Payamnir News Agency (PNA), 22 January 2011 – A number of Iraqi Kurdistan MPs on Friday began collecting signatures in the parliament to stop executions in Iran Kurdistan.
Haji Soleiman, a signatory of this statement, told PNA: “Feeling responsible regarding activists who are sentenced to death by the Islamic Republic of Iran, we thought necessary to issue a statement to raise public awareness and call on the Islamic Republic to cancel the death sentences of activists of ‘east Kurdistan’ and practice modern and humane methods.”
“Currently, there are efforts being made around the world to have the execution verdict annulled,” said Ms. Haje Soleiman. “According to international treaties regarding political and civil rights, no country is given the permission to enforce the death sentence on political activists. That is why we believe the rights of these activists are being violated. In this statement, we have called on public opinion throughout the world and the Islamic Republic to take measures in cancelling this verdict.”
She added, “We are a group of 12 Iraqi Kurdistan MPs who have signed this statement and we will continue our efforts to get the signatures of the majority of the members.”
“To this day, 25 Iraqi Kurdistan MPs who are affiliated to almost all of the fractions have signed this statement,” she continued.
With the Islamic Republic of Iran recently executing 5 Kurdish activists in Kurdistan, political activities have risen in the Kurdistan region causing concerns regarding public opinion inside and outside the country.
According to reports from civil and human rights activists, nearly 20 Kurds in Iran’s prisoners are currently on death row.