Eight labour and civil rights activists face charges of “propaganda against the state” and “disturbing public order and peace” on the grounds of their participation in a funeral.
The Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) reported that eight labour and civil rights activists appeared on Thursday before Branch One of the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Sanandaj, Kurdistan Province, facing charges of “propaganda against the state” and “disturbing public order and peace”.
The defendants – Susan Razani, Seyyed Khaled Hosseini, Jamal Asadi, Farshid Abdollahi, Eghbal Shabani, Fardin Miraki, Sheys Amani, and Arman Salimi – were previously summoned to Branch Two of the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office in Sanandaj on 5 January for arraignment. All were released on bail pending trial.
The Kurdistan Human Rights Network reported that the case centres on their participation in the funeral of a dadkhah mother in Sanandaj, which the authorities have cited as evidence for the charges brought against them.
The defendants include Farshid Abdollahi, father of Houman Abdollahi, who was killed during the anti-government Women, Life, Freedom uprising.
Several others, including Razani, Hosseini, Shabani, Miraki, Amani, and Asadi, are well-known labour activists based in Sanandaj.
