Azerbaijani Turk Activists Ayoub Shiri and Davoud Shiri Arrested in Tabriz

On Thursday, May 19, 2022, security forces arrested Azerbaijani Turk activists Ayoub Shiri and Davoud Shiri and transferred them to an unidentified location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on Thursday, May 19, 2022, Azerbaijani Turk activists Ayoub and Davoud Shiri were arrested by security forces.

According to an informed source, one of the individuals was arrested while he was coming from a mourning ceremony and the other at his workplace.

The reasons for these arrests and the whereabouts of the individuals are still unknown.

Ayoub and Davoud Shiri have faced other arrests and convictions on prior occasions. On August 23, 2021, they were released from Tabriz Prison after serving their sentences. To be released, however, they had to be bailed out with 100 million tomans for the new legal case opened against them while they were jailed. For this new case, on June 26, 2021, they were indicted on the charges of “creating illegal groups in order to disturb national security.”

Christian Convert Shuresh Mohammadi Fallah Sentenced to One Year in Prison 

Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran sentenced Christian Convert Shuresh Mohammadi Fallah to one year in prison and a fine. On July 18, 2021, he was arrested by security forces and released on bail on November 3, 2021.  

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Christian convert Shuresh Mohammadi Fallah was sentenced to one year in prison and a five-million-tomans fine on the charge of “acting against national security through membership in Evangelical Christian home church.”

On July 18, 2021, IRGC Intelligence agents arrested and transferred Mohammadi Fallah to a detention facility in Tehran. He was held for 35 days in solitary confinement. Subsequently, he was indicted by Branch 3 of the Evin Prosecutor’s Office and after completing the interrogation process, he was sent to the Greater Tehran Central Penitentiary.

On November 3, 2021, he was released temporarily on a 500 million tomans bail.

The persecution of Christian converts stands in blatant violation of Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which state that every individual has the right to freedom of religion and belief and freedom to express it openly or secretly.

 

 

Two Christian Converts Jailed in Lakan and Evin Prisons for Sentencing

On Saturday, April 16, 2022, Christian convert Sekineh Behjati was sent to Lakan Prison in Rasht for sentencing. On the same day, another Christian convert Fariba Dalir was jailed in Evin Prison to serve her two-year sentence.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on Saturday, April 16, 2022, Sekineh Behjati was jailed in Lakan Prison to serve her two-year sentence.

In February of 2020, along with three other Christian converts, Behjat was arrested by security forces at her house on the charges of “propaganda against the regime, and assembly and collusion against national security”. In May 2022, in her first court session held by Branch 10 of the Revolutionary court of Rasht, Behjat was granted a bail of 500 million tomans. Since she was not able to provide the bail, she was transferred to Lakan prison, until six days later, when she was released after the bail was reduced to 200 million tomans.

Subsequently, the court sentenced her to two years in prison on the charges of “acting against national security through organizing a home church service and propaganda against the regime through preaching evangelical Christianity.”

Similarly, Article 18 News Outlet reported the imprisonment of another Christian Convert Farbia Dalir in Evin Prison. She had been sentenced to five years in prison on the charge of “acting against national security through establishing a home church service”. Later on, this verdict was  reduced to two years in prison. Dalir had been arrested on July 19, 2021, along with five other Christian converts.

The persecution of Christian converts stands in blatant violation of Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which state that every individual has the right to freedom of religion and belief and freedom to express it openly or secretly.

 

 

Abdollah Childavi Arrested in Ahvaz City

On Wednesday, April 6, 2022, the Ministry of Intelligence agents arrested Abdollah Childavi, a resident of Ahvaz city. The Revolutionary Court of Ahvaz had previously sentenced him to five years imprisonment.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on Wednesday, April 6, 2022, the Ministry of Intelligence agents arrested Abdollah Childavi in Ahvaz city.

Earlier, Branch 3 of the Revolutionary Court of Ahvaz had sentenced him to five years in prison on the charges of “propaganda against the regime and membership in anti-regime groups”. In this case, another defendant, Saleh Tamuli was sentenced to 3 years in prison on the charges of “propaganda against the regime and assembly and collusion against national security.” This case had been handed over to Branch 8 of the Judgement Enforcement Unit of Ahvaz for enforcement.  

On November 6, 2018, security forces arrested them and sent the two individuals to Sheiban Prison in Ahvaz after completing the interrogation process. Mr. Tamuli was released on September 7, 2019, and Mr. Childavi on October 6, 2020.

Abdollah Childavi is 43 years old and the father of four.

Azerbaijani Turk Activist Yousef Salahshour Sentenced to One Year in Prison

Branch 3 of the Revolutionary Court of Tabriz sentenced Azerbaijani Turk Activist Yousef Salahshour to one year in prison, two years ban from leaving the country and two years prohibition of social and political activities on social media.  

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Azerbaijani Turk Activist Yousef Salahshour was sentenced to one year in prison and additional punishments.

 Salahshour’s lawyer, Asghar Mohammadi was informed about the verdict.

Recently Branch 36 of the Court of Appeals had dropped the second charge in this case, of which he had been sentenced to 37 lashes and a fine by Branch 111 of the Criminal Court.

On July 25 of 2021, Yousef Salahshour was arrested by intelligence agents and transferred to the detention center of the Ministry of Intelligence in Tabriz. On August 11, in a phone call, Salahshouri informed his family that he had been transferred to Tabriz Prison. He was released on bail on August 14. Then on October 3,  the Revolutionary Court of Tabriz held the first court session.

On July 24, a number of citizens in Tabriz marched and protested in support of the widespread Khuzestan uprising against water shortages and government mismanagement. During the protests, a number of these citizens, including Mr. Salahshour were arrested.

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Azerbaijani Turk Activist Mohammad Aini Jailed in Rasht Prison

Detained Azerbaijani Turk activist Mohammad Aini informed his family in a phone call that he had been relocated to Rasht Prison. On January 22, he was summoned via phone by the Ministry of Intelligence and was arrested after an appearance at the Ministry’s office in Rasht City.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Aini has faced other arrests. In October of 2020, amid widespread protests in the Azerbaijani regions in the Western part of the country, he was arrested in Rasht City. After some time, he was released from jail on bail. In February of 2021, he was tried by Branch 12 of the Revolutionary Court of Rasht on the charge of “acting against national security” and was finally acquitted.

Three Sunni Prisoners Sentenced to Death

Branch 2 of the Revolutionary Court of Zahedan City has recently sentenced three Sunni prisoners, Mohamad-Karim Barakzai Akson, Mohmmad Barahooi Anjomani and Edirs Bilrani to death on the one charge and 15 years imprisonment on another. These citizens are currently jailed in Zahedan Prison and have been accused of membership in dissident groups and what the court called “terrorist acts”.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, according to a verdict issued by Branch 2 of Zahedan’s Revolutionary Court on February 24, the defendants have each been sentenced to 15 years imprisonment on the charge of “membership in a rebel group” and the death penalty on the charge of “spreading corruption on earth through terrorist activities”, per Article 287 of the Islamic Penal Code.

Article 287 of the Islamic Penal Code states that groups which launch an armed insurrection against the Islamic Republic of Iran are considered rebellious and members, if they use a weapon, will be punished by death.

The specific acts on which the charge is invoked are unknown.

These citizens were apprehended in September of 2020 and have since been jailed in Zahedan Prison.

Azerbaijani Turk Activist Roozbeh Piri Arrested in Tabriz

Last Saturday, security forces arrested Azerbaijani Turk activist Roozbeh Piri. This arrest may have occurred in order to imprison him and force him to serve his sentence.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Branch 3 of the Revolutionary Court of Tabriz, headed by Judge Ghazinejad, had sentenced Piri to one year in prison on the charge of “propaganda against the regime” and five years on the charge of “membership in anti-regime political groups”. On appeal, this verdict was reduced to eight months and three years respectively. By applying Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, three years imprisonment is enforceable for the latter charge.

On September 9, security forces arrested him in Tabriz City. After holding him in detention, they transferred him to Tabriz Prison. On September 29, he was released on bail.

Piri has previously been arrested and convicted for peaceful activities. He was arrested during the nationwide protests in Tabriz in November 2019 and sentenced by the court of appeals to 91 days in prison. He was released from Tabriz Prison in July 2020 after serving his sentence.

Later, he was charged with “spreading lies” on the Internet and sentenced to pay a fine of 5 million tomans (1190 USD) by Branch 103 of Tabriz’s Criminal Court. This sentence was upheld on appeal. Reportedly, the conviction was in retaliation for revealing his brother’s harassment and torture by intelligence agents.

Piri is the editor of Tabriz Magazine and the founder of Navid Etedal, an independent student organization at Tabriz Azad University.

 

Azerbaijani Turk Activist Mohammad Aini Still in Incommunicado Detention

Azerbaijani Turk activist Mohammad Aini is still in incommunicado detention after 12 days. His whereabouts and the reason for his arrest are still unknown despite family inquiry.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Aini, a resident of Rasht, was arrested on January 23 after an appearance at the Ministry of Intelligence Office in Rasht City. After, he was transferred to an unidentified location. He was summoned by the Ministry of Intelligence the day before the arrest.

Since the arrest, he has not called his family and security and judicial authorities have not provided any info to his family about the reason for this arrest and his whereabouts.

Aini has faced other arrests. In October of 2020, amid the widespread protests in the Azerbaijani regions in the Western part of the country, he was arrested in Rasht City. After some time, he was released from jail on bail. In February of 2021, he was tried by Branch 12 of the Revolutionary Court of Rasht on the charge of “acting against national security” and was finally acquitted.

Azerbaijani Turk Activist Abbas Nikravan Sentenced to 91 Days In Prison

Abbas Nikravan, an Azerbaijani Turk Activist and resident of Salmas City, was sentenced to 91 days in prison by the Criminal Court of Salmas.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Branch 102 of Salmas’s Criminal Court sentenced Nikravan on the charge of “propaganda against the regime on the Internet”. The sentence is grounded in Article 500 of the Islamic Penal Code.

On September 5, 2021, security forces arrested and transferred him to the Ministry of Intelligence Office in Urmia City. On September 21 of last year, he was released on bail from Urmia Prison.

Nikravan has another arrest on his rap sheet. On July 5, 2018, he was arrested during an annual gathering in Babak Castle and released on bail six days later.