Father of Executed Kurdish Prisoner Sentenced to Six Years in Iranian Prison

Hengaw: Wednesday, May 22, 2024

Mashallah Karami, father of the executed Kurdish prisoner Mohammad Mehdi (Komar) Karami, has been sentenced to six years in prison by the Iranian judiciary. Karami was arrested nine months ago.

According to a report received by the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, Karami, a Kurdish resident of Karaj, was recently sentenced by the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Karaj to five years in prison for "consensus and collusion" and an additional year for "acting against the government."

Furthermore, the Iranian government has confiscated and registered all properties, houses, cars, and other assets owned by Karami's family, as reported by Dadeban. Previously, the 2nd Criminal Court of Nazarabad accused Karami of "acquiring illegal property."

Ali Sharifzadeh Ardakani, one of Karami's lawyers, announced that charges of "propaganda activity against the government" and "consensus and collusion with the intention of committing a crime against national security" have been referred to the Islamic Revolutionary Court. The charges related to the 2nd Criminal Court fall under Article 2 of the Law on Aggravation (Collection of Illegal Assets) and Article 9 of the Law on Money Laundering.

Hengaw previously reported that pressure on other members of Karami's family has intensified, with their bank accounts being blocked. Additionally, their confiscated digital devices have not been returned and remain in the possession of the Ministry of Intelligence.

On October 28, 2023, Karami was transferred from the Karaj Intelligence Department's detention center to the central prison in Karaj. A few days before that, Iranian intelligence forces raided his family's home, seizing some of Mohammad Mehdi Karami’s personal belongings.

Karami was arrested on August 22, 2023, by Iranian security forces, who searched his house and confiscated his mobile phone and other personal items before transferring him to Karaj Central Prison.

Mohammad Mehdi Karami, a 21-year-old Kurdish man from Bijar, along with Mohammad Hosseini, was sentenced to death in the so-called "murder" case of Basij member Ruhollah Ajamian. After severe torture, both men were executed at dawn on January 7, 2023. They had been arrested during the Women, Life, Freedom movement.