A collective statement from Kurdish scholars, academics, and students of Saqqez regarding the detention of Saman Pashaei
A group of Kurdish scholars, academics, and students from Saqqez published a statement rega
Hengaw: Friday, August 25, 2023
A group of Kurdish scholars, academics, and students from Saqqez published a statement regarding the arrest of Saman Pashaei, in which they demanded the release of this university professor and former wrestling champion who has been spending the last two months in detention.
According to the report received by the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, in a statement published by Kurdish scholars, academics, and students, they protested the continuing two-month detention of Saman Pashaei and demanded the fulfillment of his legal rights.
In another part of this statement, referring to the continuation of Saman Pashaei's abeyance in the detention center, it is emphasized that his detention "is a kind of stubborn and retaliatory behavior towards the actions of some of his family members abroad."
The signatories of this statement considered the treatment of Saman Pashaei "an attempt to deprive him of teaching and other unfair consequences of this scenario" and added: "If there was a documented crime, it should have been revealed after two months of detention."
Also, in the aforementioned statement, the detention of Saman Pashaei in the detention center is "humiliating and knowingly slanderous to the entire academic and sports community of Kurdistan" and expressed concern about the dire situation of this university professor.
Earlier in a report emphasizing the pressure exerted by the Iranian Intelligence Department in Sanandaj and Saqqez on Saman Pashaei to obtain a forced confession from him, Hengaw wrote: Saman Pashaei has not had access to a lawyer since his arrest and the charges against him have not even been explained.
Saman Pashaei was arrested on Sunday, July 2, 2023, while returning from the city of Sanandaj to his hometown by the Iranian Intelligence forces. These forces then stormed into Saman Pasha's house, searched the house, and confiscated some of his personal belongings.
Saman Pashaei, a graduate of sports physiology and nutrition, a university lecturer, and a member of the American National Academy of Sports Medicine, was transferred to the Iranian Intelligence Department in Sanandaj after his arrest and has been spending 54 days in detention.
