A Report on the Latest Situation of Rafiq Salimi, a Kurdish Labor Activist in Sanandaj Central Prison
Hengaw: Thursday, September 26, 2024
Rafiq Salimi, a Kurdish labor activist and one of the detainees of the "Woman, Life, Freedom" movement, who is imprisoned in Sanandaj Central Prison, had been sentenced to ten years of imprisonment by the second branch of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Court in this city, presided over by Judge Taqizadeh, on charges of "moharebeh” (waging war against God). His sentence has been reduced to nine years after he submitted to the court's ruling. Since his arrest, he has been deprived of access to medical treatment and the right to leave.
According to a report received by the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, the 10-year sentence of Rafiq Salimi, a Kurdish labor activist from Sanandaj, has recently been reduced to 9 years after submission to the court's decision. During his detention in the Intelligence Detention Center and Sanandaj Central Prison, he has been deprived of leave and medical treatment, despite suffering from multiple physical disorders.
During more than 50 days of detention at the Iranian Intelligence Detention Center in Sanandaj, he was subjected to severe physical and psychological torture. Despite sustaining injuries to his shoulder and ear as a result of the torture, no action was taken to provide him with treatment, either inside or outside the prison.
The trial session for Rafiq Salimi's charges was held on July 16, 2023, via video conference, and the second session was postponed for 15 days, to be held on July 31. On April 16, 2023, he was also accused by the second branch of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Court in Sanandaj, presided over by Judge "Taqizadeh," of "creating illegal groups and acting against national security" and "corruption on Earth," charges that he had denied during the court session.
On Monday, November 28, 2022, Rafiq Salimi, along with his son Fouad Salimi, was arrested by the Iranian security forces at his son's workplace and transferred to the Sanandaj Intelligence Detention Center. During this period, they were denied access to a lawyer and meetings with their family.
Finally, on Wednesday, January 18, 2023, after more than 50 days of detention at the Sanandaj Intelligence Detention Center, Rafiq Salimi was transferred to Sanandaj Central Prison. Fouad Salimi was temporarily released from Sanandaj Central Prison on Sunday, January 8, 2023, after posting a bail of one billion tomans, pending the completion of the judicial process.
