Branch 1 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Mahabad, West Azerbaijan province, continues to prolong the review of the case of Kurdish activists Farzad Samani, Sakar Eini, and Mohammad Houshangi.

The activists, who were arrested nine months ago, are accused of “armed insurrection” (baghi).

The Mahabad court presided over by Judge Javad Gholami is yet to review their case despite the appeals of their families.

Sources close to the families of the three Kurdish activists spoke to the Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN).

“The charge of armed insurrection is based only on forced confessions obtained from several other civilians by the Intelligence Organisation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The lawyers of the case, who have been able to study a part of the case, have also told the families that the Intelligence Organisation of the IRGC has not provided any other evidence to the court other than the forced confessions.”

Article 287 of the Iranian Islamic Penal Code defines the term baghi as “taking up arms against the foundations of the Islamic Republic.”

According to this law, if a person committing baghi uses a weapon in his actions, they will be sentenced to death.

The charge of baghi was added to the Iranian Islamic Penal Code in 2013. Since then, many Kurdish, Arabic, etc., political prisoners have been sentenced to death based on this law.

Farouq Samani, Farzad Samani’s brother, had previously posted about the latest status of the case of his brother, Sakar Eini, and Mohammad Houshangi on his personal Instagram account:

“Though a long time has passed, there is still no news on the trial of the guys, and their families and lawyers have emphasized the cruelty and illegality of their temporary detention through letters they have sent to Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court and Judge Gholami, the judge of this branch. But Branch 3 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Mahabad has not responded to their requests, and the uncertainty of the case of the guys continues.”

On 9-10 January, the Intelligence Organisation of the IRGC arrested Farzad Samani, Sakar Eini, and Mohammad Houshangi in Tehran during a wave of widespread arrests of Kurdish activists and civilians.

They took the activists to the Haft-e Tir detention centre of the security institution in Orumiyeh, West Azerbaijan province.

On 1 June, Farzad Samani and Sakar Eini, and six months later Mohammad Houshangi, were transferred to Orumiyeh Central Prison following the issuance of temporary arrest warrants.