Category: Ethnic Minorities

Azerbaijani-Turk Activist Mohammadreza Khalili Sentenced to One Year in Prison

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Ethnic Minorities, News
Azerbaijani Turk activist, Mohammadreza Khalili, Rasht

Mohammadreza Khalili, a 22-year-old Azerbaijani-Turk activist, has been sentenced to one year in prison by a court in Rasht.

According to HRANA, Khalili was convicted based on a recent ruling issued by the Judiciary of Rasht. He was sentenced to one year in prison on charges of “inciting or provoking people to warfare and violence with the intent to disrupt national security.” Khalili defended himself against these charges on August 6, 2024, in Branch 103 of the Astara Criminal Court.

Previously, this activist, originally from Khalkhal, was arrested by the Cyber Police (FATA) in the city of Sowme’eh Sara, Gilan Province, and subsequently transferred to prison. He was later released on bail set at 2 billion tomans.

In 2023, the Department of Statistics and Publications of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) recorded 329 reports, citing the arrest of 324 citizens linked to ethnic and national rights. Notably, 156 of these arrests occurred without the issuance of a judicial warrant.

Two Azerbaijani-Turk Activists Sentenced to Prison

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Ethnic Minorities, Freedom of Expression, News
Evin Prison, Rasht, Vadood Asadi, Yashar Nikroo

Azerbaijani-Turk activists, Vadood Asadi and Yashar Nikroo, have been sentenced to a total of six years and six months in prison by the Revolutionary Court of Rasht.

According to the verdict issued by Branch 3 of the Revolutionary Court of Rasht, Mr. Asadi received one year in prison for “propaganda against the regime,” three years and six months for “membership in anti-regime groups,” and one year for “insulting the Supreme Leader.” Mr. Nikroo was sentenced to one year in prison for “propaganda against the regime.”

In February 2024, Mr. Asadi was violently arrested by security forces in Rasht and transferred to Evin Prison later that month. He was released a few days afterward upon posting bail.

Yashar Nikroo Ahmad Gourabi, another Azerbaijani-Turk activist from Rasht, had previously faced formal charges at the Rasht Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office.

Mohammad-Reza Amani Nazarlu Sentenced to Imprisonment

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Ethnic Minorities, Freedom of Expression, News
Araz Amani, Azerbaijani Turk activist, Mohammad Reza Amani Nazarlu, Shabestar, Tabriz, آراز امانی نظرلو

Mohammad Reza (Araz) Amani Nazarlu, an Azerbaijani-Turk activist, was sentenced to three months and one day in prison by the Revolutionary Court of Shabestar.

Based on a ruling issued on July 2nd by the Revolutionary Court of Shabestar and delivered to Mr. Amani Nazarlu, he was sentenced to three months and one day in prison on charges of “propaganda in favor of groups or organizations opposed to the Islamic Republic of Iran.” He was acquitted of the charge of “insulting ordinary people.”

The court session to address this citizen’s charges was held on October 14, 2023, in the mentioned branch.

Amani was arrested by security forces in Shabestar on May 21st of last year. He was released on bail from Tabriz prison on June 10, 2023.

Azerbaijani-Turk Activist Morteza Nourmohammadi Sentenced to Prison

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Ethnic Minorities, News
Azerbaijani Turk activist, Morteza Nourmohammadi, Shabestar, Tabriz

Morteza Nourmohammadi Nadarli (also known as Nazarlu), an Azerbaijani-Turk activist, was sentenced to three months and one day in prison by the Revolutionary Court of Shabestar County.

Based on a recent verdict issued by the Revolutionary Court of Shabestar County and communicated to Nourmohammadi, he has been sentenced to three months and one day of imprisonment on charges of propaganda against the regime through publishing material online. This Azerbaijani-Turk activist was acquitted of other charges such as “membership in anti-regime groups” and “insulting the Supreme Leader.”

On May 28, Mr. Nourmohammadi was summoned for questioning via a phone call to the Shabestar Security Police.

Nourmohammadi was initially charged in early November last year by the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office of Shabestar with “assembly and collusion to act against national security.” Shortly thereafter, a new case was opened against him in the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office of Tabriz, charging him with “membership in a group aimed at acting against national security.”

On September 9, 2023, after visiting the Civil Registration Office in the city of Sofian, he was arrested by security forces and transferred to the Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility in Tabriz. He was eventually moved to the city’s prison and then returned to the detention center a few days later. He was once again transferred to Tabriz prison on November 26, 2023.

Nourmohammadi was finally released on bail on November 28 of the same year.

In 2023, the Department of Statistics and Publications of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) recorded 329 reports, citing the arrest of 324 citizens linked to ethnic and national rights. Notably, 156 of these arrests occurred without the issuance of a judicial warrant.

Azerbaijani-Turk Activist Sayyad Mohammadian Arrested in Karaj

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Ethnic Minorities, News
Azerbaijani Turk activist, Karaj, Sayyad Mohammadian

On May 15, 2024, security forces arrested Sayyad Mohammadian, an Azerbaijani-Turk activist, at his residence in Karaj and transferred him to an undisclosed location.

During the arrest, the agents conducted a thorough search and confiscated some of his belongings.

The motives behind this arrest and his current whereabouts ARE unknown at this time.

Mohammadian has previously undergone arrest and interrogation due to his involvement in activist endeavors.

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Azerbaijani-Turk Activist Esmaeil Ahmadi Faces Imprisonment and Flogging Upheld by Appellate Court

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Ethnic Minorities, News
Ahar Prison, Azerbaijani Turk activist, East Azerbaijan province, Esmaeil Ahmadi, Varzeqan, اسماعیل احمدی

Branch 32 of the Appellate Court in East Azerbaijan province has confirmed that Ahmadi will serve nine months in prison and receive 70 lashes for charges including blasphemy, incitement to commit crimes against national security, association with anti-regime media outside Iran, dissemination of false information, and propaganda against the regime.

Ahmadi was arrested by security forces in Varzeqan in August 2023 and detained until August 24, when he was released on bail pending further legal proceedings from Ahar Prison.

The initial verdict was issued during the previous winter.

It’s worth noting that this is not the first time Ahmadi has faced legal repercussions for his activism.

Six-Month Sentence for Karim Esmaeilzadeh Upheld on Appeal

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Ethnic Minorities, News
Karim Esmaeilzadeh, Tabriz, کریم اسماعیل زاده

The Appellate Court in East Azerbaijan Province has confirmed the six-month sentence for Azerbaijani-Turk activist Karim Esmaeilzadeh (Esmaeil-Zadeh).

The original verdict, issued by the Tabriz Revolutionary Court, found Esmaeilzadeh guilty of “inciting people to violence on the Internet.”

On August 16, 2023, security forces arrested Esmaeilzadeh as he entered a football stadium in Tabriz. He was later released on bail amounting to 900 million dollars (approximately 18,000 dollars) from the city’s prison.

However, Esmaeilzadeh faced another arrest by security forces on August 27. This time, he secured his release on bail of 600 million tomans from Tabriz Prison. The upheld sentence reflects the ongoing legal challenges faced by the activist.

In 2023, the Department of Statistics and Publications of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) recorded 329 reports, citing the arrest of 324 citizens linked to ethnic and national rights. Notably, 156 of these arrests occurred without the issuance of a judicial warrant.

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

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Ethnic Minorities, News, Prisoners
Ardabil, Azerbaijani Turk activist, Evin Prison, HRANA, Morteza Parvin

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.

Azerbaijani-Turk Activist Salar Taher Afshar and Rap Singer Milad Jalili Sentenced to a Total of 14 Months in Prison

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Ethnic Minorities, Freedom of Expression, News
Azerbaijani Turk activist, Evin Prison, Milad Jalili, Salar Taher Afshar, Tabriz, Tabriz Revolutionary Court

In a recent legal development, the Revolutionary Court in Tabriz has handed down a combined 14-month prison sentence to Salar Taher Afshar, an Azerbaijani-Turk activist, and Milad Jalili, a rap singer.

As per the verdict issued by Branch 2 of the Tabriz Revolutionary Court, Taher Afshar has been sentenced to six months for “assisting in spreading propaganda against the regime,” while Jalili has received eight months for “propaganda against the regime through performing a political rap music supporting convicted secessionists.” Notably, Jalili has been acquitted of the charge of “acting against national security through inciting people to violence and riots.”

Jalili was taken into custody on November 28, 2023, and Taher Afshar on December 19. They were both released on bond on January 29 and 22, 2024, respectively. However, Taher Afshar was re-arrested in Urmia on February 6 and subsequently transferred to Evin Prison in Tehran after four days.

In 2023, the Department of Statistics and Publications of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) recorded 329 reports, citing the arrest of 324 citizens linked to ethnic and national rights. Notably, 156 of these arrests occurred without the issuance of a judicial warrant.

Five Azerbaijani-Turk Activists Arrested by Security Forces

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Ethnic Minorities, News
Ayaz Seyfkhah, Azerbaijani Turk activist, Bagher Hajizadeh, Kamal Nouri, Saeed Minaie, Vadod Asadi

Security forces have apprehended five Azerbaijani-Turk activists in various locations, including Vadod Asadi and Saeed Minaie in Rasht, Ayaz Seyfkhah and Bagher Hajizadeh in Tabriz, and Kamal Nouri in Eslamshahr. These individuals have been transferred to undisclosed facilities.

Sources close to their families have informed HRANA that the agents employed violence during the arrest of these individuals.

Notably, Asadi and Minaie have a history of previous judicial confrontations related to their activism.

As of now, the reasons for their arrest, their current whereabouts, and the charges filed against them remain unknown.

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.