Mohammad Sadiq Kaboudvand

Mohammad Sadiq Kaboudvand is an Iranian Kurdish activist and journalist. He was the editor of "Payam e Mardom" [ [http://www.payam-mardom.com/Payam-Mardom/] ] . He is also the founder of Kurdistan Human Rights Organization("Rêxistina Mafê Mirovan li Kurdistanê" in Kurdish). Founded in 2005, the organization is a politically and religiously independent body. It has offices in Tehran and Kurdistan province.

According to iranhumanrights.org, he has been in custody since June 2007, and is serving an 11- year prison term. Kaboudvand was kept in solitary confinement for 5 months in Evin Prison’s Sections 209 and 240. In April 2008, he suffered a stroke and was taken to a specialist to receive treatment.

Kaboudavand documented and reported on human rights violations in Iran’s Kurdish areas, from April 9, 2005, when he established HROK, until the time of his arrest. Charges he was convicted of are “acting against national security through founding of HROK,” “widespread propaganda against the state by disseminating news,” “opposing Islamic penal laws by publicizing punishments such as stoning and executions,” and “advocating on behalf of political prisoners.” Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.