Intelligence forces arrested Khosrow Kordpour, editor-in-chief of the Mukrian News Agency, an outlet that covers the arrests and prosecutions of Kurdish activists and documents human rights violations. The U.S. government-funded Radio Farda reported that authorities had a warrant for his arrest and also searched his home, but did not offer further details.
Kordpour’s brother, freelance journalist Massoud Kordpour, was arrested at the Boukan Intelligence Office the next day when he went to inquire about the imprisonment of his brother. Authorities later searched his home and confiscated personal items. Massoud Kordpour had frequently covered human rights in Kurdistan province.
At the time, neither journalist was allowed access to his lawyer or family members, according to the independent press service Human Rights Activist News Agency. Another brother, As’ad, told Kurdpa on April 11, 2013, that a judge had forbidden the journalists’ family to visit the brothers.
The brothers were taken to court on September 16, 2013, and officially charged with “propaganda against the regime,” “insulting the supreme leader,” and “publishing falsehoods with the intent to create public anxiety,” according to the Mukrian News Agency. The judge did not issue a decision on the defense lawyer’s request to release the journalists on bail. Khosrow Kordpour and his brother Massoud were sent back to prison.
Khosrow was sentenced to five years of prison in exile in Tabriz prison for “assembly and collusion,” and one year in prison and two years of exile for “propagating against the state.” Massoud was sentenced to three years for “assembly and collusion against national security” and six months for “propagating against the state.”
In 2014, an appellate court reduced Massoud’s sentence to three years in prison and Khosrow’s to five years in prison, including two years of imprisonment in exile in Tabriz prison. Massoud Kordpour was released in December 2015 after completing his sentence.
Khosrow Kordpour was transferred to Tabriz Prison on March 19, 2014, according to Radio Zamaneh, and he was denied furlough, according to HRANA.