Petition for the Immediate Halt of Execution and Retrial for Ghasem Abesteh
289
Signatures
500
Goal
November 3, 2023
We are urgently bringing to attention the plight of Ghasem Abesteh, a Sunni political prisoner from Kurdistan, Iran, who is at imminent risk of execution. Reports from Ghezel Hesar Prison in Alborz Province indicate that Mr. Abesteh has been moved to the solitary ward of Unit 3 in preparation for carrying out his death sentence.
Fourteen years ago, Mr. Abesteh was detained with seven others on allegations of "intentional murder." Throughout his trial at the Revolutionary Court, substantial evidence or witnesses to substantiate the charges were conspicuously absent. Despite this, the presiding Judge Muqiseh found the defendants guilty of "corruption on earth." In 2016, recognizing the uncertainties and lack of concrete evidence, the Supreme Court halted the execution order and assigned the case to a different branch of the Revolutionary Court under Judge Salavati. Regrettably, the latter, in conjunction with security agencies, reissued the death penalty.
The original arrest of Mr. Abesteh and his co-accused occurred in November 2009 following the murder of a mosque's imam in Mahabad. Immediately after that, they were subjected to severe torture in Rajaeeshahr Prison's solitary confinement to coerce confessions of affiliation with Salafi groups and to acknowledge being "Mohareb" (enemies of the state). Khosrow Besharat, one of Mr. Abesteh's co-defendants, disclosed in a public letter the inhumane treatment they suffered, including daily whippings with electric cables.
The trial of Mr. Abesteh and his associates was marred by the denial of legal representation and the hasty and superficial declaration of "warfare," seemingly influenced by the defendants' religious beliefs. To this day, Mr. Abesteh's case remains unresolved due to a lack of crucial evidence and documentation.
We, the undersigned, call for an immediate halt to the execution of Ghasem Abesteh. We demand that he be granted legal counsel and a retrial in an open court, one that adheres to international standards of fairness and transparency. His charges must be re-evaluated impartially, with the right to defend himself adequately against the allegations made. Immediate action is necessary to prevent a grave miscarriage of justice. We urge all relevant authorities and international bodies to intervene and uphold the fundamental human rights that Mr. Abesteh is entitled to.
Recent events
-
See where all the votes are coming from
Province Number of signatures Alborz 4 Ardabil 0 Bushehr 1 Chahar Mahaal and Bakhtiari 0 East Azerbaijan 2 Fars 4 Gilan 2 Golestan 0 Hamadan 1 Hormozgan 1 Ilam 2 Isfahan 0 Kerman 1 Kermanshah 1 Khuzestan 1 Kohgiluyehv And Boyer Ahmad 0 Kurdistan 1 Lorestan 0 Markazi 0 Mazandaran 0 North Khorasan 1 Qazvin 0 Qom 1 Razavi Khorasan 9 Semnan 0 Sistan and Baluchestan 1 South Khorasan 0 Tehran 32 West Azerbaijan 1 Yazd 1 Zanjan 0 This petition has received 289 signatures so far. Approximately 78% of signatures come from Iran. Approximately 22% of signatures come from outside of Iran. Learn how Daadkhast generates signature maps. -
Latest signatures
-
-
Signed via Telegram -
در نظر گرفتن حقوق انسانی
-
Signed via Telegram
-
Signed via Telegram
-
-
اعدام شد
با تأسف، قاسم آبسته زندانی مذهبی کُرد و اهل مهاباد، پس از ۱۴ سال حبس سحرگاه یکشنبه ۱۴ آبان ۱۴۰۲ در زندان قزلحصار کرج اعدام شد.
-
A human rights activist started this petition
اعدام نکنید