Azerbaijani-Turk Activist Karim Esmaeil-Zadeh Receives Six-Month Imprisonment

The Tabriz Revolutionary Court has sentenced Azerbaijani-Turk Activist Karim Esmaeil Zadeh to six months in prison. Co-defendants Abdullah Ansari and Ebrahim Rezaie have been acquitted of charges in this legal case.

The verdict finds Esmaeil-Zadeh guilty of “inciting people to violence on the Internet,” with the detention period to be subtracted from the overall prison term.

On August 16, 2023, security forces arrested these individuals as they entered a football stadium in Tabriz. Three days later, they were released on bail from Tabriz Prison. Subsequently, Esmaeil-Zadeh was re-arrested on August 27 in Tabriz, only to be released on a second bail from the city’s prison.

Morteza Nour-Mohammadi Detained for Over 70 days in Legal Limbo

Morteza Nour-Mohammadi Naradrli (Nazarlu) remains in a state of legal uncertainty, having been detained for more than 70 days in the Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility in Tabriz.

According to a source close to his family, HRANA learned that Nour-Mohammadi has recently been formally charged by the Public and Revolutionary Court. Additionally, the bail required for his temporary release has been escalated to 700 million Tomans, approximately 14,000 dollars.

Initially accused of the political charge of “assembly and collusion against national security,” Nour-Mohammadi now faces an additional legal challenge, being charged with “membership in a group to act against national security.”

On September 9, 2023, Nour-Mohammadi, a resident of Shabestar, was apprehended by security forces at the National Organization for Civil Registration in Sufian city and subsequently detained in Tabriz Prison. After a period, he was moved to a detention facility.

Nour-Mohammadi had publicly revealed that the Civil Registration office had denied issuing a birth certificate for his newborn child with the name “Hunai.” This denial was attributed to the Iranian regime’s stringent restrictions on name selection, particularly those with ethnic or foreign origins.

Azerbaijani-Turk Activist Saleh Mola-Abbasi’s Prison Sentence Confirmed on Appeal

The Court of Appeal for East Azerbaijan Province has upheld a 91-day prison sentence for Azerbaijani-Turk activist Saleh Mola-Abbasi.

Earlier this year, in July, Mola-Abbasi was initially handed this verdict on charges of “disseminating false information to disrupt public order.”

Saleh Mola-Abbasi’s arrest occurred at his residence in Ahar on October 9, 2022, when he was apprehended by security forces. Following approximately one month of incarceration in Tabriz Prison, he was released on bail, which amounted to 1.2 billion tomans. The court session that ultimately led to his sentencing took place on July 10, 2023.

It is noteworthy that Saleh Mola-Abbasi has a history of previous arrests and convictions related to his activist endeavors.

Student Activist Armita Pavir Arrested and Detained in Tabriz

Student activist Armita Pavir has been arrested and is currently being held at Tabriz Prison.

Pavir had previously received a summons to appear in court to face various charges.

Armita Pavir is currently pursuing a degree in cellular and molecular biology at the University of Azarbaijan Shahid Madani.

This is not the first time Pavir has found herself in legal trouble. She was previously arrested on October 31, 2022, when security forces apprehended her in front of the university entrance. After posting bail in the amount of 250 million tomans (approximately 5000 dollars), she was released on December 8, 2022.

Unfortunately, her troubles have continued. On June 28, 2023, she was once again arrested, by security forces this time at her residence. After several hours of interrogation, she was released.

Azerbaijani (Turk) Activist Saleh Mola-Abbasi Sentenced to Three Months in Prison

Ahar Criminal Court has handed down a three-month prison sentence to Azerbaijani (Turk) activist Saleh Mola-Abbasi.

The verdict was delivered by Judge Khadivi, who informed Mola-Abbasi’s lawyer, Asghar Mohammadi, that his client has been found guilty of “spreading falsehood to disturb public opinions.”

The arrest of Saleh Mola-Abbasi took place at his residence in Ahar on October 9, 2022, by security forces. After spending approximately one month in Tabriz Prison, he was released on bail with 1.2 billion tomans. On July 10, 2023, the court session was convened, leading to his sentencing.

It is pertinent to mention that Mola-Abbasi has a history of previous arrests and convictions linked to his activism.

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Lawyer Sina Yousefi Sentenced to Imprisonment and Paying a Fine

Branch 112 of the Tabriz Criminal Court sentenced Sina (Hossein) Yousefi, attorney at law, to 91 days imprisonment and paying a 15-million-toman fine.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, lawyer Sina Yousefi was sentenced to three months imprisonment.

Yousefi received this sentence for “spreading falsehood on the Internet.”

“Giving unrealistic statistics” on arrests over recent protests in a tweet was presented to the court as an example of this charge.

For another part of his legal case, Yousefi has been sentenced to six months and a ban from leaving the country for two years.
Yousefi, who is the vice chairman of the human rights commission of the Azerbaijan Province bar association, clarifies, “Since so many people came to the commission asking for representing the arrestees over protests, we decided to establish a ‘defense committee’… Now, for doing my job, I have faced the charge of forming an illegal group.”

Yousefi, age about 38, was arrested by security forces on October 15, 2022. Twelve days later, he was released on bail from Tabriz Prison.

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 Activists Ayoub Shiri and Davoud Shiri Arrested in Tabriz

On Thursday, May 19, 2022, security forces arrested Azerbaijani Turk activists Ayoub Shiri and Davoud Shiri and transferred them to an unidentified location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on Thursday, May 19, 2022, Azerbaijani Turk activists Ayoub and Davoud Shiri were arrested by security forces.

According to an informed source, one of the individuals was arrested while he was coming from a mourning ceremony and the other at his workplace.

The reasons for these arrests and the whereabouts of the individuals are still unknown.

Ayoub and Davoud Shiri have faced other arrests and convictions on prior occasions. On August 23, 2021, they were released from Tabriz Prison after serving their sentences. To be released, however, they had to be bailed out with 100 million tomans for the new legal case opened against them while they were jailed. For this new case, on June 26, 2021, they were indicted on the charges of “creating illegal groups in order to disturb national security.”

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

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.

Vahid Abhari Sentenced to 3 Months Imprisonment and Paying a Fine

Branch 111 of the Criminal Court in Tabriz recently sentenced Vahid Abhari, a resident of Tabriz, to 3 months imprisonment and paying a fine.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the court, headed by Judge Reza Forooghi sentenced Vahid Abhari to 3 months in prison, including the detention period, and a fine of 21 million tomans on a charge of “inciting violence via cyberspace”. Two months of this sentence has been suspended for two years.

Abhari, who has been arrested for his civil activities at least once before, was arrested on July 21 by security forces and held in the detention center of the intelligence ministry until August 11 when he was sent to Tabriz Prison. He was released on bail until the end of the legal proceedings.

On October 30, Abhari was summoned and notified of the charges.