Death Row Political Prisoner on Hunger Strike

Persian2English, In an interview with Rooz Online, the mother of Habibollah Golparipour announced the news of her son’s hunger strike.

Habibollah Golparipour, a Kurdish political prisoner was sentenced to death and the sentence was upheld and confirmed by the Supreme Court. His lawyer who had talked previously about a request for clemency and submitting the case to the Clemency and Pardons commission, explains now that the case has not yet been sent to this commission.

Kolsoom Tari Moradi, Habibollah Golparipour’s mother, who tried unsuccessfully to visit his son in prison on Sunday, told Rooz Online, “I saw Habib two weeks ago, but he was not feeling very well. He said that he was on hunger strike. I had no news of him until Sunday. He had not contacted home, and on Sunday, when I went to visit him, they told me he was in solitary confinement and was not allowed visitors.”

Ms. Tari Moradi added, “I begged them to let me see my son and I told them I was worried about him. They told me I can talk to him on the phone, but I must speak Persian. I do not speak Persian well. I told them I do not know how to speak Persian, and [they responded], “You don’t have the right to speak. When you learn how to speak Persian, you can talk to him.” Then they hung up the phone on me.

Habib Golparipour’s mother, while crying, said, “Habib is on hunger strike because of his death sentence. He has been on hunger strike for 16 days. I really do not know where to go and what to do. Please do something. I have nowhere to go. My son is perishing and there is nothing I can do about it! Why did they issue such a sentence [to my son]? He has not killed anybody, nor was he in possession of narcotics, nor has he committed any crime. What does it mean that he is an ‘enemy of God’? A Mohareb is the enemy of God, right? This is not fair.

Nasser Golparipour, Habibollah Golparipour’s father, told Rooz earlier, “These types of accusations do not hold up against my son. He is a 25 year old young man who was only involved in cultural activities, and when they arrested him, he had a few books with him which they confiscated. There was no weapon and he was not involved in any armed activities. My son’s only crime is possession of a few books, and I do not know on what basis they have levelled such a charge against my son, and handed him a death sentence.”

Khalil Bahramian, Habibollah Goparipour’s lawyer told Rooz that he heard the news of his client’s hunger strike from his family, and he has not yet been able to travel to Orumiyeh to visit his client, [therefore] he does not know why his client has launched a hunger strike.

Khalil Bahramian said, “I had submitted a request for clemency. Habib also had requested clemency. The case was supposed to be sent to the Clemency and Pardons commission, but this did not happen. Apparently, the other lawyer on the case, who was Habib’s lawyer from the beginning, [insisted] that the case should not go to the commission for now. I do not know what the basis of his view is. I am certain that it is not malevolent. He is one of the section 187 lawyers in Orumiyeh. We will have to wait and see how this will turn out. Habib’s sister called me. I told her that the case is in the Circuit Court for Execution of Sentences, and must go to the Clemency commission; this is the only way. We have to take advantage of all the legal avenues to save his life. We are now trying to send the case to the Commission as quickly as possible.”