Iran Breaking: Family of Condemned Habibollah Latifi Arrested
Monday, December 27, 2010 at 6:24
Scott Lucas in EA Iran, Elahe Latifi, Habibollah Latifi, Middle East and Iran, Saleh Nikbakht

1745 GMT: The Guardian of London now has an article on the arrest of eight members of Habibollah Latifi's family. Reciting the narrative we have posted, The Guardian adds that its conversation with Habibollah Latifi's sister Elahe on Friday was interrupted frequently by Iranian intelligence services.

The newspaper also has this detail on the suspension of Latifi's hanging:

PUK media, an official news website of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), reported that Jalal Talabani, the president of Iraq and the founder of the PUK, had intervened to persuade the Iranian authorities to stop Latifi's execution.

However, Iran's ILNA state news agency quoted Latifi's lawyer, Saleh Nikbakht, as saying that "the claim that some officials in the countries of our neighbourhood have intervened to prevent the executions of some culprits including Latifi is not true".

1030 GMT: The youngest sister of Habibollah Latifi, the only family member not arrested in last night's raid by security forces, says she still does not know where her father, three brothers, three sisters, and sister-in-law are being held.

She said that she had been sprayed in the face during the raid, leaving her unconscious for hours.

0640 GMT: An activist lists six ways that readers can help in the campaign to free Habibollah Latifi's family, from the posting of news to the signing of petitions and appeals to officials.

0615 GMT: Just over 24 hours ago, we were reporting that the execution of Kurdish detainee Habibollah Latifi, accused of "war against God" and membership in the insurgent group PJAK, had been delayed.

This morning we learn that Iranian forces have raided the home of Latifi's father, arresting family members

Kalemeh reports that Latifi's father, three sisters, three brothers, and his sister-in-law have been detained. Supporters of the family have also been seized.

Latifi's sister Elahe has played a vital role in bringing attention to the case through her media interviews.

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