Iran sentences two Kurdish journalists to death

Kurdish activists Hiwa Butimar and Adnan Hasanpoor have had their appeals rejected and have been sentenced to death by Iran’s Revolutionary Court, the Iranian Minorities’ Human Rights Organisation (IMHRO) reported on April 18, 2008.

Sources:Iranian Minorities’ Human Rights Organisation (IMHRO)Defend InternationalTwo Kurdish journalists and activists, Hiwa Butimar (29) and Adnan Hasanpoor (27), have been sentenced to death by branch number one of the Revolutionary Court in Mariwan city, for a second time. They were found guilty of ‘moharebe’ (taking up arms against the Islamic state) and espionage.

NAAJA urges Iran to revoke the death sentences and to release the two men. We also urge Iran to remove censorship and restrictions on the Iranian media and call for more openness and freedom of speech for all Iranians.

For more information on Butimar and Hasanpoor, visit: www.MidEastYouth.com.

NAAJA