Four Kurdish political prisoners -“Fuad Vekalati”, “Yousef Sabzi Balkhanklo”, “Suleiman Rastiq Ghezelbash” and “Jafar Meshkini Misranklou”- who have been serving their one-year sentence have been granted a furlough from Maku Prison during the past few days.
Kurdistan Human Rights has obtained information that following the spread of the Coronavirus, the Judiciary has decided to grant leave to Prisoners sentenced to less than five years in prison. These 4 prisoners have been granted to leave on bail.
Prison officials have announced to the four political prisoners that they must report to prison and sign a special form once every 3 days until the end of their furlough.
On May 9, last year, security forces raided the family house of Fuad Vekalati, Yousef Sabzi Balkhanklo, Suleiman Rastiq Ghezelbash and Jafar Meshkini Misranklou in Maku and arrested the four Kurdish civilians. The civilians were severely tortured at the Ministry of Intelligence Detention Centre in Maku for 24 hours and then transferred to another detention centre of the Ministry of Intelligence.
The detainees were interrogated on charges of “propaganda against the state” in social media networks. After a month in solitary confinement, Fuad Vekalati, Yousef Sabzie and Suleiman Raqqel were transferred to Maku Prison. Jafar Meshkini was also interrogated for two months at the Ministry of Intelligence detention centre in Orumiyeh and later transferred to Maku prison. Fuad Vekalati, Yousef Sabzi Balkhanklo, Suleiman Rastiq were released from prison on a bail of 250 million tomans after serving 20 days in Maku prison. Their trial was held at Branch 1 of the Khoy Revolutionary Court, and each of them was sentenced to one year in prison on charges of “propaganda against the state” on social media. The sentences was also upheld at the Orumiyeh Court of Appeal.
Upon the verdict being upheld by the Orumiyeh Court of Appeal, Fuad Vekalati, Yousef Sabzi Balkhanklo and Suleiman Rastiq were taken to Maku Prison in February to serve their one-year sentence.
