Kaboudvand, Founder of the Kurdistan Human Rights Organization, Released After Ten Years

The Kurdistan Human Rights Organization announced that Mohammad Sadiq Kaboudvand, the founder of this organization, was released from Evin Prison on Friday, May 22, after ten years of imprisonment. The organization also stated that Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code regarding Mr. Kaboudvand's six-month prison sentence has not yet been implemented, and until the resolution of this case, he has been released on bail. Mr. Kaboudvand was sentenced to ten years in prison for various charges and six months for 'propaganda against the regime.' According to Article 134 of the new Islamic Penal Code, although the judge issues independent punishments for each crime, the more severe punishment must be executed during the enforcement stage. Mohammad Sadiq Kaboudvand, who established the Kurdistan Human Rights Organization in the early 2000s, was arrested in 2007. He was also the editor-in-chief of the 'Payam-e Mardom' publication, which was also suspended in 2004. Ultimately, Mr. Kaboudvand was sentenced to ten years for 'actions against national security' through the establishment and administration of the Kurdistan Human Rights Organization and six months for 'propaganda against the regime.' He went on hunger strikes several times during his imprisonment. In May 2016, Mr. Kaboudvand went on hunger strike in protest against what he called 'the formation of a new judicial case with fabricated charges' and 'the non-implementation of the aggregation of crimes regarding his sentences.' Previously, Parinaz Baghan Hassani, Mr. Kaboudvand's wife, reported that he was summoned to the prosecutor's office due to charges such as spreading messages of 'congratulations for the liberation of Kobani' and 'requesting peace between Turkey and the Kurds,' and 'a case is to be formed against him.' She also stated that the aggregation of crimes regarding Mr. Kaboudvand's charges has 'not been implemented contrary to the law.' In previous years, John Kirby, the spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, several international human rights organizations, and some journalists had called for Mr. Kaboudvand's release. However, the officials of the Islamic Republic did not pay attention to any of these requests, and he was not released until the end of his sentence. Mr. Kaboudvand won the British Press Award in 2009 while he was in prison. The statement of this award noted that he played an important role in creating a civil society network for Kurdish youth and activists due to his journalistic and human rights activities.