IRAN. DEATH SENTENCE ANNULLED AND NEW TRIAL FOR HASSANPOUR

February 22, 2008: the death sentence of Kurd journalist Adnan Hassanpour was annulled, the Iranian judiciary told his lawyer. Both Hassanpour and his colleague Hiwa Boutimar will be retried in the next few months.
This time however, they will not be charged with “mohareb”, being an enemy of Allah, the charge that resulted in the death penalty for the two journalists.
In the new trial the two must respond to the other charges of espionage for foreign powers (consisting of interviews granted on radio in Farsi that were transmitted to foreign countries) and collaboration with illegal organisations (being in the Kurdistan Democratic Party, member of the International Socialists). (Sources: Aki, Articolo21, 22/02/2008)