Iran: Political Prisoner in Imminent Danger of Execution After His Appeal Was Rejected

Ramin Hossein Panahi’s lawyer and family announced that his appeal was rejected by Iran’s Supreme Court.

His brother, Amjad Hossein Panahi, told IHR, “My brother’s appeal has been rejected and he may get executed in the next few days or weeks. I think no matter how many times we file an appeal, he will be sentenced to death again because security agencies in Tehran decide this case.”

In an interview with IHR, Hossein Ahmadi Niaz, the political prisoner’s lawyer, confirmed the rejection of Ramin Hossein Panahi’s appeal.

Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, the spokesperson for IHR, had earlier said, “Ramin Hossein Panahi has been sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court through an unfair trial. His death penalty is not only inhumane but also illegal due to lack of a fair trial, and it should be stopped immediately.”

Iran Human Rights urges Human Rights Institutions to pay special attention to Ramin Hossein Panahi’s situation. Now that the judicial authorities have refused to consider his lawyer’s several appeals, Ramin’s only hope for being saved from execution is the international community’s attention.

Ramin Hossein Panahi was shot and arrested by the agents of the Revolutionary Guard on Friday, June 23, 2017. The IRGC agents claimed that he was armed, but Ramin’s family claim otherwise. This prisoner was transferred to Sanandaj central Prison on January 9, 2018, after spending 200 days in the custody of the Intelligence Organization of Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution and the Ministry of Intelligence.

Ramin Hossein Panahi's trial was held on January 15, 2017. He was sentenced to death in the first session on the charge of "rebellion against the regime, acting against the national security, and being a member of Komala Party of Iranian Kurdistan." His execution was approved by branch 39 of the Supreme Court on Tuesday, April 10 after which his layer requested a retrial.

It should be noted that Ramadan (observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting) will be over in a few days. The process of executions is usually stopped in Ramadan but it starts again after the end of the month. It is concerning that Ramin Hossein Panahi's execution may be carried out after Ramadan.