Iran Denies Open Prison and Medical Leave for Kurdish Political Prisoner Hassan Bahari After Four Years of Incarceration

Hengaw; Tuesday, May 28, 2024

Hassan Bahari, a Kurdish political prisoner from Saqqez, despite serving nearly four years of his 12-year sentence, has faced opposition from the judiciary of the Islamic Republic of Iran regarding his request for conversion to open prison and medical leave.

According to a report received by the Hengaw Human Rights Organization, Hassan Bahari, a Kurdish political prisoner from the village of Siyah Dareh in the Saqqez area, has served about four years of his 12-year sentence, yet his request for conversion to open prison has been denied.

Informed sources state that the denial of medical leave for Hassan Bahari comes despite him suffering from diabetes and high blood pressure, conditions that have caused severe inflammation during his imprisonment.

Documents obtained by Hengaw indicate that Hassan Bahari, 58 years old and father of six, was previously sentenced by Branch 1 of the Saqqez Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Javad Mostafaei, to 12 years and 7 months for "membership in the Kurdistan Freedom Party," 6 months and 1 day for "propaganda against the government," and 8 months for "propaganda for the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan."

By applying the law of combining sentences, the harshest punishment, equivalent to 12 years in prison, was declared executable for Hassan Bahari.

It is noteworthy that Hassan Bahari was arrested by the security forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran in early 2020 and was subsequently transferred to Saqqez Central Prison.