Mamosta Mohammad Khezrnejad Sentenced to Death Amid Jin, Jiyan, Azadi Movement
Mohammad Khezrnejad, a prominent Kurdish religious figure from
Hengaw: Saturday, February 10, 2024
Mohammad Khezrnejad, a prominent Kurdish religious figure from Bukan, has been sentenced to death by the Iranian judicial system on charges of "corruption on earth," amidst his involvement in the Jin, Jiyan, Azadi (Woman, Life, Freedom) movement.
According to reports received by the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, the 45-year-old cleric was also handed down a 15-year prison term for "harming the territorial integrity and independence of the country," and an additional one-year imprisonment for "propaganda against the regime." The verdict was delivered by the third branch of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Court in Urmia, presided over by Judge Reza Najafzadeh.
Mohammad Khezrnejad's trial, conducted via video conference, saw him deprived of the right to legal representation. Sources close to his family revealed that the verdict was solely based on reports from the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence, with no opportunity for the cleric to present his defense.
The ordeal began on Saturday, November 19, 2024, during the Jin, Jiyan, Azadi movement, when Mohammad Khezrnejad and his son Yaser Khezrnejad were arrested at their home by Iranian Intelligence Forces. They endured 100 days of harsh detention conditions, including torture and coerced confessions. While his son was eventually released, Mohammad Khezrnejad remained incarcerated.
His arrest came shortly after delivering a speech at Bukan Eftekhari Mosque during a commemoration ceremony for Asad Rahimi, a martyr of the Jin, Jiyan, Azadi movement. In his address, Mohammad Khezrnejad criticized the Iranian government's handling of the protests, leading to his subsequent arrest and legal persecution.
This case underscores the ongoing challenges faced by activists and religious figures advocating for change within Iran, highlighting the need for international attention to protect human rights and ensure fair treatment within the judicial system.
