Iran upholds death sentences for Mr. Adnan Hasanpour and Mr. Abdel Wahd (Hiwa) Butimar. Yet, on September 4, 2008, the Tehran Supreme Court overturned the death sentence pronounced against the journalist Adnan Hassanpour, because the judgment could not consider Mr. Hassanpour as a “moraheb” (an enemy of God). His case was sent back to the revolutionary tribunal in the city of Sanandaj.

Defend International condemns the killing of three Kurdish youth by Syrian Security Forces in the northeastern area of Qamishli. DI demands an empirical investigation of the use of excessive force against the celebrators.

The lives of the Washington Post journalists Andrea Bruce and Joshua Partlow are in danger over a story about Turkey’s latest military action in Kurdistan Region. Defend International urges authorities to ensure Bruce’s and Partlow’s safety; provide the highest level of security for them and to put an end to all kinds of harassment against them.