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Iranian Kurdish Activist Faces Execution


A Kurdish activist has been sentenced to death in Iran's northwestern city of Mahabad, RFE/RL's Radio Farda reports.

Habibollah Golparipour was arrested six months ago, the Human Rights Activists News Agency reported. He was sentenced on April 22 by a revolutionary court.

Journalist Khosro Kordpour told Radio Farda that "Golparipour's lawyer informed me that his charges include 'enmity with God through propagandistic activities' and 'membership in an opposition group.'"

Kordpour said Golparipour has 20 days to appeal his death sentence. He described a growing crackdown on Kurdish activists.

"Since last year, issuing death sentences for Kurdish activists on varied charges -- especially 'enmity with God' -- has become very common," Kordpour said. He said two Kurdish women activists -- Zeinab Jalalian and Shirin Alam-Huli -- are among those who have been sentenced to death.

According to the Human Rights Activists News Agency, 22 Kurdish activists are currently on death row in Iran.

Iran executed two young Kurdish political activists, Ehsan Fatahian and Fasih Yasamani, in November 2009 and January 2010, respectively.
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