Ako Kurdnasab
Encyclopedia
Ako Kurdnasab is a Kurdish journalist for the weekly Kurdish journal Krafto. Krafto , which is based in Sanandaj
, the capital of the Kurdistan province of Iran, was closed by the authorities last year.
Kurdnasab was arrested in a polling station in December 2006 while covering municipal elections. Reporters Without Borders
and other organizations condemned his arrest.
Kurdnasab was released on bail on January 3, 2007 but re-arrested on July 23, 2007, because he expressed support for imprisoned journalists Adnan Hassanpour
and Abdolwahed Butimar. On September 10, 2007, Kurdnasab was charged with "espionage," "actions against national security," and "attempts to overthrow the government by means of journalistic activities." He was sentenced to three years in prison. His sentence was reduced to six months in prison on November 13, 2007, after an appeals court overturned the espionage charge but confirmed the charge of “trying to overthrow the government by means of journalistic activities.” “We welcome the quashing of Kurdnasab’s espionage conviction but the fact remains that a journalist should not be imprisoned for what he writes and we therefore call for the entire conviction to be overturned and for him to be released unconditionally,” Reporters Without Borders
said. The European Union
also called for Kurdnasab's release.
Ako Kurdnasab was released from prison on January 17, 2008.
Kurdnasab was arrested on November 12, 2009, following his participation in protests of the execution of Ehsan Fatahian
. He was released on bail on November 30.
Sanandaj
Sanandaj , also Romanized as Senneh and Sinneh) is a city in and the capital of Kurdistan Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 311,446, in 81,380 families....
, the capital of the Kurdistan province of Iran, was closed by the authorities last year.
Kurdnasab was arrested in a polling station in December 2006 while covering municipal elections. Reporters Without Borders
Reporters Without Borders
Reporters Without Borders is a France-based international non-governmental organization that advocates freedom of the press. It was founded in 1985, by Robert Ménard, Rony Brauman and the journalist Jean-Claude Guillebaud. Jean-François Julliard has served as Secretary General since 2008...
and other organizations condemned his arrest.
Kurdnasab was released on bail on January 3, 2007 but re-arrested on July 23, 2007, because he expressed support for imprisoned journalists Adnan Hassanpour
Adnan Hassanpour
Adnan Hassanpour is an Iranian-Kurdish journalist who was sentenced to death in Iran in 2007 and reversed a year later. He is currently being re-tried on the capital charges of espionage and working with outlawed parties....
and Abdolwahed Butimar. On September 10, 2007, Kurdnasab was charged with "espionage," "actions against national security," and "attempts to overthrow the government by means of journalistic activities." He was sentenced to three years in prison. His sentence was reduced to six months in prison on November 13, 2007, after an appeals court overturned the espionage charge but confirmed the charge of “trying to overthrow the government by means of journalistic activities.” “We welcome the quashing of Kurdnasab’s espionage conviction but the fact remains that a journalist should not be imprisoned for what he writes and we therefore call for the entire conviction to be overturned and for him to be released unconditionally,” Reporters Without Borders
Reporters Without Borders
Reporters Without Borders is a France-based international non-governmental organization that advocates freedom of the press. It was founded in 1985, by Robert Ménard, Rony Brauman and the journalist Jean-Claude Guillebaud. Jean-François Julliard has served as Secretary General since 2008...
said. The European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
also called for Kurdnasab's release.
Ako Kurdnasab was released from prison on January 17, 2008.
Kurdnasab was arrested on November 12, 2009, following his participation in protests of the execution of Ehsan Fatahian
Ehsan Fatahian
Ehsan Fatahian was an Iranian Kurdish activist, who was executed on Wednesday, November 11, 2009, in Sanandaj Central Prison, after being sentenced to death by the Judiciary of the Islamic Republic, for allegedly being a member of the armed wing of Komalah. He was 28 years old.Fatahian was born...
. He was released on bail on November 30.