The parents and younger brother of political prisoner Anvar Hossein Panahi were summoned on January 21, 2013, to the office of the Qorveh Ministry of Intelligence in Kurdistan province. The intense bullying and pressure tactics against this family continues as judicial authorities impounded 10 million tomans from their bank account, money Panahi’s brother had deposited to help his family.
The family of incarcerated Kurdish activist Anvar Hossein Panahi, who is the eldest son, has endured intense torment and harassment by security agents during the past 5 years. They have reported that their family is under constant surveillance and their residences are routinely searched.
Anvar Hossein Panahi is a Kurdish activist and a Dehgolan province dignitary who was arrested in 2007 and severely tortured while in detention. In 2008 he was sentenced to death on charges of “acting against national security,” “collaborating with a Kurdish political party” and “moharebeh” (enmity with God). After tireless efforts and protests on the part of human rights activists, his death sentence was later commuted to 6 years in prison.
On January 4, 2013 a nephew, Sirvan Hossein Panahi was violently detained at his home and transferred to an undisclosed location by plainclothes officials from the Ministry of Intelligence. Witnesses reported that his arm looked like it was broken during the arrest. There is still no news of Sirvan’s condition or whereabouts.
In the past 6 years since the incarceration of Kurdish activist Anvar Hossein Panahi, his family has endured constant harassment and more than 33 members of his family have been arbitrarily arrested.
Source: CHRR