Azerbaijani-Turk Activist Morteza Parvin Initiates Hunger Strike in Protest of Unlawful Detention

On February 24, Azerbaijani-Turk activist Morteza Parvin commenced a hunger strike at Evin Prison to protest his detention.

A source close to Parvin’s family, informing HRANA of his decision, revealed that on February 23, Parvin notified his family of the charge he faces – “assembly and collusion against national security.” In a phone call, Parvin expressed his refusal to cooperate with the interrogation, asserting, “They are insisting on linking me to people with whom I have never been associated. I have declined interrogation so far and will continue to do so. Despite the interrogators’ requests for me to sign interrogation sheets, I informed them that I would speak only during the hearing in the presence of the judge. In protest against my unlawful detention, I will initiate a hunger strike tomorrow.”

According to this source, Parvin’s well-being during the hunger strike is further complicated by a lumbar disc issue, heightening concern for his family.

Security forces detained Parvin in Ardabil on February 6, and after a few days, he informed his family of his transfer to Evin Prison. This incident is not the first time Parvin has faced arrest due to his involvement as an Azerbaijani-Turk activist.

Inmate Executed in Ardabil Prison for Drug Offenses

Ardabil prison officials executed Iraj Paki Delazi, a 38-year-old father of four, on February 19, 2024, for drug offenses.

Despite the execution, no official sources or domestic media outlets in the country have reported on the incident, raising concerns about transparency and accountability in the execution process. The lack of information prompts questions regarding the circumstances surrounding Delazi’s death.

The reports from the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists for the year 2023 reveal a concerning prevalence of executions for drug offenses in Iran, constituting 56.4% of the total executions. For a comprehensive examination of the details and statistics surrounding the executions in Iran, refer to HRANA’s report.

Azerbaijani-Turk Activist Morteza Parvin Detained in Ardabil

On February 6, 2024, Azerbaijani-Turk activist Morteza Parvin was apprehended by security forces in Ardabil. He was taken to an undisclosed location following his arrest.

Parvin was detained at his father’s residence, where the agents conducted a search, resulting in the confiscation of some of his personal belongings.

As of now, the reasons behind Parvin’s arrest, his current location, and the charges filed against him remain unknown.

This incident marks not the first time Parvin has been subject to arrest due to his involvement as an Azerbaijani-Turk activist.

In 2023, the Department of Statistics and Publications of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) documented 324 cases of citizens being arrested by security forces for advocating ethnic rights.

 

Media Activist Sina Band-Alizadeh Arrested in Ardabil

On January 15, 2024, security forces apprehended Sina Band-Alizadeh in Ardabil.

The grounds for Band-Alizadeh’s arrest and his current location remain undisclosed. However, close associates have confirmed his arrest, linking it to his criticism in published posts as a media activist addressing the current state of the country.

As reported in HRA’s annual report, there has been an alarming 86% increase in the number of citizens arrested for expressing opinions and thoughts compared to the previous year. Band-Alizadeh’s arrest adds to concerns about the shrinking space for free expression in the country.

Nine Individuals Executed for Drug Offenses in Ardabil

Ardabil Province judicial authorities have confirmed the execution of nine inmates in separate legal cases, all charged with drug offenses, within Ardabil Prison, as reported by Fars News Agency.

Following the Supreme Court’s confirmation of their verdicts, three inmates were executed. Additionally, six individuals were hanged in the preceding days, with their identities remaining undisclosed in the report.

The reports from the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists for the year 2023 reveal a concerning prevalence of executions for drug offenses in Iran, constituting 56.4% of the total executions. For a comprehensive examination of the details and statistics surrounding the executions in Iran, refer to HRANA’s report.

 

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Naser Razmjoo Arrested in Ardabil, Current Charges Unknown

On Saturday, October 21, security forces apprehended Naser Razmjoo (Razmju) in Ardabil, subsequently relocating him to the Ministry of Intelligence detention facility in Tabriz.

Despite the circumstances surrounding his arrest, Razmjoo managed to contact his family, notifying them of his detention.
As of now, the reasons behind Razmjoo’s arrest and the allegations against him remain undisclosed.

Execution of Two Inmates in Zanjan and Ardabil

In separate incidents, two inmates convicted of murder were executed in Zanjan and Ardabil Prisons on October 14 and 15, respectively.

According to the Iran Human Rights Organization, on Sunday, October 14, a 39-year-old cab driver named Ali Asghar Cheraghi Far was executed. He had been convicted of the murder of one of his passengers following a dispute that occurred three years ago. As of the time of this report, there have been no official statements or coverage of this execution by domestic media outlets within the country.

On October 15, another inmate, who was convicted of murder, was executed in Ardabil prison, as reported by Tasnim, a news agency affiliated with security institutions.

As per a deputy prosecutor in Ardabil province, on October 28, 2021, this particular inmate, whose identity was not disclosed, fatally stabbed his father-in-law during a family dispute.

According to data compiled by the Center of Statistics of Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA), between October 10, 2022, and October 8, 2023, a total of 659 individuals were executed by hanging in Iran, representing a 24% increase compared to the corresponding period in the previous year. Seven of these executions were conducted publicly. Concerningly, many of the defendants were denied access to a fair trial and due process. For details and statistics, read HRANA’s report.

Azerbaijani-Turk Activist Abbas Lisani’s Exile Term Extended

The Ardabil Court of Appeals has extended the mandatory residence period in Yazd for Azerbaijani-Turk activist Abbas Lisani (Lesani) by one-third.

Branch 1 of the Ardabil Court of Appeals made this decision due to allegations that Lisani had violated the terms of his exile.

In a previous retrial, Branch 1 of Iran’s Supreme Court had sentenced Lisani to eight years in prison and two years of exile in Yazd County. This sentence was based on charges of “creating and leading groups with the intent of undermining national security.” However, he was acquitted of the charge of “acting against national security,” for which he had initially received a five-year prison sentence.

Lisani was placed in exile after his release from Ardabil prison on February 21, 2023.

Lisani has a long history of arrests and convictions stemming from his peaceful activism.

Azerbaijani-Turk Activist Mehrdad Sheikhi Arrested in Ardabil

On August 27, 2023, Azerbaijani-Turk activist Mehrdad Sheikhi was apprehended by security forces in Ardabil and subsequently transported to an undisclosed location.

The arrest of Sheikhi took place at his father’s residence. Throughout the apprehension, the agents conducted a thorough search of the premises, leading to the confiscation of several of his personal belongings. As of now, the specific reasons behind his arrest, his current location, and the exact charges brought against him remain unknown.

This incident marks another instance of Sheikhi’s confrontations with law enforcement due to his involvement in activist initiatives.

In the year 2022, the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) documented a total of 225 detentions of individuals advocating for ethnic rights.

Pejman Moein Arrested over Protest against Poison Attacks on Schoolgirls

On March 4, in Ardabil, during a protest gathering held by the parents whose children were targeted by a poisoning attack at school, security forces arrested Pejman Moein and took him to an undisclosed location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on March 4, 2023, Pejman Moein was arrested by security forces in Ardabil.

An informed source told HRANA that Moein was arrested during a protest held by the parents of the poisoned schoolgirls.

Moein’s whereabouts and the allegations against him are still unknown.

For about three months, serial poisoning attacks have been targeting hundreds of school students in several cities across Iran.

A member of the Health and Medical Commission of Iran’s Parliament called these incidents “intentional.” Moreover, one of the deputies of Iran’s ministry of health stated that with these attacks, “some want all schools, especially girls’ schools, to be closed down.”

Also, Mohammad-Taghi Fazel Meybodi, a religious scholar and university professor, called these incidents intentional attacks organized by “religious groups.”