The International Centre for Human Rights (ICHR) strongly condemns the inhuman execution of 53-year-old Mostafa Salimi by the Iranian regime. Furthermore, questions need to be answered regarding the extradition of Mr. Salimi from the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
ICHR has written a letter to Iraqi Prime Minister Masrour Barzani seeking information and demanding accountability:
His Excellency Prime Minister Masrour Barzani
Prime Minister of The Kurdistan Region of Iraq
Erbil, Iraq
Dear Prime Minister Barzani,
We are very saddened to learn that former political prisoner Mr. Mostafa Salimi, was executed by Iranian authorities on Saturday, April 11, 2020 just two days after the date he was extradited to Iran from the Kurdistan region.
We have reasons to believe that Mr. Salimi, who was 53 years old, was in the Kurdistan region following his escape from prison on March 27, 2020. He was able to speak to his family one day prior to his execution and he informed them he was arrested in Kurdistan and extradited to Iran.
The extradition of a prisoner who fears a death sentence is a violation of international human rights conventions and laws. We understand his excellency has contributed to humanitarian causes and founded the Barzani Charity Foundation (BCF) to help displaced people, refugees, and people in need across the Kurdistan Region and Iraq. Therefore, it would be important for us to learn from you how a government under your ruling could arrest and extradite an escaped prisoner from Iran who had feared for his life.
The ICHR is investigating the execution of Mr. Salimi. We are demanding your government’s immediate and detailed response on his arrest and extradition, which ended up in immediate and inhuman behaviour of the Iranian government to hang the 53-year-old prisoner.
We are looking forward to hearing from your government.
Sincerely,
Ardeshir Zarezadeh
Chair and CEO
Dr. Houshan Bouzari
President
Download PDF version of letter here.