Category: Ethnic Minorities

Azerbaijani Turk Activist Roozbeh Piri Sentenced to Six Years In Prison

Posted on by A MN
Ethnic Minorities, News
Navid Etedal, Roozbeh Piri, Tabriz Azad University, Tabriz Magazine

Recently, Branch 3 of Tabriz’s Revolutionary Court sentenced Azerbaijani Turk activist Roozbeh Piri to six years in prison. If upheld on appeal, the severest punishment of 5 years from this sentence is enforceable as dictated by Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the court, headed by Judge Fath-Nejad, sentenced 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 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 had 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. Piri 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.

Two Citizens Arrested By Security Forces in Sanandaj

Posted on by A MN
Ethnic Minorities, News
niar, Saadi Mendari, sanandaj county, Siamak Arang

On Sunday, December 5, 2021, security forces arrested two residents of the village “Niar” in Sanandaj County.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, Saadi Menbari, 26 years old, and Siamak Arang, 26 years old were arrested by security forces who searched their houses at the time of the arrest without a warrant.

The reason for arrest, the charges and the whereabouts of these detainees are unknown at the time of writing.

Mohammad Imami Sentenced to Imprisonment and Flogging

Posted on by A MN
Ethnic Minorities, News
Azerbaijani Turk activist, flogging, Imami, Khuzestan, lashes, Ministry of Intelligence, Mohammad Imami, Tabriz, Tabriz City, Tabriz Protests

Branch 113 of the criminal court in Tabriz sentenced Azerbaijani Turk activist, Mohammad Imami, a resident of Tabriz, to 16 months imprisonment and 40 lashes.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the sentence has been suspended for five years.

Azerbaijani Turk activist, Mohammad Imami was sentenced to 8 months in prison on a charge of “contumacy the government agent’s order”, 8 months in prison on a charge of “disturbing the public order”, and 40 lashes on a charge of “deliberately injuring the police officer”.

On July 24, security forces arrested Imami and transferred him to a detention center at the disposal of the Ministry of Intelligence in Tabriz City. After spending one week in detention, he was released on a bail of 80 million tomans.

It is worth mentioning that on the same day of his arrest, several other citizens in Tabriz were also arrested in regards to the protests and demonstrations of Tabriz citizens in support of the nationwide Khuzestan protests against water mismanagement.

Azerbaijani Turk Activist Parviz Siabi Sentenced to 16 Years Imprisonment

Posted on by A MN
Ethnic Minorities, News
Ardabil, ardabil central prison, ardabil prison, Ardabil Revolutionary Court, Islamiic Penal Code, Khuzestan, Khuzestan protests, Parviz Siabi Gorjan, Tabriz

Recently, Azerbaijani Turk activist Parviz Siabi was sentenced to 16 years imprisonment.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Siabi was arrested amid the protests of July of this year in Tabriz, which was held in support of the nationwide Khuzestan protests.

Branch 1 of Ardabil Revolutionary Court sentenced 75-year-old resident of Ardabil Parviz Siabi Gorjan to 16 years in prison. He received one-year imprisonment on a charge of “propaganda against the regime via interviews with anti-regime media and posts on social media”, 10 years on a charge of “forming unlawful groups as an attempt to disrupt national security”, and finally 5 years on a charge of “membership in unlawful anti-regime groups”. Grounded on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, a severest punishment of 10 years is enforceable for him.

On Sunday, July 25, security forces arrested Siabi and detained him in a Ministry of Intelligence detention center in Ardabil. After 11 days, he was transferred to Ardabil Central Prison. On August 29, he was released on bail of 250 million tomans from Ardabil Prison.

Siabi had been arrested before for his civil activities. On September 29, 2020, security forces arrested him along with 7 other Azerbaijani Turk activists in an assembly in a park in Ardabil. On October 29 of that year, he was released on bail from Ardabil Central prison. In regards to this arrest, he was summoned to appear at Branch 10 of the Public and Revolutionary Court of Ardabil.

Azerbaijani Turk Activists Amir Sattari and Yousef Salahshouri Sentenced to Imprisonment, Fines and Flogging

Posted on by A MN
Ethnic Minorities
Azerbaijani Turk activists, censorship, Khuzestan, Khuzestan protests, Khuzestan water crisis, Salahshouri, Tabriz, Tabriz Criminal Court, Tabriz Prison, Yousef Salahshouri

Recently, Branch 111 of Tabriz Criminal Court confirmed sentences of prison time, fines, and flogging for Azerbaijani Turk activists Amir Sattari and Yousef Salahshouri.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Amir Sattari was sentenced to 91 days in prison, of which the detention period will be subtracted, and a fine of 40 million rials after being charged of “inciting violence via cyberspace”. 50 days of this prison term have been suspended for two years.

Salahshouri received a fine of 51 million rials on a charge of “inciting violence”, and sentenced to 37 lashes on a charge of “disturbing public order”.

On July 25, Yousef Salahshouri 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.

Sattari was arrested on July 22 by security forces and transferred to Tabriz Prison. He was released from Tabriz prison on August 15.

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

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At least Nine Citizens Arrested by Security Forces in Baneh City

Posted on by A MN
Ethnic Minorities, News
Baneh, Baneh County, Behzad Pezeshki, Citizens arrested, Citizens detained, Farhad Pezeshki, Farzad Pezeshki, Jamal Morovati, Loghman Pezeshki, Manaf Pezeshki, Refigh Pezeshki, Saeed Ghaderi, Salah Pezeshki

On Thursday, November 11, a group of at least nine people was arrested by security forces in Baneh County and transferred to an unidentified location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, security forces searched the citizens’ house without a warrant during the reportedly-violent arrest, and confiscated belongings such as laptops, cameras, cell phones and books.

The report identified the known arrestees as Salah Pezeshki, Refigh Pezeshki, Manaf Pezeshki, Farzad Pezeshki, Behzad Pezeshki, Farhad Pezeshki, Loghman Pezeshki, Jamal Morovati and Saeed Ghaderi, but an informed source claims that more than nine people has been arrested.

The reasons for the arrests, as well as the charges, are unknown as of this writing.

Mashhad Resident Mahmood Niroomand Sentenced to 10 Years Imprisonment

Posted on by A MN
Ethnic Minorities, News, Prisoners
Dargaz County, Mahmood Niroomand, Mashhad, Mashhad City, Polgard Village, Razavi Khorasan, Razavi Khorasan Province, Vakilabad prison, Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad

Recently, Mashhad resident Mahmood Niroomand was sentenced to ten years in prison by the Revolutionary Court.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, he was charged with “acting against national security, propaganda against the regime on the internet and association with anti-regime groups”.

36-year-old Niroomand, who was notified of the verdict in recent days, is a native of Polgard village in Dargaz County in Razavi Khorasan Province.

On May 25 of this year, security forces arrested Niroomand without a warrant and transferred him to the detention center, at disposal of the Ministry of Intelligence, for interrogation. On June 24, he was relocated to Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad. He was denied access to lawyer and family visitation throughout the detention.

 

 

 

Azerbaijani Turk Activist Vodood Asadi Arrested and Transferred to an Unidentified Location

Posted on by A MN
Ethnic Minorities, News
Activist arrested, Asadi, Azerbaijani Turk activist, Citizen arrest, Citizen arrested, Rasht, Rasht City, unknown location, Vodood Asadi

On Saturday, October 30, Azerbaijani Turk Activist Vodood Asadi, a resident of Rasht City, was arrested by security forces.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Asadi was transferred to an unknown location following the arrest.

Security forces searched his house and confiscated both his and his family’s cell phones. Vodood Asadi has also previously been detained and summoned.

The reason for the arrest and the charges are still unknown as of this writing.

Azerbaijani Turk Activist Nader Sadeghian Sentenced to Four Months Imprisonment

Posted on by A MN
Ethnic Minorities, Prisoners
Azerbaijani Turk, Azerbaijani Turk activist, Hamlbar, Khuzestan, Nader Sadeghian, Revolutionary Court of Tabriz, Sadeghian, Tabriz Prison

On October 20, Azerbaijani Turk activist Nader Sadeghian was sentenced to four months in prison by Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Tabriz city.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, 100 days of this term has been suspended for four years.

The court, headed by judge Hamlbar, issued the verdict to his lawyer. Mr Sadeghian has been convicted of the charges of “online provoking people to act the violent crimes.”

On Saturday, July 24, a number of Tabriz’s citizens protested in support of Khuzestan protests against water shortages and general mismanagement of the crisis. During this protest, a number of people were arrested.

Nader Sadeghian was arrested on July 25, by intelligence agents and transferred to a security detention center in Tabriz. After 17 days, he informed his family about his relocation to Tabriz Prison. He was released on bail on October 15.

 

Imprisoned Azerbaijani Turk Activist Abbas Lessani Dispatched to Medical Clinic

Posted on by A MN
Ethnic Minorities, News, Prisoners
Abbas Lessani, Ardabil, ardabil prison, Azerbaijani Turk activist, Lesani, Revolutionary Court in Tabriz, Tabriz, Yazd, Yazd City

Yesterday, October 21, due to acute pain in his knees and backbone, Azerbaijani Turk activist Abbas Lessani was dispatched to a medical clinic outside Ardabil Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Lessani was dispatched to a clinic for an MRI test due to acute pain in knees and backbone. This is the third time that he has been dispatched outside of the prison for treatment.

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.

On May 25, 2021, he was sent off to the hospital for the treatment of painful backbone and knees.

On June 24, 2021, due to a number of medical problems including high blood pressure, he was sent off shortly to a medical clinic in Ardabil for a medical test. After echocardiography, he was diagnosed with stenosis (a widening of the opening of a heart valve). Therefore he requires further treatment outside of the prison.

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

Thereafter, the Ardabil Revolutionary Court sentenced him to eight years imprisonment and 2 years exile in Yazd City on a charge of “forming a group with the purpose to disrupt national security”.

This verdict was increased to 15 years imprisonment and two years exile on appeal. In July 2020, his appeal against the conviction to the supreme court of Iran was dismissed. Under Article 134, a maximum sentence of 10 years is enforceable. In addition, earlier Branch 1 of the court of appeal in Ardabil had dismissed the request of applying ” Punishment Reduction Law”.

In May 2019, in another 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 and in favour of opposition political groups”.

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

He was reportedly arrested for publishing a video in which he had encouraged people to attend the gathering. After spending nine days in detention, Lessani was released on bail.