Status update on three Kurdish political prisoners detained in Baneh Central Prison
Hengaw: Monday, January 13, 2025
Three Kurdish political prisoners from Baneh, identified as Mohammad Karimi, Basit Karimi, and Mohammad Feizi, have now been imprisoned for 1,723 days, serving their lengthy sentences. Approximately one month ago, they were transferred from Sanandaj (Sine) Central Prison to Baneh Central Prison, where they remain deprived of their right to furlough. During their detention, they and their co-defendant, Youssef Ahmadi, were subjected to severe human rights violations, including physical and psychological torture.
According to reports received by the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, Mohammad Karimi (34 years old), Basit Karimi (33 years old), and Mohammad Feizi (34 years old) were convicted of "complicity in rebellion" and have been serving their sentences for over four years and eight months. In September 2023, the First Branch of the Sanandaj Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Saeedi, sentenced Mohammad Karimi to 25 years of imprisonment and Basit Karimi and Mohammad Feizi to 20 years each, resulting in a total of 65 years of imprisonment.
Their co-defendant, Youssef Ahmadi, was sentenced to death on charges of "rebellion" through membership in the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan. These sentences were upheld by Branch 39 of the Supreme Court in the winter of 2023 and officially communicated to the prisoners on September 3, 2023.
The three prisoners were arrested on April 25, 2020, and Youssef Ahmadi was arrested on April 26, 2020, during violent raids by government forces. All four were subjected to severe physical assault during their arrests and endured prolonged detention in the Intelligence Ministry’s facilities in Sanandaj before being transferred to the city’s central prison.
The case against these prisoners was built under conditions of extreme physical and psychological torture. Throughout their detention and court proceedings, numerous violations of their basic rights were reported, including denial of access to legal counsel. The judicial process was heavily influenced by recommendations from security agencies, with sentences issued without adherence to fair trial standards. Since their transfer to Baneh Central Prison, the three prisoners have been denied furlough, a basic right often granted to detainees.
