The death sentence of Hatam Özdemir, a Kurdish political prisoner from Turkey, has been upheld by Iran’s Supreme Court, the Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) reported on Wednesday.
He was initially sentenced to death by the first branch of the Khoi Revolutionary Court on charges of Baghi (armed rebellion) and for his alleged membership in the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
Following an appeal by his legal team, the 9th branch of Iran’s Supreme Court, presided over by Judge Qasim Mezinani, had quashed the ruling and referred the case back to the Revolutionary Court of Urmia for re-examination.
Özdemir’s subsequent trial took place on 23 April 2024 at Branch Three of the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Orumiyeh, presided over by Judge Najafzadeh, where he once again faced charges of armed rebellion. Despite having his lawyer present, the court reimposed the death sentence, officially communicating the verdict to him in Orumiyeh prison on 19 May.
Judge Najafzadeh is known to have previously issued death sentences for several political prisoners, including Mansour Rasouli, Mohammad Khadr Nejad, Nasim Namazi, Wafa Hanare and Aram Omari Bardiani.
After the decision of the Orumiyeh court, the case was referred to the country’s Supreme Court, who upheld the ruling, KHRN reported.
During his detention, Özdemir, who suffers from kidney disease, has endured torture and appalling prison conditions. Despite medical advice recommending surgery, prison authorities have consistently denied him access to essential treatment.
The Islamic Republic of Iran has previously executed Hasan Hikmet Demir, another Kurdish political prisoner and Turkish national.
Özdemir was reportedly subjected to 50 days of torture by the Iranian intelligence services after his arrest in Maku in early summer 2019, before being transferred to prison. He was later moved to the political wing of Urmia prison.
The final approval of Hatam Özdemir’s death sentence underscores Iran’s continued practice of executing political and ideological prisoners.
