Azerbaijani (Turk) Activist Mahmood Ojaghlou Sentenced to 16 Year in Prison

In a recent development, Azerbaijani (Turkish) activist Mahmood Ojaghlou has been handed a severe 16-year prison sentence by the Tehran Revolutionary Court. Ojaghlou is currently incarcerated at Evin Prison.

Presiding over the court, Judge Salavati delivered the verdict to Ojaghlou, informing him of the various charges and their corresponding sentences. The activist received five years for “assembly and collusion against national security,” one year for “propaganda against the regime,” five years for “joining anti-regime groups to act against national security” and five years for “inciting people to wage war.”
Additionally, Ojaghlou is sentenced to a travel ban, a ban from joining political parties, and groups, and limitations on his media and social media activities for two years.
Pursuant to Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, five years for one of the four charges above will be enforceable.
Ojaghlou was arrested on December 11, 2022, and jailed in Ward 4 of Evin Prison. He was indicted twice on December 12, 2022, and April 19, 2023.
It’s worth noting that he has a history of previous summons and detention related to his activism.

Sentences Reduced for Two Azerbaijani (Turk) Activists to One Year Imprisonment and Fine

Mokhtar Ebrahimi and Mir-Mousavi Zia Gargari, two Azerbaijani (Turk) activists, have had their sentences reduced on appeal to one year in prison and a fine, respectively. Initially, they had received a combined sentence of 11 years.

As per the East Azerbaijan Court of Appeals’ verdict, Ebrahimi was sentenced to one year for “propaganda against the regime,” while Zia Gargari was fined six million Toman.

In 2021, Ebrahimi had been sentenced to ten years for “forming groups against the regime” and “membership in anti-regime groups” by the Maragheh Court. Zia Gargari had also received a one-year sentence for “propaganda against the regime.”

Ebrahimi was arrested by security forces on August 26, 2020, and subsequently incarcerated in Maragheh Prison after 21 days. He was later released on bail.

On September 16, 2020, Zia Gargari was arrested at his residence in Naqadeh by security forces and detained in the Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility. He was released on bail from Maragheh Prison on October 7, 2020.

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.”

 

 

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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.

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.”