The family of Hamid Hossein-Nejad Heydaranlou, an impoverished Kulbar sentenced to death, has been staging a death row protest outside Urmia Central Prison since Thursday night, calling for an immediate halt to the execution and demanding justice for their son.
Women in the family—particularly Hamid’s wife and mother—have taken a leading role in this protest, refusing to leave the prison gates despite the cold nights, intimidation, and uncertainty. Their steadfast presence has drawn attention to the growing number of political prisoners on death row in Iran and the urgent need for justice and due process.
On the morning of Friday, April 18, prison officials informed the family that Hamid’s execution, which had been scheduled for the previous night, was temporarily suspended by order of the Urmia prosecutor. However, the family remains outside prison, insisting they will not end their sit-in until they are granted direct and sustained communication—or an in-person visit—with their loved one. They emphasize that no official written confirmation of the suspension has been provided, and without such documentation, they cannot trust the verbal assurances given by prison authorities.
Who is Hamid Hossein-Nejad Heydaranlou?
Hamid Hossein-Nejad was a kulbar, or border porter—one of many impoverished Kurdish laborers who carry heavy loads across the treacherous mountain borderlands of western Iran.
A 39-year-old father of three from Chaldoran County, Hamid was arrested in April 2023 near the Iran-Turkey border. Although a bail order was issued, he was transferred to an Intelligence Ministry facility in Urmia, where he endured nearly a year of severe physical and psychological torture. With limited literacy, he was allegedly forced to sign false confessions under duress, linking him to the PKK—a claim his family firmly rejects.
In July 2024, the Urmia Revolutionary Court sentenced Hamid to death for “armed rebellion,” reportedly in a rushed session based solely on the judge’s so-called “personal knowledge.” His appeal was rejected by Iran’s Supreme Court. Hamid remains in Urmia Central Prison, where contact with his family has been extremely limited.
Final Visit Under Inhumane Conditions
On Thursday, April 17, the family was permitted what prison authorities described as a final visit. They report that the conditions were inhumane and degrading: Hamid Hossein-Nejad Heydaranlou was shackled, handcuffed, and surrounded by heavy security. During the short visit, he reportedly raised his voice and proclaimed his innocence.
A day earlier, on April 16, Hamid had been transferred from the political prisoners’ ward to quarantine, a step that often signals the regime’s final preparations for an execution. His lawyer was informed that the execution was scheduled for April 18.
Political Prisoner’s Family Demands Cancellation of Execution Sentence
So far, only a single 50-second phone call has been allowed between Hamid and his daughter and brother. The family stresses that this fleeting contact has done little to ease their fears. Hamid’s wife and family have publicly voiced their refusal to abandon the protest until they can see him face-to-face or receive undeniable proof that his execution has been formally halted.
