The Supreme Court has upheld the death sentence of Hamid Hosseinnejad Heydaranlou, a political prisoner, and officially informed him of the ruling on Monday, March 24, 2025. This verdict comes despite the fact that he was denied access to a chosen lawyer during interrogation and trial, and he has rejected all charges brought against him in court.
Arrest and Legal Proceedings
Hamid Hosseinnejad Heydaranlou, a 39-year-old resident of Segrik village in Chaldoran County, was arrested by security forces near the Chaldoran border on April 13, 2023. Initially transferred to the Chaldoran Border Guard detention center, he was granted bail; however, the Ministry of Intelligence prevented his release and transferred him to the Urmia Intelligence Detention Center.
He endured severe physical and psychological torture for 11 months and 10 days, spending 8 of those months under security interrogations. According to reports, an individual named Istiri, the case’s investigative judge, played a direct role in his torture. The purpose of these tortures was to extract forced confessions linking him to armed conflict and cooperation with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). Ultimately, under extreme pressure, he was forced to sign pre-written confessions despite having limited literacy.
Issuance and Confirmation of the Death Sentence
In late July 2024, Branch 1 of the Urmia Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Najafzadeh, sentenced him to death on charges of rebellion (Baghi) through alleged membership in the PKK. Following an appeal, the case was referred to the Supreme Court, which upheld the death sentence.
Throughout the legal process, he has consistently denied all charges, stating that at the time of the alleged clashes, he was traveling to Turkey with his family. Nevertheless, the court issued the death sentence within minutes, solely based on the judge’s “personal knowledge.”
Current Status
Hamid Hosseinnejad Heydaranlou is currently held in Ward 2 of the reception unit at Urmia Central Prison. During his detention, he has only been able to make two brief phone calls to his family. His case exemplifies severe human rights violations, including denial of legal representation, torture to obtain forced confessions, and an unfair trial.
Human rights organizations and international bodies must condemn these unlawful proceedings and take action to halt the execution and ensure a fair trial.
