Azerbaijani Turk Activists Asgar Akbarzadeh and Saeed Sadeghifar Arrested

On September 22, security forces arrested Azerbaijani Turk activists Asgar Akbarzadeh and Saeed Sadeghifar and transferred them to an unidentified location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on September 22, two Turk activists Asgar Akbarzadeh and Saeed Sadeghifar were arrested in Ardabil.

The agents search Akbarzadeh’s house at the time of the arrest. Sadeghifar was arrested at his workplace.

Both of these activists face arrests and convictions on prior occasions.

Azerbaijani Turk Activist Rahim Panahian Arrested in Tabriz

On August 28, 2022, security forces arrested Azerbaijani Turk Activist Rahim Panahian at his father’s house in Tabriz and transferred him to an unidentified location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on August 28, 2022, Azerbaijani Turk Activist Rahim Panahian, age 19, was arrested in Tabriz.

The reason for this arrest, the charges, and his whereabouts are unknown so far.

Azerbaijani Turk Activist Yashar Piri Arrested in Tabriz

On August 17, 2022, the Ministry of Intelligence summoned Azerbaijani Turk activist Yashar Piri in Tabriz and arrested him after interrogation. The agents transferred him to an unidentified location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on August 17, 2022, Azerbaijani Turk activist Yashar Piri was arrested in Tabriz.

The reason for this arrest is unknown so far.

Piri was arrested on two prior occasions. Amid nationwide protests, on November 17, 2019, security forces arrested and held him for 26 days in an IRGC detention facility. They later sent him to Tabriz Prison for three months until he was released on a bail.  

Teacher and Azerbaijani Turk Activist Shokrollah Ghahremani Fard Arrested

On August 1, 2022, security forces arrested Shokrollah Ghahremani Fard, a teacher and Azerbaijani Turk Activist, in Khoda Afarin County, East Azerbaijan Province. The agents searched his house and transferred him to an unidentified location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on August 1, 2022, teacher and Azerbaijani Turk Activist Shokrollah Ghahremani Fard was arrested.

Ghahremani Fard’s son, Yashar Ghahremani Fard informed the public about the arrest of his father on social media, “Over 8 intelligence agents raided our house, searched and confiscated some of my father’s belongings and took my father. Still, we do not have any information about his whereabouts.”

Azerbaijani Turk Activist Akbar Abolzadeh on Hunger Strike

Azerbaijani Turk Activist Akbar Abolzadeh who is in Tabriz Prison, went on hunger strike in protest against the rejection of his request for furlough.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Azerbaijani Turk Activist Akbar Abolzadeh is on hunger strike since July 17.

In October 2017, the Revolutionary Court of Ahar, East Azerbaijan Province, sentenced Abolzadeh to 10 months in prison for participating in demonstrations against a TV program which insulted Azeri-speaking Iranians. The verdict was upheld on appeal.

On June 7, 2022, the security forces arrested Abolzadeh in Ahar and took him to Ahar Prison.

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Azerbaijani Turk Activist Abdollah Sadooghi Sentenced to Imprisonment 

In a retrial, Branch 3 of the Revolutionary Court of Tabriz sentenced Azerbaijani Turk Activist Abdollah Sadooghi to three years and six months in prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Abdollah Sadooghi was sentenced to three years and six months in prison.

According to the verdict issued by Branch 3 of the Revolutionary Court of Tabriz, Sadooghi was sentenced to two years and six months imprisonment on the charges of “membership in separatist groups” and six months on the charge of “propaganda against the regime”. If the verdict is confirmed on appeal, based on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, two years and six months for the first charge will be enforceable.

Initially, Sadooghi had been sentenced to six years imprisonment in absentia. However, his request for a retrial was accepted.

On September 23, 2020, security forces arrested Sadooghi at his house in Tabriz. He was released after a while.

Sadooghi had previously been arrested and convicted for his civil activities.  

Azerbaijani Turk Activist Jafar Esmailzadeh Arrested in Tabriz

On Tuesday, June 7, 2022, security forces arrested Azerbaijani Turk activist Jafar Esmailzadeh at his house in Tabriz. The agents confiscated some of his personal belongings.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on Tuesday, June 7, 2022,  activist Jafar Esmailzadeh was arrested in Tabriz.

The reason for Esmailzadeh’s arrest and his whereabouts are unknown so far.

On prior occasions, Esmailzadeh faced other arrests and convictions. On May 29, 2019, he and his son, Milad Esmailzadeh were arrested and later released on bail of 50 million tomans after five days. Subsequently, branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Tabriz sentenced Esmailzadeh to six months in prison. This verdict was upheld on appeal.

On June 7, 2020, Esmailzadeh was imprisoned after an appearance at the Judgment Enforcement Unit for sentencing and was released after serving out his sentence.

Azerbaijani Turk Activist Abbas Lesani Sentenced to Eight Years

In a retrial, Branch 1 of Iran’s Supreme Court sentenced Azerbaijani Turk activist Abbas Lesani to eight years in prison and two years of living in exile in Yazd County.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Azerbaijani Turk activist Abbas Lesani was sentenced to eight years imprisonment and two years compulsory residence in Yazd. He has been convicted on the charge of “creating and running groups with the purpose of disrupting national security.”  Lesani was later exonerated of the charge of “acting against national security” for which he had been initially sentenced to five years in prison.

Lessani has been held in Ardabil Prison since January 2019. In two separate cases, he has been sentenced to ten years and ten months combined.

Lesani had suffered from medical issues and requires further treatment outside of the prison, which he was denied.

On January 15, 2019, Abbas Lessani was summoned by Branch 2 of the Revolutionary Court in Tabriz and was arrested and transferred to Ardabil Prison.

The Ardabil Revolutionary Court sentenced Lesani to eight years imprisonment and 2 years exile in Yazd City on a charge of “creating a group with the purpose of disrupting national security”.

The verdict was increased to 15 years imprisonment and two years exile on appeal. In July 2020, his appeal was dismissed. Under Article 134, a maximum sentence of 10 years is enforceable. 

In May 2019, in another legal case, Branch 26 of the Court of appeal in Eastern Azerbaijan sentenced Lessani to ten months in prison on a charge of “propaganda against the regime in favor of opposition political groups”.

Abbas Lessani has faced other arrests and convictions due to his civil activities. On July 2, 2018, together with three residents of Ardabil, he was arrested by the intelligence agents, prior to holding an annual gathering in Babak Fort (a gathering to celebrate the Babak Khorramdin’s birthday).

 

Azerbaijani Turk Activists Sima Alipour and Davood Drakhshan Arrested in Tabriz

Azerbaijani Turk Activists Sima Alipour and Davood Drakhshan were arrested in Tabriz and transferred to a detention facility.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, in recent days, the Ministry of Intelligence arrested an Azerbaijani Turk Activists couple, Sima Alipour and Davood Drakhshan, in Tabriz.

The reasons for this arrest and the charges are unknown so far.

Gilaki Civil Rights Activist Peyman Sokooti Arrested

On Monday, May 23, 2022, security forces arrested Gilaki civil rights activist Peyman Sokooti. The agents searched his house and confiscated some of his personal belongings including his cell phone and laptop.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, On Monday, May 23, 2022, Gilaki civil activist Peyman Sokooti was arrested in Kuchesfahan City in Gilan Province.

The reason for his arrest and his whereabouts are still unknown.