Sohaila Kargar Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison

HRANA News Agency – Sohaila Kargar, Turk (Azeri) activist, was sentenced to 5 years in prison on charge of membership in a group with the intension of distorting public order.

According to the report of Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), judge Zoughi of branch number one of the revolutionary court of Qazvin, sentenced Sohaila Kargar, Turk (Azeri) activist to 5 years in prison, based on article 499 of Islamic penal code, on charge of membership in a group with the intention of distorting public order.

“Creating a Telegram group and suggesting ethnic challenging subjects” are the most important parts of the allegations, which are described as “pan-Turkism movement, coordination with sabotage and separatist groups for increasing South-Azerbaijan’s territory”.

The lawsuit against Ms. Kargar is a spectrum of charges, and even anti-religion charges, but yet the final sentence has just referred to article 499 and membership in an illegal society.

A close source to Ms. Kargar explained her allegations to HRANA’s reporter as, “Ms. Kargar created a forum in 2014, with the name of Rainbow of Nations in Iran and invited people to discuss about the subjects related to challenges of different ethnicities that need to be addressed”.

Sohaila Kargar was arrested by security forces of Qazvin on May 15, 2016, and transferred to ward 209 of Evin prison in Tehran. She was released on the bail after 19 days.

Ms. Kargar is from Khoy and has master of science in computer software.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *