We Demand the Repeal of Hatam Ozdemir’s Death Sentence
333
Signatures
500
Goal
September 20, 2024
Hatam Ozdemir, a Kurdish political prisoner, was sentenced to death in May 2024 by Branch 3 of the Revolutionary Court of Urmia, in West Azerbaijan Province, Iran, presided over by Judge Najafzadeh. He was convicted on charges of “waging war against God” (moharebeh), and in recent days, the Supreme Court has upheld this sentence.
Background
Hatam Ozdemir, a Kurdish citizen of Turkey, was arrested on July 2, 2019, along with several other members of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) near the Chalderan border in West Azerbaijan Province. The group was captured by forces from the Hamza Seyyed al-Shohada military base, affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Urmia. During an exchange of gunfire and shelling by IRGC forces, Ozdemir was rendered unconscious by a mortar explosion and subsequently arrested. He was transferred to the IRGC Intelligence Detention Center in Urmia, where he was interrogated and tortured for approximately 50 days. In late August 2019, he was transferred to Urmia Central Prison.
In March 2022, after being held in temporary detention for 33 months and denied the right to legal representation, Ozdemir was sentenced to death by the First Branch of the Revolutionary Court of Khoy on charges of “rebellion” (baghi) and “membership in a terrorist organization.” He was also sentenced to five years of imprisonment. After he appealed the verdict, his case was sent to the Supreme Court for review. In March 2023, the Supreme Court overturned the death sentence and referred the case back to Branch 3 of the Revolutionary Court of Urmia for retrial.
Ozdemir’s retrial was held on April 23, 2024, and on May 19, 2024, he was officially notified of his death sentence.
Following the issuance of the death sentence, Ozdemir’s defense lawyer filed an appeal with the Supreme Court. However, according to the Kurdistan Human Rights Network, the Supreme Court has now confirmed the death sentence for Hatam Ozdemir.
Our Appeal
- We, the undersigned, demand the immediate repeal of Hatam Ozdemir’s death sentence. We call on the administration of Mr. Masoud Pezeshkian to respond to such unjust rulings and prevent the execution of political prisoners convicted on charges of “rebellion.”
- We urge human rights organizations and the international community to condemn this ruling and press the Iranian government for its revocation.
- We invite anti-death penalty organizations and advocates to actively work for the reversal of Hatam Ozdemir’s death sentence.
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Province Number of signatures Alborz 10 Ardabil 1 Bushehr 1 Chahar Mahaal and Bakhtiari 2 East Azerbaijan 5 Fars 5 Gilan 2 Golestan 3 Hamadan 3 Hormozgan 2 Ilam 0 Isfahan 6 Kerman 3 Kermanshah 3 Khuzestan 5 Kohgiluyehv And Boyer Ahmad 0 Kurdistan 9 Lorestan 0 Markazi 1 Mazandaran 2 North Khorasan 0 Qazvin 0 Qom 0 Razavi Khorasan 4 Semnan 1 Sistan and Baluchestan 1 South Khorasan 0 Tehran 34 West Azerbaijan 1 Yazd 2 Zanjan 0 This petition has received 333 signatures so far. Approximately 85% of signatures come from Iran. Approximately 15% of signatures come from outside of Iran. Learn how Daadkhast generates signature maps. -
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