Statement from the Campaign for the Defense of Four Kurdish Political Prisoners is as follows:

Campaign Statement for the Defense of Four Kurdish Political Prisoners

Following the official complaint against the Islamic Republic regarding the enforced disappearance of the bodies of four political prisoners:

As you are aware, four Kurdish political prisoners—Pezhman Fatahi, Mohammad Faramarzi, Mohsen Mazloum, and Vafa Azarbar—were executed by the authorities of the Islamic Republic of Iran in January 2024. These individuals, facing false charges, were held under severe psychological and physical torture in Iran’s prisons without undergoing fair and legal judicial processes. Eventually, they were forced into making false confessions and sentenced to death. While their families were waiting to receive the bodies of their loved ones, the Islamic Republic refused to hand them over, further intensifying the pain and suffering of the families with this illegal action.

In this regard, Dr. Faraz Firoozi, a prominent lawyer and the representative of the families of these four prisoners, has filed an official complaint with the United Nations Committee on Enforced Disappearances against the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran. This complaint, based on international law and human rights treaties, challenges the blatant violation of the families’ fundamental rights, including the right to receive the bodies of their loved ones and hold funeral and mourning ceremonies. The Islamic Republic’s refusal to hand over the bodies constitutes not only a violation of human rights but is also considered a form of enforced disappearance, which is strongly condemned by the international community.

These four prisoners are among dozens of Kurdish political prisoners who, in recent years, have been arrested, tortured, and ultimately sentenced to death for their political activities and defense of Kurdish rights in Iran. The authorities of the Islamic Republic have consistently sought to suppress and silence any voice of protest or opposition to their unjust policies through severe repression and intimidation.

We call on all international human rights organizations, human rights activists, and freedom-loving nations to support the families of these prisoners with all their might and to demand that the Islamic Republic of Iran immediately hand over the bodies of these prisoners. Additionally, we urge everyone to continue to pressure the Islamic Republic to put an end to the political and systematic executions in Iran.

We believe that international solidarity and persistent efforts can help stop the inhumane repression in Iran and protect the fundamental rights of political prisoners and their families.

This campaign once again emphasizes the importance of the right to life, freedom, justice, and human dignity, and calls on all the people of Kurdistan, Iran, and the global community to continue supporting political prisoners and defending their rights against the systematic repression of the Islamic Republic. Together, we can prevent the recurrence of such human tragedies in the future.

Campaign for the Defense of Four Kurdish Political Prisoners
September 29, 2024