Branch Two of the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Mahabad, West Azerbaijan province, has sentenced Kurdish civilians Haasel Ghadou, Jamal Alizadeh and Abdolrahman Mohammadi-Arshad to prison terms ranging from eight to 43 months.
The court charged the civilians with “gathering and conspiring to commit crimes against national security”, “propaganda against the state”, and “collaborating with dissident media”.
Ghadou and Mohammadi-Arshad were tried on 16 February and have been informed of the verdict in recent days.
They received 43 months’ and eight months’ imprisonment respectively for “gathering and conspiring against national security” and “propaganda against the state”.
Security forces arrested Ghadou and Mohammadi-Arshad in Piranshahr, West Azerbaijan province, on 22 September 2022 and transferred them to a security detention centre in Orumiyeh, West Azerbaijan province.
After initial interrogations, the two civilians were transferred to Naqadeh Prison. They were released on 2 February on bail of 30 billion Iranian rials – nearly 60,000 USD.
Alizadeh’s trial took place on 18 April. He was sentenced to two years and six months in prison for “collaborating with dissident media”.
He was arrested by security forces in Piranshahr on 18 October 2022 and transferred to the Ministry of Intelligence detention centre in Orumiyeh.
Alizadeh was transferred to Naqadeh Prison after initial interrogations and was released on bail of 30 billion Iranian rials – nearly 60,000 USD – on 12 February.
In early February, the Criminal Court of Piranshahr also sentenced Ghadou and Mohammadi-Arshad to 18 months in prison and 40 lashes, and four months in prison and 30 lashes, respectively, on charges of “disturbing public order and peace”.
