Kurdish artist Saman Yasin has received temporary medical leave after two years in prison. Arrested during the Women, Life, Freedom protests in 2022, he was released after posting a significant bail. Despite severe torture and legal turmoil, including an overturned death sentence, Yasin’s recent verdict led to a five-year prison sentence and exile.
Kurdish artist Saman Seydi, popularly known as Saman Yasin, has been granted temporary medical leave after spending two years behind bars. He was arrested during the Women, Life, Freedom protests in 2022 and has now been released from Ghezel Hesar Prison, following a bail payment of 40 billion rials, roughly 60,000 USD. During his imprisonment, Yasin endured severe torture, which included a ruptured nose, and he faced multiple transfers to a psychiatric hospital. Previously, his five-year prison sentence was confirmed by the Tehran Provincial Court of Appeal. Interestingly, his recent prison status report did not mention his earlier sentence of exile to Shahr-e Babak Prison. Saman Yasin’s arrest occurred amidst anti-government protests in Tehran on October 2, 2022. Charged with “enmity against God” (moharebeh), he was sentenced to death in December by the Islamic Revolutionary Court, overseen by Judge Mohammadreza Amouzad. However, in January 2023, the Supreme Court overturned this death sentence, citing insufficient investigation, and called for a retrial. The retrial finally concluded on April 17, 2024, where Yasin was found guilty of “assembly and collusion to commit a crime against national security.” Consequently, he was handed a five-year prison term along with an exile sentence to Shahr-e Babak. His lawyer received the news of the verdict on April 21.
The case of Saman Yasin highlights the ongoing struggles faced by artists and activists in Iran, particularly amid widespread protests for women’s rights and social freedoms. Detained for expressing dissent, Yasin’s treatment while imprisoned—including torture and mental health crises—underscores alarming human rights violations in the region. His evolving legal battles showcase a complex system that often punishes those who challenge the status quo under severe legal accusations.
Saman Yasin’s case is a poignant reminder of the harsh realities for dissenters in Iran. After enduring two years of torture and an overturned death sentence, his recent temporary medical leave reflects both a momentary reprieve and a continued struggle against systemic oppression. As the landscape of protests and human rights violations unfolds, Yasin’s journey embodies the resilience of those fighting for freedom and justice.
Original Source: kurdistanhumanrights.org
