NEWSDESK, — Amnesty International demanded the “urgent” and “unconditioned” release of Kurdish journalist and human rights defender Mohammad Sediq Kebudwend who has been in jail in Iran since 2007. Launching a campaign for freedom of expression, Amnesty International urged Iranian authorities to unconditionally release Kebudwend whom Amnesty International considers a prisoner of conscience, held solely on account of his peaceful exercise of his rights to freedom of expression and association during his work as chair of the Human Rights Organization of Kurdistan (HROK) and his activities as a journalist.
Mohammad Sediq Kebudwend who is currently serving an eleven year sentence in Iran’s notorious Evin prison was the editor of weekly magazine Payam-e Mardom and the founder of Kurdistan Human Rights Organization (Rêxistina Mafê Mirovan li Kurdistanê) whose broadcasting was ceased in early 2004.
Kebudwend was taken into custody on 1 July 2007 and was sentenced to 11 years in prison in May of 2008 on charges of “acting against national security through HROK,” “widespread propaganda against the system by disseminating news,” “opposing Islamic penal laws by publicizing punishments such as stoning and executions,” and “advocating on behalf of political prisoners”.
To join the campaign for Kebudwend, you can visit the page http://www.amnesty.lu/spip/spip.php?article5683