Yosef Nadarkhani’s Death Penalty for Apostasy
According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), Yosef Nadarkhani has been charged with apostasy at the age of nineteen for converting to Christianity. Iranian judicial authorities also state that Yosef Nadarkhani has preached Christianity for years. Yosef Nadarkhani has been locked up in Rasht Prison since October 12, 2009. If the death penalty is carried out, it will be the first official hanging for apostasy and conversion to Christianity in the last twenty years. On December 3, 1990, Pastor Hussein Soudmand was hanged in Mashhad Prison for refusing to give up his Christian faith. Pastor Soudmand is the only priest who has been officially executed by the Islamic Judiciary Branch for apostasy and conversion to Christianity.
Political Prisoner Kourosh Kuhkan Might Lose His Leg
According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), Kourosh Kuhkan’s knee is severely infected such that if he doesn’t receive immediate medical attention, he might lose his leg entirely. The Iranian intelligence agents injured Kourosh Kuhkan’s knee during interrogations. After 17 months following this injury and repeated requests from him and his family, Kourosh Kuhkan was transferred to Taleghani Hospital to undergo a surgery after which he was locked up in Evin Prison again without any medical care or access to health care facilities. Kourosh Kuhkan was tried at the Revolutionary Court, Branch 26, and sentenced by Judge Peerabasi to three years and six months in prison and 74 lashes.
Political Prisoner Farah Vazehan in Urgent Need of Medical Treatment
Farah Vazehan, who is currently serving a 17 year prison sentence, is suffering from a tumour in her feet. Her physical well being is in grave danger and she is unable to perform mundane, daily tasks. Farah Vazehan was arrested on December 29, 2009 at her home in Tehran. Her arrest took place two days after the Ashura uprising and mass protests by citizens against the election results in Iran. She was transferred to solitary confinement at Evin’s ward 209. On August 4th, 2010, Vazehan was sentenced to death after eight months of temporary detention. The ruling was rendered by Judge Salavati of the Revolutionary Court’s 15th branch and Vazehan was charged with “participating in street protests”, “being a Mohareb -enemy of God- as a result of “collaboration with the Mojahedin Khalgh (MKO)” According to the Human Rights House of Iran (RAHAHA) despite suffering from an internal infection and her dire physical condition, her medical needs have been neglected to date. Vazehan’s family have requested that the prosecutor’s office grant her furlough from prison in order to receive medical treatment, but have not yet received a response to their request.
