Young Kurd Sentenced to Prison in Exile on Political Charges

Afshin Sohrabzadeh was sentenced to 25 years in exile in Minab Prison 14 months ago and has been serving his sentence there since.

Afshin Sohrabzadeh, 23, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison in exile at Minab Prison on charges of “moharebeh (enmity with God) through membership in Komalah Party,” a local source told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran. Sohrabzadeh was transferred from the Sanandaj Central Prison to Minab Prison 14 months ago and has been serving his sentence there since.

According to the local human rights activist, Kamyaran Intelligence Office forces arrested Afshin Sohrabzadeh, a resident of Kermanshah, and transferred him to the Sanandaj Central Prison after completing his interrogations at Kamyaran Intelligence Office. Branch Two of Sanandaj Revolutionary Court later sentenced the 23-year-old Kurdish man to 25 years in prison in exile.

Sohrabzadeh’s lawyer appealed the ruling and the case was sent to the Supreme Court, but before the final decision was made, the prisoner was transferred to Minab Prison in February 2012. The Supreme Court eventually upheld the decision and Afshin Sohrabzadeh was informed of the ruling while inside Minab Prison.

Minab Prison officials ordered Sohrabzadeh’s transfer to the facility’s Quarantine Ward 50 days ago, after he got into a fight with prison forces.

The human rights activist told the Campaign that in June 2010 Afshin Sohrabzadeh returned to Iran from Iraqi Kurdistan and turned himself over to the IRGC, after which he was interrogated by the IRGC Intelligence Unit for several days and was granted amnesty and released. However, the Kamyaran Intelligence Office detained him, stating that they had kept Sohrabzadeh under surveillance since his return to the country and that they were aware of his future plans.