Jailed journalist Khosro Kordpour, who heads the Mokerian Website, has been charged with “enmity against God.”

Kordpour’s lawyer reports that his client has also been charged with “insulting the leader, propaganda against the regime and publishing falsehoods.”

Kordpour’s brother, Massoud Kordpour, has also been reportedly charged with “assembly and collusion to commit crimes against national security, insulting the leader and propaganda against the regime.”

Khosro Kordpour was arrested last March at his home in Mahabad, Kurdistan, and his brother was arrested two days later upon inquiring about his brother with judiciary officials.
(Radio Zamaneh)

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Mukrian News Agency, a website close to Kurdistan human rights activists, reported on the first court session of journalist brothers Khosrow and Massoud Kordpour on charges of “moharebeh” (enmity with God), “corruption on earth,” “propaganda activities against the regime,” “insulting the Supreme Leader,” and “propagating falsehoods.” The two journalists appeared at Branch One of the Mahabad Revolutionary Court, where their first trial session lasted two hours, and their next trial session was scheduled for end of August. The two brothers’ lawyer objected to the Revolutionary Court’s lack of qualification to try the Kordpours, reminding the court that their charges should be reviewed by the Press Court instead with a jury, as the law stipulates for journalists.

Prison officials transferred Khosrow and Massoud Kordpour to court in handcuffs, footcuffs, and in prison uniform, another point to which their lawyer objected, but the court disregarded both objections.

Khosrow Kordpour offered his defense to the court, stating that he is a journalist and that all his reports have been based on documented facts and according to the law, with the intent to inform, and without any criminal intent. Massoud Kordpour also stated that he is innocent of the charges and that providing analysis or stating opinions about the problems in Kurdistan is not a criminal act, and describing his prison treatment, he asked the court to clear him of his charges.

The court did not address the request of the lawyers representing the Kordpour brothers to release the two men on bail until their next trial session, and therefore the two were transferred back to Mahabad Central Prison. Khosrow and Massoud Kordpour have been in custody since March 2013.