Yaser Goli’s 15 Year Jail Sentence has been Upheld by the Court of Appeal in Kurdistan

Student Council of Defense of Human Rights in Kurdistan: Mr. Yaser Goli’s 15 year jail sentence as well as the sentence of exile to Baft Prison was upheld by the Court of Appeal in the province of Kurdistan on February 17th 2009. The sentence was upheld 17 months after Mr. Goli’s arrest. He started serving his sentence on February 18th 2009.

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In an interview with the Student Council of Defense of Human Rights in Kurdistan, Mr. Goli’s lawyer Mr. Nemat Ahmadi has stated: The Judgment I received was 10 sentences long and there is no indication that there was any evidence to prove Mr. Golis’ Guilt. Further Mr. Goli has never confessed to committing any of the offences he is being charged with during interrogation. Yaser Goli is an Economic Development graduate from Azad University in Sanandaj. He was arrested on 17 October 2007, in front of Azad University in Sanandaj. Following his arrest, intelligence forces went to his home and after searching it took his computer case and private diary with them. After his arrest for days there was no news about his whereabouts and his family was extremely concerned especially due to the fact that Mr. Goli suffers from a heart condition. Mr. Goli has been arrested on numerous occasions previously and imprisoned for charges of “acting against national security.” Mr. Goli’s brother has stated that his father was also imprisoned for 6 days for following up on his son’s case. His mother Ms. Fatemeh Goftari has also been arrested on numerous occasions, she is a human rights activist and a member of Azarmehr Association of Women of Kurdistan.