Azerbaijan, Baku, Dec. 24 /Trend, T.Konyayeva/
Amnesty International today called on the Iranian authorities to halt the imminent execution of a Kurdish law student scheduled for 26 December, and to commute his death sentence, organization's official statement says.
"We are urgently appealing to the Iranian authorities to show clemency, halt the imminent execution of Habibollah Latifi, and commute his death sentence." said Malcolm Smart, Amnesty International's Director for the Middle East and North Africa.
Habibollah Latifi, a law student at Azad University in the south western province of Ilam, was arrested on 23 October 2007 in Sanandaj, the Kordestan provincial capital, north-western Iran. His trial was held behind closed doors and his lawyer was not allowed to be present to defend him. Nor was his family allowed to attend the trial.
He was convicted of moharebeh (enmity against God), by the Sanandaj Revolutionary Court, in connection with his alleged membership of and activities on behalf of the Kurdish Independent Life Party (PJAK), a proscribed armed group.
On 3 July 2008 Habibollah Latifi was sentenced to death, his death sentence was upheld by the Appeal Court in Sanandaj on 18 February 2009.
The lawyer of Habibollah Latifi has been informed by the Iranian authorities that Habibollah Latifi's execution will take place on 26 December at Sanandaj Prison, Kordestan, in western Iran.
"While we recognise that governments have a responsibility to bring to justice those who commit crimes, this must be done according to international standards for fair trial. Amnesty International is unconditionally opposed to the death penalty - the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment - in all cases."
"It is clear that Habibollah Latifi did not receive a fair trail by international standards, which makes the news of his impending execution all the more abhorrent." said Malcolm Smart
According to U.S. authorities, PJAK, acting on the Iranian-Turkish and the Iranian-Iraqi borders, is controlled by the separatist Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which the U.S. considers a terrorist organization.
In February 2009, the U.S. Treasury Department named PJAK in the list of terrorist groups. In addition, financial sanctions were imposed with respect to its.