Habibollah Latifi, a Kurdish student, had his execution delayed as around 300 people protested outside Sanandaj prison in Iran

This article is more than 9 years old

This article is more than 9 years old

A student who was to be executed in Iran today escaped death as hundreds of protesters arrived outside the prison where he is being held.

According to intelligence reports from human rights groups and activists in Iran, which contacted Amnesty International this morning, around 300 people arrived at the gates of Sanandaj Prison, Kordestan, in western Iran where Habibollah Latifi, 29, is facing the death sentence.

In a flurry of emails and text messages between activists and protesters at 6.30am, Amnesty researchers were told that the prison governor halted the execution, which usually takes place at daybreak, out of respect for the Islamic lunar month Moharram.

Latifi's parents were able to see him just after dawn.

Following what his lawyer said was an unfair trial, Latifi - a member of the Kurd minority in Iran and a politically active civil engineering student at Azad University, in the south-western province of Ilam - was convicted of Muharebeh (enmity against God).

Iranian authorities said he was a member of the armed opposition group, the Kurdish Independent Life party (PJAK). His family denies his connection with PJAK and claims the charges were fabricated.

Drewery Dyke, of Amnesty International said: "It's played out slightly differently than what has happened before. There is a reprieve but we are not sure for how long."

"The Kurdish community has been very plugged in on this one. I heard they had not gone ahead at 6.30am this morning. There were reports of some 300 people outside the prison itself.

Dyke added: "It looks like we have been successful - and indeed it seems that way. One needs to be cautious in these things. We are certainly not calling on our members and supporters to stop making appeals."

Latifi was arrested on 23 October 2007 in Sanandaj and was jailed at the prison where he has since remained.

His lawyers have been trying to get him considered for an amnesty or have his case re-examined. Amnesty said his trial was held behind closed doors without a lawyer to defend him. The death sentence was upheld by a Sanandaj appeal court on 18 February last year.