More Arrests in Kurdistan, Ejlal Ghavami Arrested (ROOZ :: English)

More Arrests in Kurdistan, Ejlal Ghavami Arrested (ROOZ :: English): "More Arrests in Kurdistan, Ejlal Ghavami Arrested
Shirin Karimi - 2007.07.11

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Ejlal Ghavami, a human rights activist and a prominent personality involved in cultural issues in Kurdistan was arrested two days ago on his way to work. His defense attorney Nemat Ahmadi told ISNA student news agency, “My client had been sentenced to three years imprisonment by the first Revolutionary Court on charges of activities against state security by participating in illegal gatherings, propaganda against the state and in support of opposition groups and for insulting official authorities. We later learned that the second branch of the appellate court had upheld this judgment.” Ahmadi also said, “While the arrest warrant and non service of the appellate court’s decision were not unlawful acts, they were not in line with current practices. Defendants are summoned by courts to be informed of the court ruling against them. If they do not show up, the judgment is announced to the defense attorney.”

Last week, another Kurdish human rights activist Mahmud Kaboodvand was arrested by authorities, making Ghavami’s arrest the second in a week. Ghavami had openly said that he believes that civil society is “not only a shield to protect the government, but is even more of a protectio"