Farzad Kamangar: Iranian teacher in death row

On 25 February 2008, the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced Farzad Kamangar to death on charges of "endangering national security" and "enmity against God" (moharebe). The death penalty was confirmed by the Supreme Court on 11 July.

Farzad Kamangar, Iranian teacher, member of teacher union and human rights activist was arrested in July 2006 and under severe torture by the prison authorities on different occasions during his detention, they forced him to confess to charges against himself. For several months he was kept in solitary confinement and was not allowed any contact with his family or lawyer. The police also arrested Farzad's girlfriend, as well as members of his family.

Kamangar, who worked as a teacher in rural areas and was a human rights activist, is accused of being a terrorist through his alleged affiliation to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, PKK. According to his lawyer who was not permitted to defend him, Khalil Bahramian “Nothing in Kamangar’s judicial files and records demonstrates any links to the charges brought against him”. He described the trial as “lasting no more than five minutes, with the judge issuing his sentence without any explanation and then promptly leaving the room.” According to Bahramian, the closed-door trial violated the Iranian legal requirements that such cases must be tried publicly and in the presence of a jury.

Farzad’s lawyer appealed the death sentence given the complete lack of evidence. According to him, the prosecution and death sentence are an indication of “discrimination against Kurds” within the judicial system. On 11 July 2008, the Supreme Court upheld Farzad Kamangar’s death sentence. He could be executed any day.

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Hat tips: Education International