Heidar Ghorbani

Heidar Ghorbani is from Kamyaran. He was arrested on charges such as "collaborating with the Democratic Party of Iranian Kur." He was accused of "killing" several residents of Kamyaran with the "cooperation" of members of the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran. He was sentenced to prison for murder and sentenced to death for a Baghi (armed rebellio

The Islamic Republic claims that Mahmoud Sadeghi and Heidar Ghorbani are among the "perpetrators of the murder" of several people from Kamyaran. Given the history of Iran's security systems in prosecuting their opponents, this claim has not been accepted by many human rights organizations. Many Human rights organizations consider the case to be arbitrary detention. Heidar Ghorbani was executed in Sanandaj prison on December, 19th, 2021 without prior notice. He was born in 1974. <symbol-timeline></symbol-timeline>

• <coverage-outsourcing id='32394'> During ten days starting October 1, 2019, three citizens of Kamyaran were killed by anonymous armed individuals. The Islamic Republic claims that in one of these armed attacks, family members were also shot. </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='32646'> After a month, he was transferred from the intelligence headquarters in Kamyaran to Intelligence Ministry’s detention center in Sanandaj. </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='32687'> According to IPA, Mr. Ghorbani's nephew, Namdar Ghorbani may have been arrested based on family ties. Namdar Ghorbani was physically tortured in the intelligence detention center. His car was confiscated, and despite a court order, the car was handed over with eight months delay. </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='10045'> According to Kurdistan Human Rights Association, Hossein Rouhani, Hassan Ghorbani, and Heidar Ghorbani were arrested between October 15 to 18. A few days later, Kurdistan Press Agency (Kurdpa) added Abdullah Pashabadi, Namdar Ghorbani, and Mohammad Sadeghi to the list of detainees. Kurdpa reported that the families of these detainees are under pressure and are uninformed of their relatives' situation. </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='32688'> According to IPA, in addition to confiscating Mr. Ghorbani's belongings, the officers also took many of his family's personal belongings. It is said that the officers have seized all the family's communication devices. </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='11201'> Informed sources told the Iran Prison Atlas (IPA) that Heidar Ghorbani was kept in solitary confinement at the Sanandaj Intelligence Detention Center. He has been tortured physically and psychologically during interrogation. A source told IPA: > Intelligence agents hung Heidar Ghorbani upside down and put a plastic bag over his head to make breathing difficult for him. Mr. Ghorbani is deprived of the right to contact his family and has not had any access to a lawyer. Officers took Heidar Ghorbani from solitary confinement to the interrogation room in the early hours of the morning and tortured him. The source added: > Heidar is innocent, and all the confessions were obtained under torture . </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='13581'> PressTV aired a film of his confessions. The film’s narration says that the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (DPIK) took revenge by killing Kurds after it lost in its armed struggle. Mr. Ghorbani appears and says he had driven DPIK teams involved in either the assassination or the kidnapping of Mohammad Saleh Saberi, Haji Sedigh, Sadeq Amini, and Shahoo Kamalian. The film doesn’t directly address the question of the other accused. It seems like they have left the country. To the date, many of those who were interviewed by PressTV and have then somehow been able to come alive out of prison, have declared that their confessions were obtained under torture. They had to make up stories and in some cases, some courts have acquitted prisoners of charges they had confessed to in interviews with PressTV. This film is called ‘The Death Driver'. </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='32647'> In April, after completing the interrogations, he was transferred from the detention center to Kamyaran Prison. According to IPA's information, Heidar Ghorbani called his family for the first time 20 days after being transferred to Kamyaran Prison. </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='16071'> According to reports, he was held in custody at the Police station and the IRGC detention center in Kamyaran, Kamyaran and Sanandaj Intelligence detention centers and Kamyaran and Sanandaj prisons. </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='32648'> He was kept in Kamyaran Prison for three months. The prison's authorities asked for his transfer to Sanandaj Prison. </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='27432'> <reference source=''> According to Kurdpa, Heidar Ghorbani and Mahmoud Sadeghi were handed heavy sentences by the First Branch of the General Court of Kurdistan. Heidar Ghorbani was sentenced to 30 years in prison on the charge of "assisting in murder," four years in jail, and 100 lashes on the cost of "providing two stolen vehicles. He was also sentenced to one year and three months on the charge of "installments of license plates on stolen cars," to six years in prison on the charge of "kidnapping" and to three years in prison on the charge of "colluding defendants to break the law." Mahmoud Sadeghi was also sentenced to 30 years in prison on the charge of "assisting in murder," to four years in prison and 100 lashes on the charge of "providing two stolen cars," to one year and three months in prison on the charge of "installments of license plates on a stolen car," and to pay a 7% of the full human blood money to the victim's parents on the charge of "inflicting non-fatal hits on the victim's body." Under Article 134, thirty years of imprisonment applies to each of these two defendants. "This case has three other defendants (identified as members of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan), and all of them have been sentenced to death for murder,” an informed source told IPA. Counselors at the Prosecutor’s office, Vali Rasouli, and Counselor Behnam Safaeirad, have issued the sentences for Heidar Ghorbani, Mahmoud Sadeghi, and other defendants. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='31878'> <reference source=''> According to IPA, Branch One of the Sanandaj Revolutionary Court, headed by Judge Saeedi, sentenced the two defendants to death and imprisonment for Baghi. According to the court, Heidar Ghorbani was sentenced to death, and Mahmoud Sadeghi was sentenced to 25 years. According to an IPA informed source, Judge Saeedi stated that: "Mr. Ghorbani and Mr. Sadeghi were not armed, but according to jurisprudential theories and laws, those who cooperate with armed people in an armed rebellion against the government are considered Baghi. They deserve the death sentence for what they have done. Mr. Sadeghi and Mr. Ghorbani are accused of collaboration with armed members of The Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan in armed operations to fight against the Islamic government of Iran”. It should be noted that Heidar Ghorbani and Mahmoud Sadeghi were sentenced to long prison terms by Sanandaj Court on the charge of assisting in murder. The Revolutionary and General Courts judges alleged that these individuals were not armed, but They were charged with Baghi. According to Kurdpa, after issuing a preliminary verdict, the lawyer submitted his request for a retrial to the Supreme Court, citing that Heidar Ghorbani was not armed. Therefore, he is not a Baghi. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='31879'> <reference source='https://bit.ly/2DPLEja'> According to Kurdpa, Heidar Ghorbani's death sentence and the 25-year imprisonment of Mahmoud Sadeghi were confirmed by Branch 27 of the Supreme Court. His case was referred to the implementation center of sentences for execution. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='32650'> Branch 27 of the Supreme Court overturned the prison sentence on the charge of "assisting in murder." According to IPA, Mr. Ghorbani and Mr. Sadeghi's case has been sent to the 1st General Court of Kurdistan. This decision was issued by Morteza Fazel, the head of the branch, and Mohammad Rabbani Nejad, the deputy member. Branch 27 of the Supreme Court upheld the execution of Heidar Ghorbani and the imprisonment of Mahmoud Sadeghi on the charge of "Baghi (armed rebellion against the state)." Still, it violated the prison sentence for both defendants, alluding to deficiencies in the investigation. </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='32651'> <reference source='https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=322544605778087'> Heidar Ghorbani’s son, Hamid, published a video calling on human rights organizations to take action about his father's death sentence. Hamid Ghorbani says that his father's confessions were obtained under physical and psychological tortures </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='32331'> <reference source='https://bit.ly/3bfjvPk'> According to Kurdpa, Saleh Nikbakht, Haydar Ghorbani's lawyer, objected to the Supreme Court's decision. The lawyer cited three objections to the case as his protest: 1- Mr. Ghorbani was not armed and did not take any armed action against the government. 2- Also, he did not accept the accusation of being a member of The Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan and only admitted that he had assisted some of the party's Peshmergas and was sentenced to 90 years in prison (for three items of accessory to murder) 3- The third reason is the Supreme Court and the Primary Court's illegal sentences. Branch Two of the Supreme Court has contravened the investigation that led to the verdict issued by Branch One of the Penal Court of Kurdistan, indicating the same in accessory to murder. Because the sentence was issued based on this investigation, the Supreme court cannot give a death sentence until the criminal court eliminates it. This ruling is what the Iranian legal system calls a "sin against mankind," and the punishment for Baghi should not be carried out until the "sin against mankind" is confirmed and enforced. In the end, Mr. Nikbakht requested the Supreme Court to send the case to the Sanandaj Revolutionary Court for review. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='32059'> <reference source='https://iranwire.com/fa/features/40243'> "My husband was tortured and forced to confess and was sentenced to death in an unfair trial," Sharareh Sadeghi, Haydar Ghorbani's wife, told IranWire. Noting that her husband was not a member of any political party and had never used a weapon or killed anyone, Sharareh Sadeghi added: > I ask all human rights organizations and well-wishers to help save my husband's life. My husband does not deserve to be executed. These past four years felt like thousand of years for my two sons and me . </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='33235'> <reference source='https://united4iran.org/en/15prisoners'> United for Iran published the fact patterns and legal analyses of Heidar Ghorbani's case, considering human rights and fair trial violations based on international treaties to which the Islamic Republic of Iran is a signatory. The Covenant of Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) has been used as the lead document. United for Iran has published similar fact patterns for 14 other political prisoners, including prisoners of conscience, and has called on UN institutions to use these resources to file cases and follow up on their situations. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='32330'> <reference source='https://kurdistan.iribnews.ir/fa/news/2796320/%D8%A8%D9%87-%DA%A9%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%85%DB%8C%D9%86-%DA%AF%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%87'> Following the release of a video of the families of those killed in the armed attacks in Kamyaran in 2016, Kurdistan regional television emphasized that the victims were "innocent civilians." By emphasizing the fact that the victims were not members of the security system and their families demanded the execution of the killers, the message behind the video was unequivocal. It was broadcasted when Heidar Ghorbani's death sentence was upheld. Kurdish activists believe it was a move to justify the possible execution of Heidar Ghorbani. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='32201'> <reference source='https://bit.ly/3aVigF0'> "The Kurdistan Provincial TV channel intends to make the execution of Heidar Ghorbani look natural and right by showing this program," Hengaw reported. In a recent video posted on Kurdistan television, the families of several victims whose killings have been attributed to Kurdish opposition groups are calling for the death penalty to be carried out. "The report also alleges violations of the prisoner's rights, the disappearance of their defenses, and the security forces' fake reports." Hengaw further referred to the case Bazpors’s opinion and believes that the pressure of the security agencies has led to the issuance of this sentence. In his report, the case investigator emphasized that there was no evidence to accuse him of Baghi. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='32220'> <reference source='https://bit.ly/3gpNOnh'> According to Kurdpa, Heidar Ghorbani was informed that he is banned from prison visits. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='32599'> <reference source='https://bit.ly/3mkbiyq'> The Supreme Court has rejected the request for a re-trial of Heidar Ghorbani. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='32603'> <reference source='https://bit.ly/3iBxTnL'> Hassan Ghorbani, Heidar Ghorbani's brother, shared a video and asked people to oppose his brother's death sentence. "The lawyers said that Heidar did not deserve to be executed, but the judge ignored the defense and issued the death sentence for him," he said, referring to Mr. Ghorbani's trial. According to the information in this video, Judge Saeedi had prevented Heidar Ghorbani from presenting his defense during the court hearing. Hassan Ghorbani recently traveled to Tehran to pursue his brother's case. He could not meet with any judicial officials, including the prosecutor and the head of the judiciary. In the end, he asked Ebrahim Raiesi to prevent the execution of Heidar Ghorbani. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='32652'> <reference source='https://t.me/IranintlTV/63767'> In her released video, Sharareh Sadeghi, Heidar Ghorbani's wife, emphasized the death sentence's unfairness and obtained forced confessions from her husband by resorting to physical and mental torture; she urged people to support the abolition of the death sentence. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='32773'> <reference source='https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/mde13/3101/2020/en/'> In its call, Amnesty International asks the Iranian authorities to stop any plans to execute Heidar Ghorbani. It denounces, "Serious fair trial violations in a trial court confirming that he was never armed. The torture-tainted confessions were used as evidence against him and taken when he was forcibly disappeared and in a trail without the presence of his lawyer. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='33064'> <reference source='http://kurdistanhumanrights.org/fa/?p=14329'> A group of scholars, teachers, imams, and some members of the Islamic Consultative Assembly have sent jurisprudential letters to the head of the judiciary asking him to accept Heidar Ghorbani's request for a retrial. Sunni Kurdish scholars said they know Heidar Ghorbani and his family. They are sure that he was not a member of any armed group opposed to the government and had never used weapons against people and the Islamic Republic's authorities. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='36581'> <reference source='https://bit.ly/2W5NkOF'> Judicial officials in Kurdistan Province told Heidar Ghorbani's family that his request for a retrial had been rejected. The case had now been sent for its enforcement to Kamyaran. His lawyer, Saleh Nikbakht, had requested a retrial last year, citing article 477 of the criminal procedure code of Iran. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='36583'> <reference source='https://twitter.com/sattarebrahimi1/status/1427667973326639104?s=20'> In recent days, some members of Haidar Ghorbani's family have released several videos urging human rights organizations to intervene in the case to prevent the death sentence. While emphasizing the innocence of Haidar Ghorbani, his family called on the people to protest against this sentence to save the life of this prisoner. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='36647'> <reference source='https://twitter.com/AmnestyIran/status/1427734507478786051?s=20'> Amnesty International has again warned that Heidar Ghorbani is in danger of being executed. The organization stressed that Heidar Ghorbani had been obliged to make a "forced confession" under torture. Amnesty International has called on the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic and other Iranian officials to overturn the death sentence of the Kurdish prisoner. The organization also stressed that a fair trial should be held for Mr. Ghorbani. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='36648'> <reference source='https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLJ_r7GwT-A'> Heidar Ghorbani's brother: Heidar is innocent; help us prevent his execution. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='36670'> <reference source='https://twitter.com/1500tasvir/status/1432040965875896328?s=20'> 1500 Tasvir addressed the contradictions in Heidar Ghorbani's case in a four-part collection. The first part of this series deals with the long-term detention and solitary confinement of Heidar Ghorbani. He spent three months in solitary confinement without being informed of his legal condition. He was then forced to confess with the promise of security agents that he would be released if he cooperated with them. The second part is dedicated to the testimony of Heidar Ghorbani, Ebrahim Younesi, and the description of Heidar's physical and psychological torture. Ebrahim Younesi, whom himself was imprisoned in Kamyaran Prison, was detained with Heidar Ghorbani in the winter of 2020. According to Mr. Younesi, Heidar Ghorbani was severely tortured physically and mentally. In the third part of this series, another contradiction is mentioned in this case. While Heidar Ghorbani was sentenced to 90 years in prison in 2009, the Ministry of Intelligence opened a new lawsuit against him after 36 months, without any proof, in which Heidar was sentenced to death. In the fourth part, the sabotage of the Ministry of Intelligence and the removal of Heidar Ghorbani's defense allegation from the case are discussed; Mr. Ghorbani's statement of defense was secretly removed from the case before the case reached the Supreme Court, and the Supreme Court upheld the death sentence without being informed of his defense allegation. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='37961'> <reference source='https://twitter.com/bbcpersian/status/1472639787882487812?s=20'> A video was released of Heidar Ghorbani describing part of the torture and abuse at the Police Detention Center. Mr. Ghorbani said that he had been taken to hospital once due to severe torture. He explained that they used the "grilled chicken" method (they lock a person's hands and feet together so that he could not move while they beat him) to torture him. Suffocation by squeezing the throat and pulling plastic on the head have also been other methods. According to him, a man named Jabbar Mohebbi from Miyandarband village was tortured to death only because he contacted him by telephone. It is worth mentioning that he refers to the detention centers of Sanandaj, Kermanshah, and Kamyaran cities. Still, it is not clear whether he means the intelligence department of these cities or the detention centers of other institutions. He also cites Colonel Ali Ashraf Karimi, who was directly or indirectly involved in the torture or violation of his rights. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='37960'> <reference source='https://twitter.com/1500tasvir/status/1472514447931584514'> Following the execution of Heidar Ghorbani, despite security pressure, locals held a memorial service near his home for several days in a row. An audio file of him was also released, which attracted the public's attention. In part of this audio file, he tells his brother not to cry after his execution because he has given his life for people. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='37890'> <reference source='https://bit.ly/3shcsjA'> Heidar Ghorbani was executed in Sanandaj prison. His death sentence was carried out without prior notice to the accused, his family, and his lawyer. Hours later, his brother, Hassan Ghorbani, was detained for several hours to protest the execution of his brother. security forces buried Mr. Ghorbani's body in the Sanandaj cemetery, and the only person allowed to be present was his brother. The sentence was carried out while his lawyer, Saleh Nikbakht, had requested a retrial three months earlier. The Supreme Court also recently wrote a letter to the Kurdistan Judiciary requesting that the case be reconsidered. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>