8 Month Campaign Launches In Support of Habib Latifi

Persian2English, Habibollah Latifi, 29, was a student activist and a law student at Azad University in the province of Ilam in Iran. He was arrested on 23 October 2007 in the city of Sanandaj and sentenced to death on 3 July 2008. When he was arrested, he spent four months in solitary confinement where he was subjected to ill- treatment and torture.

In June 2008 Habib Latifi was charged with “moharebeh” (enemy of God) and therefore was sentenced to death by execution by the Sanandaj Revolutionary Court.

In 29 January 2009 after an appeal court upheld the verdict, he was tried for the second time and his death sentenced was confirmed.

Habib’s execution sentence was due to be carried out on Sunday 26 December 2010. A night before, on 25 December 2010, Habib’s family and supporters gathered in front of the Central Prison in the city of Sanandaj and protested against his execution sentence, as a result of this, and other protests Habib’s death sentence was postponed temporarily.

On Sunday 26 December 2010, the news of the halt on Habib’s death sentence was greeted with joy among his family and friends. Some of Habib’s friends went to see his parents, and to show their support. Soon after, the Islamic guards have raided Habib’s house, attacked his family and friends in the house, and arrested more than ten people including seven members of his family and his father.

Since Sunday 26 December 2010 that Habib’s family last visited him, they have had no contacts with him, or heard from Habib; he is still held in prison in the city of Sanandaj.

Habib has been in prison for 3 years simply for practising his freedom of expression; during these years he has been subjected to torture and humiliation. His family have been living with fear since his arrest three years ago; they are afraid of losing him.

The news of Habib’s execution sentence has provoked outrages amongst his friends, people of Sanandaj city in Iran, and hundreds of people all around the word. Protests were held last week, and more protests are planned to be held next week to pressure the Islamic regime to overturn the execution sentence of Habib and release him immediately.

It is great news that Habib’s death sentence has been postponed, BUT we need to continuously campaign for his release, and keep the momentum going until he is released. If the political prisoners and their families have been silence by torture, imprisonment, threat and harassment, then you can be their voices. Every one of us can echo and raise the voice of political prisoners in Iran. That is why it is so important to be the voice of Habib and thousands like Habib who are under torture and in danger of being executed. That is why we have dedicated this week of our campaign to Habib Latifi.