July 25, 2007
The International Federation of Journalists today
called for an urgent reprieve for two Kurdish
journalists reported to be facing
the death sentence
after a trial held behind closed doors.
The IFJ has been told by its affiliate in nearby
Iraqi Kurdistan, the Kurdistan Syndicate of
Journalists, that Adnan Hassanpur, who formerly
worked for the magazine ASOW, which has been closed
and banned since August 2005, and his colleague Hiwa
Botemar, a journalist working for the magazine and a
member of an environmental NGO, have been condemned
for subverting national security.
The two men are thought to be political activists
and were accused of writing articles calling for
regime change in Iran.
“If true, this is a shocking denial of justice,”
said Aidan White, IFJ General Secretary.
“Journalists should never been condemned to die for
their work, no matter how challenging that may be to
the authorities. If they have contravened the law
they should be subject to a fair and open trial in
line with international standards of jurisprudence.”
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Kurdish journalists
Adnan Hassanpur and Hiwa Botimar sentenced to death
by the Iranian Islamic regime |
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