Azerbaijani (Turk) Activist Ali Shadi Receives Four-Month Prison Sentence

Ali Shadi, an Azerbaijani (Turk) activist, has been sentenced to four months of imprisonment by the Tabriz Revolutionary Court.

Shadi’s sentence of four months is for the charge of “Propaganda against the regime.” However, he has been acquitted of the charges of “membership in anti-regime groups” and “assembly and collusion to act against national security.”

On January 4, 2023, during the nationwide protests, security forces arrested Shadi at his workplace in Tabriz. He was subsequently released on bail from Tabriz Prison.

Background on the 2022 Nationwide Protests

The arrest of Mahsa Amini by Tehran Morality Police for her improper hejab and her suspicious death on September 16 sparked protests sweeping across Iran. Protesters came to the streets with the central slogan “Women, Life, Freedom” in protest against the performance, laws and structure of the regime. During the nationwide protests, thousands of people, including journalists, artists, lawyers, teachers, students and civil rights activists, were arrested.

 

Five Azerbaijani (Turk) Activists Arrested in Tabriz

Security forces in Tabriz arrested five Azerbaijani (Turk) activists on May 18, 2023. The individuals arrested are Davoud Shiri (Derakhshan), Hamzeh Valizadeh, Ruhollah Ahmadinejad, Javad Ahmadzadeh, and Alireza Sabri. They were taken to an undisclosed location following their arrest.

During the operation, the agents conducted searches in their residences and seized some of their personal belongings.

Davoud Shiri had a court session in April 2023 to address the charges against him. It’s worth noting that all these individuals have a history of previous arrests and convictions related to their activism.

At present, the location of their detention and the specific allegations against them remain unknown.

Iran Protests: Arsam Mahmoudi Sentenced to Six Years in Prison

The Tehran Revolutionary Court has sentenced Arsam Mahmoudi, a Tabriz resident, to six years in prison. He was arrested in Tehran amid the 2022 nationwide protests.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Arsam Mahmoudi was sentenced to six years in prison.

Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided by Judge Abolghasem Salavati, gave Mahmoudi five years for “assembly and collusion against national security,” and one year for “propaganda against the regime.” If the verdict is upheld on appeal, the first charge will be enforceable under Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code.

Mahmoudi, 31, a civil engineering Master’s graduate, was arrested by security forces in Tehran during the 2022 nationwide protests in Tehran.

About the 2022 Nationwide Protests

The arrest of Mahsa Amini by Tehran Morality Police for her improper hejab and her suspicious death on September 16 sparked protests sweeping across Iran. During the nationwide protests, about 19600 people, including journalists, artists, lawyers, teachers, students and civil rights activists, were arrested.

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.

Poison Attacks on School Students Continue across Iran

On March 6, 2023, the wave of poison attacks on school students continued across Iran, as 100 school students in Khuzestan, 269 in East Azerbaijan Province, 75 in Semnan Province and several others in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province were poisoned and taken to hospital. Also, the Governor of Masal announced that the number of poisoned students has increased to 43.

According to ILNA, The Director General of Education of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province informed the public about the hospitalization of several students in two schools in Shahrekord.

Quoting the deputy of the Ahvaz University of Medical Sciences, IRNA reported that about 100 school students had been hospitalized due to poisoning in Khuzestan Province. This university official expressed his hope that all these students would be discharged soon.

Aftab News, quoting the dead of East Azerbaijan Emergency, reported the hospitalization of 269 students in the cities of Ajabshir, Sufian, Marand, Azarshahr, Mianeh and Tabriz. “Most of them have been discharged, but there are still 23 students under medical care,” he stated.

Also, IRIB reposted the hospitalization of 75 students from five schools in Semnan Province. Out of these students, seven are still in the hospital.

The Governor of Masal announced that the number of poisoned students has increased to 43, of which 21 students are in the emergency room.

Earlier, a deputy 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.” Moreover, the prosecutor-General of Iran also called these incidents “intentional.”

 

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Student Ebrahim Ahmadpour Arrested in Tabriz

On February 27, Azerbaijani Turk activist Ebrahim Ahmadpour, a student of the University of Tabriz, was summoned and arrested by Public Security and Intelligence Police in Tabriz.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on February 27, 2023, Azerbaijani Turk activist Ebrahim Ahmadpour was arrested in Tabriz.

An informed source told HRANA, “Ahmadpour was summoned to Public Security and Intelligence Police station, where he was beaten and arrested.”

According to this source, three years ago, Ahmadpour was suspended from the university for one semester for his participation in a student protest against a fuel price surge. This suspension order was revoked later.

The reason for his arrest is still unknown.

 

Physician Reza Rezazadeh Sentenced to Six Months Imprisonment

The Tabriz Revolutionary Court sentenced physician Reza Rezazadeh Parparani to six months in prison and banned him from leaving the country for two years.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Reza Rezazadeh Parparani was sentenced to imprisonment.

The charges against Rezazadeh are still unknown.

On December 7, 2022, Rezazadeh was arrested after an appearance at the Public and Revolutionary Courthouse in Tabriz. After a while, he was released on bail.

Iran Protests: Farzad Taghavi Sentenced to Three Years Imprisonment

Recently, the East Azerbaijan Court of Appeal upheld Farad Taghavi’s sentence. He was initially sentenced to three years in prison and banned from leaving the country for two years.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Farzad Taghavi, age 31, a resident of Tabriz, was sentenced to three years in prison and banned from leaving the country for two years on the charge of “assembly and collusion against national security and disturbing public order.”

Taghavi was violently arrested on September 27, 2022, by IRGC intelligence at protests in Tabriz. He was released on bail after 11 days of detention in one of IRGC’s detention facilities.

Since the outbreak of nationwide protests, over 18400, including journalists, lawyers, teachers, students and civil rights activists, have been arrested. For more details and statistics on the nationwide protest across Iran, read the latest HRANAs comprehensive report here.

Iran Protests: Pouria Pour-Hemmati Sentenced to Three Years in Prison

Recently, the Tabriz Revolutionary Court sentenced Pouria Pour-Hemmati to three years and banned him from leaving the country for two years. He was previously arrested in Tabriz on September 20, 2022.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Pouria Pour-Hemmati was sentenced to three years in prison on the charge of “assembly and collusion to commit crimes against national security.”

On September 20, 2022, Pour-Hemmati was arrested at protests by Basij Militia forces and IRGC intelligence agents. He was detained in one of IRGC’s detention facilities and, after six days, transferred to Tabriz Prison. On October 1, 2022, he was released on a 200-millions-toman bail.

Pour-Hemmati, age 37, is a mechanical engineer and resident of Tabriz.

 

Four School Students Arrested in Bonab and Bushehr

Recently, security forces arrested four school students during nationwide protests in Bonab and Bushehr.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, three school students identified as Azar Badiee, Ashkan Javidfar and Ali Vali-Mohammadi in Bonab, East Azerbaijan Province.

According to an informed source, they were arrested for chanting slogans at school. They and beaten by security forces and taken to Tabriz Correctional Center.

The intelligence agents also arrested Javidfar’s father when he quarreled with them over his son.

The Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations also reported the arrest of a school student identified as Sadegh Zendeh Boodi. Security forces arrested him before his parents’ house and took him to an unidentified location.