Exclusive: Davood Abdollahi Transferred to Solitary Confinement; Risk of Execution Looms

A knowledgeable source informed Voice of America that Davood Abdollahi, a 41-year-old Sunni prisoner sentenced to death, was transferred to solitary confinement in Qazalhessar prison in Karaj on Tuesday, December 26, raising concerns about the imminent execution of his sentence. This transfer has heightened the anxiety of his family and loved ones due to his death sentence. Abdollahi has been sentenced to death in a joint case with several others, two of whom, Qasem Abasteh and Ayoub Karimi, have been executed in recent weeks. This Sunni prisoner has been incarcerated for 14 years on charges of 'corruption on earth,' but human rights sources have described the handling of his case as 'unjust.' Following the murder of Mullah Abdul Rahim Tina by unknown individuals in October 2008, seven Sunni citizens, including Abdollahi, were arrested in connection with this case on charges of involvement in the murder. Abdollahi was arrested in 2009 and after 14 months of uncertainty in Evin and Urmia prisons, he was transferred to Rajai Shahr prison in Karaj in 2011. Ultimately, he was moved to Qazalhessar prison this August. Abdollahi and six other Sunni prisoners were sentenced to death in March 2016 by Branch 28 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Tehran, presided over by Judge Mohammad Mogheiseh. This sentence was overturned by the Supreme Court under Ali Razini. The cases were referred back for reconsideration to Branch 15 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Tehran, and their court session was held from June 17 to 19, 2019. Judge Abolqasem Salavati again issued death sentences for them. The case was referred again to Branch 41 of the Supreme Court, headed by Judge Ali Razini, which ultimately upheld the death sentences of Anvar Khazari, Kamran Sheikhe, Farhad Salimi, Qasem Abasteh, Khosrow Basharat, Ayoub Karimi, and Davood Abdollahi on February 3, 2020. The death sentences of Qasem Abasteh on November 5 and Ayoub Karimi on November 29 of this year were carried out in Qazalhessar prison in Karaj. Human rights organizations consider these actions a blatant violation of international human rights commitments and the right to life, calling for an immediate halt to the execution and a review of the remaining individuals' cases. Concerns are rising over the imminent execution of several political prisoners; report by Rosita Irandoost. The wife of Ahmadreza Jalali told Voice of America: 'They are torturing him with the stress of the execution.' Errors and contradictions in the death sentences of Mojahid Korkor and Reza Rasayi were discussed in an interview with Moein Khazaeli. A human rights organization reported the beating of Mojahid Korkor in Shiban prison in Ahvaz. The Iran Human Rights Organization: The international community must act to 'stop the execution' of Iranian protesters.