Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN): Mozaffar Sekaanvand Lakran, a Kurdish civilian from Maku who was arrested in 2012 and sentenced to 20 years in exile in Borazjan/Bushehr Province, has been illegally imprisoned since his transfer to exile.
Mozaffar Sekaanvand was arrested by Security Forces in Shoot district of Maku, on September 24, 2012, and subsequently transferred to Maku prison after a month of interrogation at the Ministry of Intelligence Detention Centre in Maku. His case was then referred to the Revolutionary Court of Khoy following an indictment issued by the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Revolutionary Court.
Branch 1 of Khoy Revolutionary Court issued an order dated October 25, 2013 against Mozaffar Sekaanvand Lakran and two other defendants in the case, Jamal Akhtar Shams and Reza Nasrallah Zadeh, on charges of “moharebeh and corruption on earth” through cooperation with the Free Party of Kurdistan (PJAK). Mozaffar Sekaanvand Lakran was sentenced to exile in Borazjan for 20 years per Articles 186 and 610 of the Islamic Penal Code while another defendant, Reza Nasrallah Zadeh, was sentenced to five years of imprisonment.
On December 10, 2014, the verdict was equally confirmed by Branch 14 of the Supreme Court. Accordingly, Sekaanvand was transferred to Borazjan Prison in Bushehr Province to serve his deportation order. According to his family, this Kurdish civilian has been held in Borazjan Prison since then without the right to visitation and furlough.
Reviewing the preliminary and final sentences of the case, KHRN’s collaborators did not find any court order for prison sentence against Sekaanand wholse former lawyer has expressed concern over the transfer of this Kurdish civilian to the prison in Borazjan following his exile.
It seams Security and judiciary officials have imprisoned Muzaffar Sakanand in exile while relying on part of the court’s judgment which emphasises “ the accused does not have the right to interact with others during the exile period ”. It is noteworthy that the lack of the right to socialise with others during exile is not a legal ground for imprisonment during exile. Moreover, there were major irregularities observed during the process of arrest, torture, compulsory confiscation and proceedings in this case.There are also no prison sentences for accuseds sentenced to exile charged with “Moharebeh and corruption on earth”.
furthermore, as stated in Article 189 of the Islamic Penal Code, the proof of the moharebeh is the confession of the accused with his intention and authority. However, it has been clearly mentioned in the final judgment of this case that the defendant has stated being forced to confess under torture in Maku detention centre during the trial. However, the Supreme Court, which is legally obliged to examine the defendant’s allegation of torture, has not paid any attention to this matter.
A close relative of the Sakanvand has contacted KHRN and expressed his concern over the illegal situation of keeping Sakanand in prison without the right to visit and leave during the past three years. “This Kurdish political prisoner’s family is hoping that reflecting the irregularities of their son’s case forces the judicial authorities to administer justice in this regard.”, the close relative further added.
Meanwhile, Zeinab Sakanvand Lakran, Mozaffar Sakanvand Lakran sister who was charged with murdering her husband, was executed at Orumiyeh Prison on Tuesday, November 13. Married off at the age of 15, Zainab was subjected to physical and psychological violence by her husband whom she killed at the age of 17.
Women’s rights activists and human rights organisations condemn the execution of Zeinab Sekanvand as a victim of the children’s marriage law, domestic violence, lack of legal protection, and unjustified death penalty for committing a crime under the age of 18.
