Osman Esmaeili

On 24 December 2023, labour activist and political prisoner Osman Esmaeili was transferred to a hospital from Saqqez prison due to health issues. He was returned to prison without completing his treatment. Osman Esmaeili is currently serving a 1 year and 6 months prison sentence.

It has been reported that Osman Esmaeili was taken to the hospital due to severe abdominal pain, where a doctor diagnosed him with an inguinal hernia requiring surgery. However, he was returned to Saqqez prison without completing the treatment due to opposition from judicial authorities.

On 13 November 2023, Osman Esmaeili was arrested after being summoned to Branch 2 of the Enforcement of Judgments Office of the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor's Office in Saqqez and was transferred to Saqqez Central Prison to serve his prison sentence.

In early September 2023, Osman Esmaeili was sentenced by Judge Javad Mostafaei, head of Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Saqqez, to 2 years, 6 months, and 15 days in prison for membership in opposition groups and 7 months and 15 days for propaganda against the system. However, considering Article 38 of the Islamic Penal Code, his age, and Article 6 of the Law on Reduction of Punishments, his sentence was reduced to 1 year and 4 months, which was confirmed by the Kurdistan Province Court of Appeal.

On 8 February 2023, Osman Esmaeili was arrested by security forces while walking with his child. After being transferred to the Intelligence Office in Saqqez and interrogated, his child was released. Osman Esmaeili was then moved to a security detention centre in Sanandaj and, on 15 March 2023, was transferred to Saqqez prison after interrogation and charges were explained. On 17 April 2023, he was released on bail. In early June 2023, he was summoned to a hearing at the Revolutionary Court of Saqqez and was tried.

This labour activist had previously been arrested or summoned multiple times by security agencies in Saqqez and sentenced to prison terms.