Azerbaijani (Turk) Activist Ali Shadi Receives Four-Month Prison Sentence

Ali Shadi, an Azerbaijani (Turk) activist, has been sentenced to four months of imprisonment by the Tabriz Revolutionary Court.

Shadi’s sentence of four months is for the charge of “Propaganda against the regime.” However, he has been acquitted of the charges of “membership in anti-regime groups” and “assembly and collusion to act against national security.”

On January 4, 2023, during the nationwide protests, security forces arrested Shadi at his workplace in Tabriz. He was subsequently released on bail from Tabriz Prison.

Background on the 2022 Nationwide Protests

The arrest of Mahsa Amini by Tehran Morality Police for her improper hejab and her suspicious death on September 16 sparked protests sweeping across Iran. Protesters came to the streets with the central slogan “Women, Life, Freedom” in protest against the performance, laws and structure of the regime. During the nationwide protests, thousands of people, including journalists, artists, lawyers, teachers, students and civil rights activists, were arrested.

 

Five Azerbaijani (Turk) Activists Arrested in Tabriz

Security forces in Tabriz arrested five Azerbaijani (Turk) activists on May 18, 2023. The individuals arrested are Davoud Shiri (Derakhshan), Hamzeh Valizadeh, Ruhollah Ahmadinejad, Javad Ahmadzadeh, and Alireza Sabri. They were taken to an undisclosed location following their arrest.

During the operation, the agents conducted searches in their residences and seized some of their personal belongings.

Davoud Shiri had a court session in April 2023 to address the charges against him. It’s worth noting that all these individuals have a history of previous arrests and convictions related to their activism.

At present, the location of their detention and the specific allegations against them remain unknown.

Azerbaijani Turk activist Hadi Navazi Sentence to Nine Months

The Revolutionary Court sentenced jailed Azerbaijani Turk activist Hadi Navazi to nine months in prison. In mid-September 2022, security forces arrested and jailed him at the Great Tehran Penitentiary.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Azerbaijani Turk activist Hadi Navazi was sentenced to nine months in prison on the charge of “propaganda against the regime” and “spreading falsehood on the Internet.”

Navazi is currently jailed in the Great Tehran Penitentiary. He was arrested allegedly for “publishing calls for protests.”

 

 

Azerbaijani Turk Activists Meysam and Mohammad Julani Arrested 

On September 22, security forces arrested Azerbaijani Turk activists Meysam Julani and Mohammad Julani and transferred them to an unidentified location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on September 22, two Turk activists Meysam Julani and Mohammad  Julani were arrested in Ardabil.

Their whereabouts and the charges against these individuals are still unknown.

HRANA has also reported the arrest of two other Azerbaijani Turk activists Asgar Akbarzadeh and Saeed Sadeghifar in Ardabil on the same day.

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.

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Now is definitely not the time to stop reading!

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.

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.