Kurdish Kolbar Edris Ali Sentenced to Death Based on Torture-Tainted Confession

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, Edris Ali, a 32-year-old Kurdish kolbar (human mules who carry goods across the border), was sentenced to death for charges of efsad-fil-arz (corruption on earth) through espionage for Israel by Branch 3 of the Urmia Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Reza Najafzadeh.

An informed source told IHRNGO: “Edris Ali was a kolbar in the Sardasht border region. He was arrested for having a load full of alcohol by security forces. There were eight defendants in the case who were all kolbarsfrom Sardasht, Bukan and Saqqez. Five were later released on bail, three remain behind bars but the charges against the other two are unknown.”

“Edris Ali was physically tortured to force confessions, he even confessed to working for Israel which is not true. He was a victim of trumped up charges by the Ministry of Intelligence (MOIS), his only crime was to smuggle alcoholic drinks as a kolbar. In Urmia MOIS detention, he was told that he was carrying alcohol and would be released but he’d have to repeat what they said first. Edris repeated everything they said in front of the camera, he said he was carrying documents in his alcohol load that he was to give to Israel. Now, they’ve sentenced Edris to death based on this forced confession. All three defendants have been threatened not to talk about their case. Edris is the only one of the three to be held in the political ward and the other two are held in the ordinary crime wards,” the source added.

Edris was denied access to a lawyer throughout the interrogation phase and trial.

It should be noted that in the past, people like Maziar Ebrahimi have confessed to espionage and carrying out assassinations for Israel which were later proven to be false.