Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions
A/HRC/20/22/Add.4 para 38
Full recommendation:
The Special Rapporteur deeply regrets that the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran has
not responded to any of the seven communications sent during the reporting period. In the
absence of a response and clarification on the cases addressed therein and given the irreversible
nature of capital punishment, the Special Rapporteur urges the Government to take all necessary
measures to prevent the execution of the subjects of these communications.
Assessment
This assessment refers to the 7 communications enumerated on page 31 of the Special
Rapporteur’s report. It asks the government to stay the execution of the individuals mentioned in
the communications. As such, this assessment will assess each individual case.
A. The Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran failed to reply to communications
regarding the alleged risk of execution of members of the Kurdish community,
specifically Mr. Latifi.
Habibollah Latifi was arrested on 22 October 2007 and subjected to three months in solitary
confinement and torture. Mr. Latifi was subsequently sentenced to death by the Islamic
Revolutionary Court in Sanandaj on charges of waging war against God and corruption on earth
by Judge Hasan Babaei.1 Following urgent appeals 2 his execution was postponed when his case
went public and 300 people gathered outside Sanandaj prison on 25 December 2010, the night
before his execution was due to take place.3 On 27 December 2010, Iran Human Rights reported
that eight members of his family, including his parents and siblings, had been arrested in
Sanandaj. 4 According to reports by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA),
Habibollah Latifi’s execution was suspended in September 2015. As of 2016, Mr. Latifi
remained in prison with no furlough or family visits.5
B. The Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran failed to reply to communications
regarding the alleged death sentence on charges of apostasy.
1
HRANA: https://www.en-hrana.org/9th-year-death-row-habibollah-latifi
https://iranhr.net/en/articles/639/
3
https://iranhr.net/en/articles/641/
4
https://iranhr.net/en/articles/642/
5
Ibid.
2
1