Behrouz Alkhani and Five Others Executed in Urmia Prison

Behrouz Alkhani, sentenced to death by Iran for the assassination of the prosecutor of Khoy and for collaborating with the "PJAK" group, has been executed in Urmia prison despite Amnesty International's request to halt the execution due to the uncertainty surrounding his appeal. Alkhani's family reported this to the Kurdish Human Rights Defenders Association on the morning of September 4. The website of the Kurdish Human Rights Defenders Association quoted an "informed source" stating that five other individuals executed were convicted of drug-related offenses. In addition to Amnesty International, Alkhani's family had also called for a halt to the death sentence and for waiting for the outcome of the appeal regarding him. Amnesty International stated on Tuesday that "the execution of a prisoner while awaiting the outcome of an appeal violates Iranian laws as well as international laws." Previously, the Supreme Court had annulled his sentence once. After that, the appeals court again sentenced him to death, which was also appealed, and his family stated that the accused was awaiting the outcome of the appeal and the final ruling of the Supreme Court. In August 2012, the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran reported that 28 residents of western Iran, including those accused of membership in Kurdish parties such as "PJAK," were facing the death penalty or were in the appeal stage. The Party of Free Life of Kurdistan, PJAK, is recognized by the Islamic Republic as a terrorist group. Alkhani's name was mentioned at that time, and it was stated that his charges included "participation in the assassination of the prosecutor of Khoy," Vali Haj Qoli Zadeh. Last year, a hunger strike by Behrouz Alkhani and several other prisoners in Urmia Central Prison drew reactions from 21 human rights organizations. These organizations, which include figures like Shirin Ebadi, Hadi Ghaemi, and Shadi Sadr, called for addressing the "safety and health conditions" of 27 Kurdish political prisoners. In December of the same year, Amnesty International expressed concern over the "threat" from Iranian officials to "accelerate" the execution of Behrouz Alkhani and nine other Kurdish prisoners. Another individual whose situation raised concerns at that time was Saman Nasim, who was reported to have been arrested at the age of 17 and "confessed under torture." In the previous month, conflicting reports about his execution were published.