A Kurdish political prisoner named Ramin Zeleh, from the city of Naqadeh and held in the local prison, has been sentenced to death by Branch One of the Revolutionary Court in Mahabad, overseen by Judge Siyami, on the charge of “baghi” (armed rebellion). The ruling was delivered to him on Saturday, December 6. According to reports, the charge is based on an allegation that he “belonged to one of the Kurdish political parties,” a common accusation used by Iran’s regime against Kurdish activists. Mahabad and Naqadeh are located in Iran’s northwest, an area with a large Kurdish population.
Arrest without a judicial warrant and 508 days of incommunicado detention under security pressure
Ramin Zeleh was arrested by security forces on July 22, 2024, without any judicial warrant authorizing entry into his home or his arrest. After security forces raided his house, he was taken to an unknown location, and his family remained unaware of his condition for a long time. Since his arrest, this political prisoner has spent more than 508 days under interrogation, detention, and intense security pressure.
Informed sources say that Zeleh’s family has been under constant pressure and repeated threats from security forces throughout this period to prevent them from sharing information about their son’s condition. The threats included warnings about the consequences of publicizing the case—an intimidation tactic frequently used by Iran’s regime—causing extreme anxiety and severe emotional distress for the family.
Denial of access to a lawyer and a minutes-long trial
According to a source close to the case, Ramin Zeleh was denied access to a lawyer of his choosing at all stages of his arrest and interrogation, and even afterward. He was completely deprived of the right to independent counsel, and the court appointed a state-selected public defender whose name and identity are unknown even to his family. This is a common pattern in politically motivated cases handled by Iran’s Revolutionary Courts.
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The trial of this Kurdish political prisoner was held in an online session lasting only a few minutes—a hearing that offered neither the opportunity to defend himself nor to present evidence. According to reports, the judicial process was so rapid and opaque that even the court-appointed public defender played no meaningful role in defending him. Based solely on this brief session, the death sentence was issued and delivered.
Deprivation of phone calls and family visits
Sources state that throughout his detention, Ramin Zeleh has been deprived of the right to phone calls and family visits. This ban applied during both his interrogation period and his subsequent confinement in detention centers and prison. Most of the time, his family had no information about his health or his whereabouts—a practice routinely used by Iran’s regime to pressure political detainees.
Pressure on the family and severe security restrictions
The family of this political prisoner has been denied access to his case file, and according to relatives, they have repeatedly been threatened by security forces that “if you speak out, the case will become more complicated.” Such pressure has prevented them from publicly expressing their concerns.
Uncertainty in the judicial process and concern among human rights activists
The issuance of a death sentence for a political prisoner after a minutes-long trial held without his chosen lawyer has heightened concerns among human rights activists. According to informed sources, Ramin Zeleh’s case has been marked by serious violations of basic rights from the beginning, with no indication that any principles of fair trial or due process were observed.
