Kurdistan Human Rights Network(KHRN) has learned that civil activists – Afshin Sheikholeslami , Armin Esperlus, Iraj Rahimzadeh, Fardin Karimi and Arman Vafaie– were sentenced to three months and one day in prison. The hearing was held by branch 1 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Sanandaj, headed by Judge Saeedi.

According to the verdict issued verbally to the lawyers of these prisoners on March 17, all the afore-mentioned activists were all charged with “collusion against national security”,”membership in an opposition group” and “propaganda against the state.”

It is worth mentioning that, due to the current situation of the prisons, the detention period of these activists has been considered as part of their imprisonment sentence.

Environmental activist “Afshin Sheikholeslami Vatani”, was arrested on February 17, 2019, at his parent’s house in the city of Sanandaj. He was released on bail after a month of detention. 

Arman Vafai was also arrested by security forces in Sanandaj on December 17 and released on bail three months later.

Iraj Rahimzadeh, Fardin Karimi and Armin Esperlus were arrested in Sanandaj and Marivan in March last year. Iraj Rahimzadeh and Ferdin Karimi were released on bail on May 9 and March 6 respectively while Armin Esperlus was released on bail on April 23.