international legal standards. No confession should be taken from them as evidence when it is recorded by the means of torture. While Hiwa and Adnan waiting for their final court verdict, they should be able to receive printed materials, including books and newspapers, and their families and friends should be allowed to visit them.

While we urge the Iranian authorities to review their verdict in the case of Hiwa and Adnan, we only wish peaceful coexistence for the peoples living in Iran, which assists the stability of the region and that of the international community.

Thank you,

Butimar and Hassanpour families

Comment from KHRP

2007-12-05T08:40:00.000Z

Dear Participants

The Kurdish Human Rights Project would like to commend the Italian human rights group Information, Safety & Freedom for conferring this year’s Freedom of the Press award to Adnan Hassanpour and Hiwa Butimar.

The Kurdish Human Rights Project is an independent, non-political human rights organization dedicated to protecting and promoting the human rights of all persons living in the Kurdish regions of Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Syria and elsewhere.

The presentation of this award comes at a critical time, as both Adnan and Hiwa’s life are threatened by the Iranian authorities. One week ago the Iranian Supreme Court upheld the death sentence for Adnan, and prolonged the imprisonment for Hiwa.

Despite ongoing international pressure, the Iranian government continues to restrict freedom of expression, exercises the death penalty on a mass scale, as well as torture and other forms of ill-treatment, and detention without trial. In addition, religious and ethnic minorities continue to face systematic discrimination by the state.

The right to freedom of expression in particular remains a key issue in the relationship between Iran and the international community.

KHRP has repeatedly stressed the importance of freedom of expression, calling for Iran to remove restrictions on the freedom of the media, and allow journalists, writers, human rights defenders, students, and women groups to speak freely.

Iran has constantly been under pressure by international human rights organisations with regard to its violation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Iran is a party.

It is important to note that since the Iranian revolution, and particularly since Ahmadinejad came to power in 2005, further restrictions have been imposed on freedom of expression.

Despite internal and external pressure on the Iranian government, the Iranian constitution contains several articles which directly impact the exercising of free opinion and expression in the country. Article 12 of Iranian constitution, requires the press Supervisory Board to ban publications that violate Islamic code. The same article bans publications of articles ‘which might damage the foundation of Islamic Republic’, national security, insulting Islam or defending leader and religious authorities.

Under these legal provisions the Islamic Republic of Iran has imprisoned, tortured, harassed and even sentenced to death intellectuals, journalists, students, lawyers, political opponents and human rights defenders. The death sentence against Hiwa and Adnan is a recent example of this abuse of human rights in Iran.

The other issue which needs direct attention is the treatment of ethnic minorities in Iran. KHRP has continually highlighted the occurrence of Kurdish oppression in Iran to the international community. Kurds in Iran have been discriminated against throughout Iran’s history. Since the formation of Iranian state in 1924, Iranian government has placed restrictions and boundaries on Kurdish culture and language.

The arrest and subsequent death sentences against Hiwa and Adnan reaffirms this problem. Hiwa and Adnan have been subjected to such harsh treatment by the Iranian authorities due to their journalistic work, and their participation in the human rights movement in Iranian Kurdistan

The death penalty is another issue which needs to be addressed by the international community. Iran has for a long time exercised the death penalty on a mass scale. Within the Kurdish community in particular, death sentences have been widely carried out, to a large scale.

The KHRP urges participants here today to exert influence over Iran to address these and many other issues, and in particular to call for the removal of these unjust sentences for Adnan and Hiwa, as well the numerous other victims of such oppression.

The KHRP urges international human rights organisations to exert influence over Iran to guarantee the right to free speech and the independence of the media, to eliminate discrimination against the Kurds, and to eradicate the death penalty.

The KHRP has monitored and observed several cases related to freedom of expression, including those of Hiwa and Adnan. The evidence from these observations suggests that there remain major difficulties related to free expression in Iran. Therefore we urge international organisations to closely examine the application of the principles of freedom of expression in Iran, and strongly condemn Iran’s actions towards those who do speak out, including their unjustifiable use of torture and the death penalty.

Thank you

C.H.A.K. document

2007-11-16T12:23:00.000Z

http://www.chak.be/pages/Amnesty%20I..Adnan.pdf

Anyone translate?

2007-11-10T22:16:00.000Z

http://www.bbc.co.uk/persian/iran/story/2007/11/071109_mf_kurds.shtml

Tragic News - Hiwa's father has died

2007-10-19T09:08:00.000+01:00

Mr. Ali Butimar, Hiwa Butimar’s father, passed away on Friday morning 12/10/07 due to the pause in a verse in the age of 85. Hiwa Butimar, a journalist and environmental activist has already been sentenced to death by the Iranian revolutionary supreme court and he is anticipating his verdict execution in Sanandaj prison (Capital of Kurdistan Province).

Hiwa’s father, Mr. Ali Butimar, has left this world with great regret after seeing his imprisoned son for the last time. The Iranian Intelligence Service has forbidden any visiting of the family members for their imprisoned son since his capture last winter. Ultimately, due to the pressure of human rights organisations and international demonstrations, the Iranian Intelligence Service agreed with visiting of family members for their son.

Mr. Ali Butimar, was visited his son for a short time, in Sanandaj prison a month ago, but the prison commissioners did not let them to speak directly and face to face. They managed father and Son to speak through a phone line on opposite sides of a thick glass wall, where officers on both sides watched on and tracked their conversation.

This situation had fatal effects on Mr. Ali Butimar, since he was an old man and emotionally destroyed from his son's death sentence, and also the way the jail’s commissioners have treated his imprisoned son. These were coinciding with Hiwa’s hunger strike as a protest against his unfair death sentence and his condition in Jail.

In addition to all these horrendous circumstances for Mr. Ali Butimar, his older son Mr. Hadi Butimar, had to leave Iran as a result of his political activities against the Iranian government, to save his life nearly 6 years ago. He was not able to see his father and be with him in his final moments.

All these difficulties and unpleasant and unbearable events on Mr. Ali Butimar’s family from of Iranian Government, led him to having a stroke and then finally closing his eyes for ever from all these unevenness and injustice which have dominated the Kurdistan area. He was hopeful to see freedom one day and to live in liberty and autonomy.

We are all, as sons of Mr. Ali Butimar, hopeful to live in liberty and autonomy one day, and we are doing our best to achieve this. One day...

Medical attention urgent

2007-10-01T11:34:00.000+01:00

According to the Binar News, since Adnan and Hiwa had been transferred to the Sannandaj Central prison 9 days ago, they are still in a bad situation.

It is stated by their families last Wednesday although adnan and hiwa had been transferred to the central prison, they still have no access to medical treatment and they have been locked in a cell which is full of criminals. They also stated that, despite the existence of a health clinic inside the prison Adnan and Hiwa, unlike other prisoners, are deprived from medical help. Thus, as families of Adnan and Hiwa, we ask the human rights organizations and Red Cross to do their best in order to provide our sons proper medical treatment.

With our regards.

Adnan and Hiwa`s families.

Progress

2007-09-26T08:39:00.000+01:00

Some good news from the brother of Hiwa. A transfer to another jail was something we have been requesting urgently.

"On Sunday 23rd September Adnan and Hiwa were transferred from the intelligence service jail in Sanandaj to a normal jail in same city. They had been on hunger strike for 48 days."

Message from the families

2007-09-20T11:20:00.000+01:00

"As Adnan and Hiwa`s families, we appreciate the sympathy and the support of all those people who joined our campaign against the death penalty of adnan and hiwa. Also we would like to certify that your vote and support have delayed the execution. Although their appeal has been accepted by the Iranian Minstry of Justice, Adnan and Hiwa are still in a bad situation due to their very poor health. They were on a hunger strike for almost 42 days with no access to doctors, and they still have no access to doctors. As a result of the hunger strike their health situation is deteriorating therefore we think that Iranian regime is attempting to implement the death penalty in a different way by not letting Adnan and Hiwa to be seen by a professional health care.

Your sincerely,

Families of Adnan and Hiwa "

European Parliament

2007-09-18T16:02:00.000+01:00

Dear Mr Stovell,

Thank you very much for your email regarding the death sentences of Adnan Hasanpur and Hiwa Butimar.

As a member of the European Parliament's Human Rights and Foreign Affairs Committees, the human rights situation in Iran is of great importance to me.
I have repeatedly voiced my serious concern over the deterioration of the human rights situation in Iran since President Ahmedinejad took office in June 2005, and voted in favour of the Joint resolution on Iran, RC\64011, which calls upon Iran to grant all persons the right to exercise their civil rights and political freedoms. Iranian authorities are expected to fulfil their commitments to promote universal values, which they are also obliged to do by international conventions that it has ratified.

My colleagues and I reminded the Government of Iran of these obligations to safeguard freedom of opinion, and called for the release of all imprisoned journalists and webloggers. We also demanded for the abolition of stoning, strongly condemned the death penalty, and urged
Iran to respect internationally recognised legal safeguards.

In terms of action, we called on Iran to recommence the EU-Iran Human Rights Dialogue with the European Union. The European Council and the European Commission also have a role to play in the human rights situation in Iran, and so the resolution asks of these institutions a
close monitoring of developments in Iran. In doing so, we called upon them to raise concrete cases of human rights abuses as the basic condition for progress in EU-Iran economic and trade relations.

I urged the Commission to make effective use of the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights, the $200m per year fund which I founded, by for example supporting uncensored media.

I would like to thank you for bringing to my attention these two cases of Adnan Hasanpur and Hiwa Butimar- two more cases amongst, unfortunately, far too many.

Thank you once again for contacting me.

Yours sincerely,

Edward McMillan-Scott.

Vice-President of the European Parliament

London Demo

2007-09-18T14:39:00.000+01:00

A recent demo in London protesting Adnan & Hiwa's plight was well attended.

Hunger Strike

2007-09-02T21:06:00.001+01:00

Martin Hadi and family and some friends were showing solidarity with his brother Hiwa and Adnan as they staged a public hunger strike this week in London.

Appeal from Martin Hadi- brother of Hiwa

2007-08-31T09:05:00.000+01:00

"The two imprisoned men have been visited by their solicitors in the Intelligence Services Jail in the city of Sanandaj, the capital of Kurdistan province. According to their advocates they have been on hunger strike since they were moved from Mariwan jail into Sanandaj more than a month ago (40 days) and are therefore in very poor health indeed. The reasons for their hunger strike are the behaviour of Sanandaj Jail commissioners and in order to attract the attention of the Iranian justice authority to change their unfair death verdict.

The solicitors have written to the Sanandaj Jail authority but they have denied any changes in the conditions of the two imprisoned men. The Sanandaj Jail authority has mentioned that any changes in the conditions and circumstances of Mr. Hassanpour and Mr. Butimar are the direct responsibility of the head of the Iranian Justice Faculty, Ayatullah Mahmood Hashemi Sha.

We appeal to the Red Crescent to intervene with the jail authorities and Ayatullah Mahmood Hashemi Sha to allow them to provide medical help for Mr. Adnan Hassanpour and Mr. Abdulwahed (Hiwa) Butimar before their health deteriorates any further. This is extremely urgent please.

Hadi Butimar

zagros2707@yahoo.co.uk

(00447719486669

Hunger Strike

2007-08-18T18:58:00.000+01:00

Adnan & Hiwa have both been hunger striking for 35 days now. They are, as you may imagine, very weak.

We are trying to secure the help of Red Crescent/Red Cross to visit them with medical care and even obtain a transfer to a hospital from the jail in Sanandaj.

Keep campaigning on their behalf. Spread the news of this website. Keep writing letters and emails and if you are a praying person, please bring their case before God.

View this file

2007-08-18T14:51:00.000+01:00

Click here to view a pdf statement from the THE OBSERVATORY for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders' on behalf of Adnan & Hiwa.

We are fully confident of their rigour and integrity as an organisation in cases like this.

(file name: 092 IRN 007_0807_OBS 092.pdf)

Article and comment

2007-08-17T23:01:00.000+01:00

An article from Diana Mukkaled- a prominent and well respected TV journalist in the Arab world

Worth reading.

wow!

2007-08-17T01:12:00.001+01:00

Click here to see the British Embassy in Iran standing with us!

Facebook

2007-08-15T22:38:00.000+01:00

You can join the Free Adnan & Hiwa Facebook group here

BBC Look North

2007-08-15T22:18:00.000+01:00

Great report from Marco Van Belle.

Not August 14th and Not terrorists

2007-08-13T19:23:00.000+01:00

Please note that the period for Adnan & Hiwa's appeal ends on August 20th.

Originally we were led to believe the date for execution was August 14th.
We still have time. Sadly the Iranian government is refusing to bow to international pressure thus far.

We must keep on.

Please disregard comments in the media suggesting that Adnan & Hiwa were connected to an alleged militant group- PJAK. They have not taken up arms against the regime. Many websites and news reports are suggesting that this could be the case. It is not. The Iranian government's media machine is clearly trying to sully the reputations of these good men and 'justify' their illegal imprisoning and execution of journalists who speak up for the rights of minorities and condemn the injustices of a brutal regime.

BBC - at last

2007-08-13T17:44:00.000+01:00

We get some air time on Tuesday from local BBC radio and television:

Tuesday BBC Radio Sheffield news bulletins.

and

Tuesday BBC1 Look North news 20 past and 5 to the hour (from 6am -9am) then 1.30 pm and 6.30pm news.

Thanks Marco & Natatlie.

Yorkshire Post story

2007-08-12T15:24:00.001+01:00

Visit granted for families

2007-08-10T21:32:00.000+01:00

Martin Hadi Butimar, brother of Hiwa, writes about his family's visit to Hiwa.

A pleasing and decent visit, but anxious doubly and unpleasant!

I am pretty sure that you have already been aware so far through Medias about Mr. Adnan Hasan Poor and Mr. Hiwa Butimar two Kurdish journalists and social activists whom have been sentenced to death unfairly and far from justices human right frame work by the Iranian Revolutionary Supreme Court in charge of fighting against GOD! and also acting against Iranian National Security. This verdict of Iranian Revolutionary Supreme Court was accompanied by the Human Rights Organisations, Philanthropists, and noble Kurdish Nation’s reactions in all over the world.

As a results of these global pressures on the Iranian Government and also unlimited persistence of the accused to death youth’s families on the Iranian Revolutionary Supreme Court’s Judges and commissioners, they had agreed with short visiting of the families with their imprisoned sentenced to death youth, whom had been jailed in unknown places since they have sentenced to death which was 26 days ago. Of course during this time, the families were living in bewildered situation without having any news about their sons, whether or not that they are still alive.

For now not just as a Brother of Hiwa Butimar but, it is of my obligation as a human to inform all Medias, Human Rights Organisations, Philanthropists, Noble Kurdish Nation, Liberal Iranians and all democratic states in all over the world, about the current status of Adnan Hassan Poor and Hiwa Butimar and their general health according to the statements of the families after the short visiting of them.

The families were awarded a short visit of their son by the Iranian Intelligence service in Sanandaj Intelligence service’s jail, on Tuesday the August 9^th 2007. the intelligence service commissioners were let 2 members of each families to visit their son while two officers were presented during the visit and they were pictured every moments of their meeting. This appointment have clarified for the families that their son are imprisoned in Sanandaj.

Mr. Adnan hasan Poor and Mr. Hiwa Butimar were mentioned the they have been displaced suddenly from Mariwan Public prisons to Sanandaj Jail 26 days ago without making them aware of their death sentences, and also without attendance of their advocate. They have been undergoing tortures and strict torment in Sanandaj Jail since they have been arrived there, and therefore as an objection against these wild treatments of the Jail wardens, they have been strike from eating since that time. However they have written 3 letters to the Court about their strike and they have delivered them to the Jail commissioner, which none of them has not been handled to the Court yet.

However, they were not informed from their death sentences from date that issued up to last week when they were reading their Death Sentenced Confirmation by the Iranian Justice spokesman in the Jail’s newspaper as his statements were published in the several Daily Newspapers in Iran. After knowing about their death sentences in Newspaper eventually, they have been more deterministic on their strike and persisting on it, which is still continuing. According to the family, they are not in good health conditions and they definitely need medical treatments as soon as possible. Otherwise they are going through more and more weakness and gradual dying from starvation as results of their strike. In additions, the Jail’s Commissioners have denied the medical check up or treatments of them by the Jail’s Doctor.

As families of Mr. Adnan Hasan Poor and Mr. Hiwa Butimar, we are stretching out our hands humbly towards Non Border Physicians Organisation, Humans Right Watch, Humans Right Defenders and all philanthropists in all over the world to help our sons in the Jail.

Hadi Butimar

Zagros2707@yahoo.co.uk

0044 771 948 6669

0044 770 311 2814

Sheffield Star

2007-08-07T13:44:00.000+01:00

Scroll down the Star's community webpage for good coverage of the campaign.

Also, make sure you buy the paper tomorrow (August 8th) for the story.

Thanks Polly.

Freedom of speech a farce in Iran

2007-08-07T11:46:00.000+01:00

Interesting article from Mideast Daily.

Wikipedia joins the campaign

2007-08-07T11:16:00.000+01:00

Try typing "Moharebeh" ("fighting against God") into a Wiki search. It actually mentions Adnan & Hiwa!

A sister's plea

2007-08-07T11:01:00.000+01:00

Leili Hassanpour is the sister of Adnan Hassanpour, a Kurdish activist who has been sentenced to death for “Moharebeh,” a charge often applied to those accused of armed resistance to the state.
Leili told Rooz, “Unfortunately, my brother’s arrest and the subsequent death sentence for him has affected me so much that I have been unable to care for my 19-month old child. My child is now sick and mostly cared for by my neighbors. This is even harder for my mother, because she suffers from heart and bone disease. Also, Adnan was the person who financially provided for my mother, and now she is under a lot of pressure".

Leili continues, “Until the day my brother is freed we will be worried. Right now most of our worries stem from the fact that we are not aware of Adnan’s condition and whereabouts. Even though our house is always full of guests, it still feels dead. We can hear only my mother’s prayers and crying in the house.”

Leili adds finally, “The only thing that consoles us is widespread domestic and international support for my brother. We hope that until this verdict is overturned, the public and human rights organizations won’t leave us alone.”

with thanks to Rooz Online

Right click, copy and post it

2007-08-06T16:00:00.000+01:00

Why not save our campaign logo over in the right column and place it on your blog? It will help raise awareness.

Kurdish Student hunger strike

2007-08-06T10:24:00.000+01:00

Xorhelatnews:

A new wave of hunger strikes was announced in southern Kurdistan, Hawler, capital city of S. Kurdistan.

Dozens of Kurdish students from all over Kurdistan started their hunger strike on Saturday in front of the Kurdish NUJ in the city of Hawler, southern Kurdistan. The hunger strikers are students from southern Kurdistan, northern Kurdistan, eastern Kurdistan and western Kurdistan. The purpose of this strike is the solidarity of the Kurdish nation with the two journalists, who were sentenced to death by the Iranian totalitarian regime in eastern Kurdistan. The strike will last for three days.

Campaign Radio coverage

2007-08-05T09:08:00.000+01:00

Local Sheffield radio station Hallam FM came along to our Sheffield demo on Friday and are airing this (sound only of course!) over the weekend on their news slot.

EU speaks out and says it well

2007-08-04T19:12:00.000+01:00

EU urges Iran not to execute Kurdish journalists

BRUSSELS, Aug 3, 2007 (AFP) - 17h08 - The European Union on Friday called on Iran to halt the executions of two Kurdish journalists convicted for harbouring links to armed groups.

The EU's Portuguese presidency in a statement also voiced concern at collective public executions that have been taking place in Iran recently.

"The EU calls on the Islamic Republic of Iran to halt the executions of Adnan Hassanpour and of Abdolwahed Boutimar and to ensure that the two accused be given a fair trial in accordance with the international human rights convention", the statement read.

The EU also condemned Iran's "increasing recourse to the death penalty" and "the growing repression against all groups which exercise their right to freely express their opinions, in particular in Kurdish and Arab minority regions".

with thanks to The Kurdish Institute of Paris

Will David Milliband, Gordon Brown, David Cameron speak out like this on behalf of all who are free in the UK? If not, why not?

Sheffield Protest- today

2007-08-03T21:21:00.001+01:00

A great success!

Thanks to all who supported and helped in many ways.
Thanks to NUJ, Amnesty, local churches, Kurds from around the region and local organisations and concerned individuals too numerous to mention.

All being well the BBC will air it tonight on Look North.

Nearly 400 signatures were collected on a letter to the Iranian Ambassador.

Here's the afternoon in pictures.

Scottish support... come on English press!

2007-08-03T10:50:00.000+01:00

The Scotsman

Paris Protest

2007-08-03T01:07:00.000+01:00

According to Xorhelat news, on Wednesday more than 250 people gathered in Paris to protest against the death sentences handed down on Adnan and Hiwa.

Participators were from many different organisations, Human Rights organisations, Kurdish and Persian residents in France. They condemned the unfair trial and asked for an immediate release of Hiwa Butimar and Adnan Hassanpour.

In addition to that, three people, representative of the protesters, handed a letter to the United Nation office in Paris demanding that the UN to take urgent action to stop and invalidate the sentence.

Join us in Sheffield today (3rd) outside the Town Hall at 4.30 for our protest.

Kurdish Human Rights Project

2007-08-02T16:32:00.000+01:00

URGENT: KHRP Concerned for Two Kurdish Activists Facing Death Sentence in Iran

KHRP is deeply concerned about the recent sentence handed down to two Kurdish activists by the Iranian courts in July. Journalist Adnan Hassanpur and social activist Hiwa Butimar were sentenced to death after nearly six months in prison where they have faced torture and degrading treatment. They were not represented by their own lawyers, as they were only informed of the trial 24 hours before it was due to begin. Nor did they have enough time to travel to Marivan where the hearing was held. Mr Butimar and Mr Hassanpour were represented instead by a duty solicitor; duty solicitors are widely considered to be agents of the state.

Details:

Hiwa Butimar

The family of Hiwa Butimar was only able to see him two months after the arrest and only in the presence of an intelligence officer. They observed that he had been exposed to physical and emotional torture and noticed clear bruises on his face and hands. We have also been informed that he has been kept in a 1 metre by 1 metre confined cell.

Speaking to KHRP, Mr Butimar’s family expressed their concern over the case. Mr Butimar’s brother Hadi Butimar, who has also experienced imprisonment and torture in Iran, stated that they are ‘imploring the international community to assist them as it is our only glimmer of hope’. He is also worried that his brother has been targeted due to his own experiences with the Iranian regime.

Hiwa Butimar, a journalist, environmental activist and co-founder of The Green Mountains of Kurdistan, an organisation focusing on the environmental issues affecting Iran’s Kordestan region, was arrested in Marivan by two plainclothes Iranian intelligence officers on 23 December 2006 with no information of the charges against him. Following the arrest, it transpired that Mr Butimar was accused of ‘acts against national security and spying for western countries’. In a statement, the Intelligence Department stated that Mr Butimar was a member of the political group PJAK and that he was involved with militia groups secretly acting against the government. The legal documents relating to the charges and trial were not made available to the public or to his family.

Adnan Hassanpur

Mr Hassanpour is a writer and, like Mr Butimar, an enthusiastic journalist for newspapers such as Aso, for which he wrote articles on the plight of the Kurdish peoples. In 2002 Mr Hassanpour published a book about the origin of the Kurds, their history, culture and politics. To KHRP’s knowledge, Mr Hassanpour was not a member of any organisation.

Mr Hassanpour was arrested at his family home on 1 January 2007 by Iranian Intelligence officers. It is unknown how many officers were present. Mr Hassanpour’s mother only returned home in time to see her son being pushed into a car. She cried and shouted and asked to speak to her son, however the officers disregarded her pleas. On returning to the house, she discovered that his books, CDs and computer had been seized.

The family received no information as to where Mr Hassanpour was detained until two months after the arrest. The family were never given the opportunity to visit Mr Hassanpour in prison and therefore have had no direct contact with him since his arrest. The only information that they have received was through one of Mr Hassanpour’s fellow prisoners who told them on his release that Mr Hassanpour had severe bruising on his back and on his arms.

The authorities have provided no information as to the reasons for Mr Hassanpour’s arrest and detention nor the offence with which he has been charged. His family believe that the only explanation for the arrest is Mr Hassanpour’s activities as a journalist and writer on issues relating to the Kurdish peoples and, in particular, the situation of the Kurds in Iran. Mr Hassanpour has no criminal record. No legal documents pertaining to the charges or trial have been made available to the family or to Mr Hassanpour’s lawyers.

Since the death sentences were passed, both Mr Butimar and Mr Hassanpour have been held at an unknown location and neither the family nor the lawyers have been given any information in this regard. KHRP is concerned that the judgment will be implemented within 2-3 weeks if there is no international intervention.

It is of further concern to KHRP that it appears Mr Butimar and Mr Hassanpour were targeted not only for being journalists, but also for being Kurdish. Mr Butimar’s family and legal counsel believe that he has been found guilty by virtue of his ethnicity. Journalists from other groups/nations inside Iran accused of similar activities and harassed by the authorities are branded as ‘Reformists’ whereas if the person in question is Kurdish, they are automatically branded as ‘Separatists’.

Today KHRP has sent an urgent communication to the United Nations on behalf of Mr Butimar and Mr Hassanpour, requesting immediate UN intervention in the matter.

In response to the news of the death sentences, KHRP Executive Director Kerim Yildiz today stated: “the plight of Mr Butimar and Mr Hassanpur is the most recent example of the ongoing policy of kidnapping, torture and execution carried out by the Iranian regime against journalists, political activists and human rights defenders. KHRP condemns the practice of the death penalty under any circumstances. However the passing of a death sentence on the basis of ethnic discrimination, torture and scant evidence is in violation of the most basic principles of international law. KHRP calls on the Iranian authorities immediately to release Mr Butimar and Mr Hassanpur, and calls on international human rights organisations and the international community to join us in the condemnation of these sentences.”

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

Walter Jayawardene/ Mustafa Gündoğdu

Kurdish Human Rights Project,
11 Guilford Street,
London, WC1N 1DH
Tel: +44 20 7405 3835 / khrp@khrp.org

Protest letter

2007-08-02T11:25:00.000+01:00

Click here to download a letter of protest for the Iranian ambassador in London.

Get your friends, colleagues, neighbours and anyone to sign it, then send it off to the Iranian ambassador in London.

Let's deluge him with our concern for Adnan & Hiwa.

Executing our son is sending us toward death

2007-08-01T23:26:00.000+01:00

To: the noble Kurdish Nation, Organisations of Medina, Human Rights Defenders and all Philanthropists all over the World.

Executing our son ( Hiwa Butimar) is sending us toward death and the loss of everything.

We, the parents of Hiwa Butimar stretch out our hands to you all. Hiwa has been imprisoned since 2006 and recently has been sentenced to death unfairly by the Iranian Revolutionary Supreme Court in absence of his solicitor and without advocate. We humbly ask you all to join us to stop our son’s execution by the Iranian Intelligence Service. We are certainly sure that our son was not engaged in any political affairs against the Iranian government. He was a community minded conservationist.

Your help would be ointment on the broken hearts of parents who are awaiting their innocent son's execution in the Intelligence service’s jail of Kurdistan Province.
Our son, Hiwa Butimar, is our essential financial and emotional supporter. Our lives will be ruined without him.
We would deeply appreciate your help to stop our son’s execution. It seems the Iranian Government is increasingly trying to silence people by such executions.

Kind Regards,

Ali and Halima Butimar
parents of condemned prisoner Hiwa Butimar

2007-08-01T17:31:00.000+01:00

Iran Confirms Two Kurdish Reporters Sentenced To Death

Adnan Hassanpur and Hiwa Butimar

(Courtesy Photo)

July 31, 2007 (RFE/RL) --

Iran's judiciary today confirmed that two Iranian Kurdish journalists have been sentenced to death for being "enemies of God."

Judiciary spokesman Alireza Jamshidi said they have 20 days to appeal their verdicts.

Hassanpour’s sister today told Radio Farda that her family is deeply concerned about his fate. She said the families have no information about the whereabouts of Hassanpour and Butimar.

“A few days ago, my mother went to Sanandaj. She searched all the prisons of the Information Ministry and the courts, both in Marivan and in Sanandaj, but they told her [Adnan and Butimar] were not with them," she said.

Reporters Without Borders has expressed concern about the death sentences issued against the two Kurdish journalists, and described the rulings as "outrageous and shameful." The group has called for international pressure against Iran to reverse the ruling.

Media rights groups say Hassanpour has written articles on local politics, while Butimar was a member of an environmental group.

Some reports say the two men had contacts with Iranian armed opposition groups. Judiciary officials have said that the two had been involved in “armed struggle “ against Iran’s Islamic establishment.

This article appears on RFE/RL website

Amnesty UK Press release today

2007-08-01T14:05:00.000+01:00

IRAN: KURDISH COUSINS FACE EXECUTION FOR BEING ‘AT ENMITY WITH GOD’

Sheffield man appeals for his brother to be spared hanging

Amnesty International has today called for death sentences against two Kurdish cousins in Iran to be commuted as it issued an “urgent action” appeal on their behalf.

The men, Adnan Hassanpour, a journalist, and Hiwa Butimar, a Kurdish rights activist and environmentalist, both from Iran’s Kordestan province, were sentenced to death last month on charges of espionage and for being “at enmity with god” (Moharebah).

The men were told on 17 July that they had been sentenced to death and yesterday Iran’s judicial authorities confirmed for the first time that death sentences had been imposed. The sentences are subject to an appeal and must then be confirmed by Iran’s Supreme Court.

The original charges, relating to possession of Kurdish flags, videos and photographs of a family trip to Iraqi Kurdistan, reportedly saw the men appearing before a Revolutionary Court in June, a tribunal that falls below international fair trial standards. The Iranian penal code contains a number of vaguely worded “national security” provisions that outlaw activities relating to journalism and freedom of expression. These provisions conflict with international human rights law.

Amnesty International UK Director Kate Allen said:

“Journalism and cultural and environmental activism are lawful activities that should be protected by the Iranian authorities, not persecuted and punished.

“We sincerely hope that the Iranian authorities will listen to our concerns about this case and commute these death sentences.

“After a shameful spate of executions in Iran this year, it’s now vital that Iran takes a step back from judicial killing and imposes a halt on all further executions.”

The brother of one of the men, Hadi Butimar, who lives in Sheffield, said:

“I’m absolutely shocked that my brother Hiwa has been sentenced to death and I’m doing my utmost to prevent his execution. The entire family is desperately hoping that the sentence will get overturned on appeal. Our main hope is that the international campaign can save him.”

At least 143 people have already been executed in Iran so far this year, an execution rate in excess of even that in 2006, when a minimum of 177 people were executed making the country the second highest user of the death penalty in the world.

Executions have been carried out for a range of offences, including a case earlier this month when a man was stoned to death for “adultery”. The woman in the same case remains under a death by stoning sentence.

In a separate case, a teenager recently came within hours of being hanged before the execution was postponed following an international outcry and moves to pay “blood money” to the victim’s relatives.

The “urgent action” appeal on behalf of Adnan Hassanpour and Hiwa Butimar can be found at www.amnesty.org.uk/cases

A campaign for Adnan Hassanpour and Hiwa Butimar has also been set up by supporters of the men in the UK: www.adnanhiwa.blogspot.com

ENDS

Amnesty International UK media information:

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ed.

Thanks Amnesty. We're very grateful for all you do.

n.b. Please note everyone though, that Adnan and Hiwa are not cousins. This is inaccurate.

BBC - at last!

2007-07-31T23:14:00.000+01:00

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6925016.stm

Martin's appeal

2007-07-31T03:13:00.000+01:00

WE'RE BACK

2007-07-30T19:02:00.000+01:00

We're back in business!

Thanks Blogger for putting us back on.

Join us, everyone :

Friday August 3rd in front of Sheffield Town Hall
from 16.30 until 18.00.
A peaceful protest for Adnan & Hiwa.
Bring everyone who will come.
Children welcome.

Email Iran's President!

2007-07-26T22:16:00.000+01:00

You'll find a simple form to use to present your appeal to His Excellency Mahmoud Ahmadinejad here.
Let's appeal courteously and rationally.

Amnesty International's recommended action

2007-07-26T21:59:00.000+01:00

RECOMMENDED ACTION FROM AMNESTY :
Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in Persian, Kurdish, English and French or your own language :

• expressing concern that Adnan Hassanpour and Abdolwahed (Hiwa) Butimar have been sentenced to death;
• urging the authorities to commute these death sentences immediately ;
• acknowledging that governments have a responsibility to bring to justice those suspected of criminal offences, but stating your unconditional opposition to the death penalty, as the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment and violation of the right to life ;
• asking for full details of the charges and evidence against Adnan Hassanpour and Abdolwahed (Hiwa) Butimar and expressing concern that their trial may not have met international standards for fair trial, which are especially important in capital cases ;
• calling on the authorities to ensure that neither is tortured or ill-treated ;
• calling for Adnan Hassanpour and Hiwa Butimar to be allowed immediate and regular access to their families, lawyers of their own choosing and any medical treatment they may require.

APPEALS TO :
Leader of the Islamic Republic
His Excellency Ayatollah Sayed 'Ali Khamenei,
The Office of the Supreme Leader
Shoahada Street, Qom, Islamic Republic of Iran

Fax : +98 251 774 2228 (mark FAO Office of His Excellency Ayatollah al Udhma Khamenei)
Salutation : Your Excellency Head of the Judiciary

His Excellency Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi
Ministry of Justice, Park-e Shahr, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Salutation : Your Excellency

COPIES TO :
President
His Excellency Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
The Presidency, Palestine Avenue, Azerbaijan Intersection, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Fax : + 981 6 674 790 (Mark « Please forward to H.E. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad »)

via website : www.president.ir/email
Salutation : Your Excellency Governor of Kurdistan

Esmail Najjar
Email : In Persian and Kurdish, send via feedback form on the website :
http://www.ostan-kd.ir/Default.aspx...

In English, French or your other languages, use the feedback form on the website :
http://en.ostan-kd.ir/Default.aspx?...

Salutation : Dear Governor Ambassade de la République islamique dIran
Avenue Franklin Roosevelt 15
1050 Bruxelles
Fax : 02.762.39.15

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY.

This appears in a pdf document viewable here.

I love him more than my own eyes

2007-07-26T21:48:00.000+01:00

Haj Khanoum, as she is known, is the mother of a Kurdish journalist who has been sentenced to death: Adnan Hassanpour.

Her real name is Aisheh Imani, and she says, “My blood is tied to Adnan’s blood. If anything happens to him no one knows what will happen to me.” Here are the excerpts of an interview Rooz Online had with Haj Khanoum.

Rooz (R): Haj Khanoum, when did you hear that your son was sentenced to death?
Aisheh Imani (AI): Last Tuesday.

R: How did you react when you heard the news?

AI: I couldn’t move. I couldn’t eat for two days, and only cried. Right now all of my friends and relatives are around me trying to console me.

R: When was the last time that you were able to see Adnan?
AI: It was Tuesday July 15. An hour after our meeting they removed Adnan from prison and transported him to an unknown location. That day Adnan was very normal and like himself. He was not aware of the verdict or plans to take him somewhere else.

R: Why do you think your son is sentenced to death?

AI: I think that this sentence is unjust. The hands of some people is involved in this case…

R: Who do you live with right now? Who runs your family’s affairs?

AI: Right now I am taking care of my family, and I live with my other son who is younger than Adnan.

R: What kind of a son is Adnan?
AI: He is calm, educated, and wise. I am very happy with him. I love him more than my own eyes.

R: Tell us about Adnan’s childhood. What kind of a child was he?

AI: He was calm and adorable. He never hurt anyone. He was always reading books and newspapers. Whenever he read for a few hours he would get so happy. He would come out of his room and joke around. Whenever he was mad about something he found solace in reading.

R: How has this court sentence changed your life?

AI: The judgement has affected all of our lives. All we do is cry and be sad. My blood is tied to Adnan’s blood. If the verdict is carried out I don’t know what would happen to me. I would also die.

R: Did you ever think your son will be sentenced to death one day?

AI: Never.

R: What is your biggest wish right now?

AI: My only wish is for my son to be released.

R: If you could say something to the judge in this case what would it be?

AI: I would tell him that the unjust judgment was not his because this is not the judgment of a judge!

R: How has the public reacted to the sentence?

AI: Every day about one hundred people call our house. Our house is always full of guests. Everyone is worried and feels our pain.

R: What do you want to ask officials and human rights organizations?

AI: I ask officials to review this case in a just manner. I also extend my hand for the help of human rights organizations. I only ask them not to leave us alone.

Worth a try...

2007-07-25T21:10:00.001+01:00

I don't know what good it will do, but let's do it...

EVERYONE EMAIL AND WRITE TO THE IRANIAN AMBASSADOR

stating in your own words in a very balanced and rational way that we utterly oppose their sentencing to death of Adnan Hassanpour & Hiwa Butimar and that it massively damages Iran's relationship with us in the West. Let's show them we know and call them to stop.

info@iran-embassy.org.uk

Embassy:

The Iranian Ambassador H.E. Mr Rasoul Movahedian

Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran
16 Prince´s Gate
London SW7 1PT

My cousin is to be hanged in Iran

2007-07-24T14:03:00.000+01:00

Ata Hassanpour received the shocking news on Wednesday: his cousin is to be hanged back home in Iran.

"I just talked with the Adnan’s mother on the phone. She cried all the time and she wants to commit suicide if he is hanged", says Ata Hassanpour quietly.

He sits in the living room in Fyllingsdalen and smokes while staring into the air. In his hand he holds a paper napkin. Less than 24 hours ago he received an email which shocked the family in Norway. Ata’s cousin, 25 year old Kurdish journalist and author Adnan Hassanpour had been sentenced to death by a so-called Revolutionary Tribunal in Iran.

Wrote about Kurdish history
According to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Adnan Hassanpour was convicted together with a well known Kurdish activist, Hiwa Butimar. Both were sentenced to death for crimes against the national security of Iran.

"It is not true. All Adnan has ever done is write articles about the repression of Kurds in Iran. He wrote a book about Kurdish history. That is why the soldiers came and arrested him", Ata Hassanpour says.

Together with his sister Serweh he has lived in Norway since 2003. They had to flee from Iran because they were advocating the plight of the Kurds. Other members of the family have moved to Kurdistan, Iraq. Adnan Hassanpour stayed in his hometown of Mariwan, where he worked as a journalist at the weekly magazine ‘Aso’. The magazine was closed by the Iranian authorities in August 2005. On 25th January this year, Adnan was arrested by six agents from the Iranian Intelligence Agency.

In isolation for two months

"They called and asked him to come outside the house. They arrested him without telling him what his alleged crime was. For two months he had no contact with his mother", Ata and Serweh say.

"Neither Adnan’s lawyer have been informed about the case. They were never told about his death sentence. In Iran lawyers have no real power. They cannot influence the case", Ata says.

He has no faith in the Iranian judiciary. That his cousin received the death penalty nevertheless came as a shock.
"We thought he would get 2-3 years imprisonment. Not that he would be hanged for telling the truth and helping people", Ata and Serweh say.

International PEN writes on their web-site that the arrest of Adnan might have been motivated by an interview he gave to the radio station Voice of America. The arrest has attracted some international attention. Both PEN, which works for freedom of speech globally, and Amnesty International, have become involved in a campaign to free Adnan Hassanpour.

Ask for help from Norway

After she received news of the death sentence, Adnan’s sister Leila, who lives in Kurdistan, Iraq, has started an e-mail campaign in order to engage countries and international organisations so that they can put international pressure on the Iranian authorities. Ata hopes that the Norwegian authorities will help in this campaign, and call for the death sentence to be revoked.

"It is terribly difficult to be sitting here in Norway without being able to do anything. I beg of Norway, as a democratic country, to raise this case with Iran. It is important that someone protests against this case", he says.

Nobody knows when the death sentence will be carried out. Ata thinks it will be a date during next week. He has not thought of anything else, since he heard about the sentence.

"My thoughts are in Mariwan. I grew up in the same street as Adnan. We are as brothers", he says.

This article originally appeared here in Norwegian (translated for this site by Khalid Khedri)

Rapid action for those sentenced to death

2007-07-24T12:05:00.000+01:00

Amnesty is initiating a world-wide rapid action plan in order to save journalist Adnan Hassanpour who is sentenced to death.

A message will be published on our e-mail network, reaching more than 100,000 activists says Lisa Sivertsen from Amnesty International’s headquarters in London.

After BT (Bergens Tidende) yesterday mentioned the death sentence for Adnan Hassanpour, who has family in Fyllingsdalen and at Laksevåg, Sivertsen contacted Amnesty’s head quarter in London.

Not too late.
The researcher (Sivertsen) has had the death sentence confirmed by sources in Iran. "It is common practice in Iran that the death penalty is reaffirmed by the Supreme Court. We are campaigning for the reverse of the verdict", Sivertsen says.

Lately, Amnesty has noted an abundance of violations of human rights in Iran, and they fear that 25 year old Adnan has been tortured. During his time in prison he has been denied contact with his family.
"The situation is getting worse for all types of activities, whether by journalists, union members, women’s activists or others in opposition to the state authorities", says Sivertsen.

"International protests save lives", Eva Stabell, member of the International Union of Journalists points out.

"Through campaigns and actions we have prevented the executions of journalists. But that is only executions in public, we don’t know how many are in prison or are tortured", says Stabell.

Statoil has to pressure Iran

She thinks that the Norwegian Foreign Ministry, and Statoil and Hydro (Petrol companies) should pressure the Iranian authorities in order to stop the persecutions.
"Companies owned by the Norwegian state have to impose conditions such as freedom of expression when doing business with regimes such as Iran. I don’t know which conditions they have imposed on the corporation with Iran, but sometimes one might have to raise the threshold", Stabell says.

Since 2002 Statoil has been involved in a billion dollar project for the storage of gas in Iran.

Information director in Statoil Jone Stangeland says that the company are imposing strict conditions on the corporation with Iran.

"But in cases like this that are not connected to our company we think that they need to be discussed at diplomatic level by the Norwegian authorities", he says.

Why can Statoil not impose conditions on Iran?

Our view is that we have a limited engagement in Iran, and that the protection of fundamental human rights has to be discussed by the Norwegian authorities, says Stangeland.

Foreign Ministry concerned

The Norwegian Foreign Ministry will now investigate the case.
"Norway is concerned about the situation of human rights in Iran, where there is an increase in the use of the death penalty. This is a question that Norway should raise with Iran on a regular basis. In this specific case we have asked the Norwegian Embassy in Tehran to investigate the factual circumstances", says deputy director in the Foreign Ministry Bjørn S. Jahnsen.
"If it is the case that the journalist has been convicted because of his work as a journalist, we will raise the case with the Iranian authorities", says Jahnsen.

BT tried several times to get a comment from the Iranian an Embassy in Oslo, but had no luck.

This article originally appeared here in Norwegian (translated for this site by Khalid Khedri)

Iran's track record- abominable

2007-07-23T20:18:00.000+01:00

With a total of eight journalists currently detained, Iran continues to be the Middle East’s biggest prison for the press and one of the world’s ten most repressive countries as regards freedom of expression in the media. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is on the Reporters Without Borders list of the world’s 34 worst “press freedom predators.” Since he became president in August 2005, the authorities have cracked down hard on journalists. The situation is especially fraught in the Kurdish northwest.

- Reporters Without Borders, 23 July

Global awareness and action

2007-07-22T17:03:00.000+01:00

Protests have been organized in Germany:

23/07/2007 in front of the Iranian Embassy- Frankfurt
24/07/2007 Bremen
27/07/2007 Hanover

Open Letter from Hiwa's niece in Sheffield

2007-07-22T16:37:00.000+01:00

Hiwa Butimar

Dear Amnesty  International,

Can you please help us. My  uncle is in prison for what he believes and I miss him a lot because when I was  little he always looked after me like a dad. That’s because my dad was also in  prison for what he believed too.

Once my dad was in prison  for 12 month then 5 months, and a lot more times And it all adds up to more than  5 years. And I’m only 12 years old. I’ve lived with uncle Hiwa for half of my  live I always called him dad and I love him as much as I love my real  dad.

He is a good man he was  working for a Green NGO. And I love him and I miss him so does my little  brother, called Shiwan. He is 9 years old.
 

I hope that you can help us  to get my uncle out of prison. Thank you very  much.

Juwan (12) and Shiwan (9) Butimar, UK

Open Letter from Members of the Swedish Parliament

2007-07-22T01:41:00.000+01:00

Click here to download a pdf from Members of the Swedish Parliament opposing the death sentence of Adnan Hassanpour.

(you will need to wait 30 seconds)

Open Letter from Hiwar's wife- Hero

2007-07-22T01:20:00.000+01:00

An open letter from Mrs Hero Danish, legal partner of Mr Hiwa Butimar, to the European Union; Federation of Kurdistan journalists; International Federation of journalists; Amnesty International; Human Rights Watch; Reporters Without Borders; United Nations and European Greenpeace.

My husband was arrested by the Iranian intelligence service on the 23/12/2006 in the city of Mariwan, Kurdistan north east of Iran. My husband experienced all kinds of mistreatment and torture during his imprisonment in an Iranian intelligence prison. In addition to that, we were not aware of his location, and were not allowed to visit him.

On the 17/ 07/2007 the Iranian Revolutionary Supreme Court in the city of Mariwan unfairly sentenced my husband to death. Although I am a legal partner of Mr. Hiwa Butimar and I have documents to demonstrate my claim, the Iranian Supreme Court stated in the verdict that Hiwa is single.

As a result of this unfair verdict, I ask all humanitarian organisations throughout the world to take urgent action in order to halt the execution of my husband.

I will appreciate all your supports

Your sincerely:

Hero Danish

legal partner of Mr. Hiwa Butimar

London Protest 26th July

2007-07-22T01:05:00.000+01:00

From Martin (Hadi) Butimar brother of the victim Hiwa Butimar who was unjustly sentenced to death by the Islamic Supreme Court in Iran.

Dear:
Human Rights activists
Civilized people and other ethnicities in the U.K.
Environmentalists
Students
Journalists

on the 26th/07/2007 there will be a protest in London in front of the Iranian Embassy between 13:00-15:00pm.

The purpose of this peaceful demonstration is to oppose the death sentence of Adnan and my brother Hiwa, who were sentenced to hang by the Islamic Supreme Court.
We have organized a peaceful protest in order to give them and their families our sympathy and support and to let the world know we stand against such injustice.

we appreciate your support:

-- Martin( Hadi) Butimar and Kurdish community in the U.K

If you can need more information, please contact Khalid :

camanjar@yahoo.co.uk

mob. 07872924813

Do they know?

2007-07-21T00:34:00.000+01:00

Does your MP and MEP know about this travesty of justice?

Write to them: www.writetothem.com

Point them to this website and urge them to stand with us.

Join the campaign

2007-07-20T23:51:00.000+01:00

Adnan Hassanpour and Hiwa Butimar are to be hanged for crimes described by the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Court as "Propaganda against the Islamic Republic government, and acts against national security".

Adnan was arrested on January 25^th. He was first told that he was convicted of spying. He was a member of the editorial board of the weekly "Assu," which covered the situation in Iran's Kurdistan Province. The paper was shut down by authorities in August 2005.

Hiwa Butimar is a member of an environmental organization that co-ordinates teams of volunteers in order to clean up the environment through conservation activities such as litter picking. This group was founded by Hiwa’s brother, Hadi Butimar, a journalist who was forced to flee the Iranian regime and is now living as a refugee in Sheffield, UK. A Kurdish flag found in Hiwa's possession and videos promoting care for the local environment have jeapordised his situation.

Adnan Hassanpour and Hiwa Butimar have spent the last six months in a prison in Marivan with no access to a lawyer and were not allowed to be visited by their families. On the 17^th of July 2007 they were both sentenced to death by the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Supreme Court in Mariwan.

There are strong reasons to doubt the fairness of the trial. For example, the case was heard and a verdict reached without the two men having any legal representation present in the court. Their lawyers have said that they will appeal the death sentences.

The execution is due to take place on the 14^th August.

We need your support to help these men and their families. Please post your comments and write your letters. Coming soon will be some ideas for ways of getting involved.