The State Department’s 2007 Reports on Human Rights Practices in Iran
Ethnic Azeris composed approximately one-quarter of the country’s population, were well integrated into the government and society and included the supreme leader. However, Azeris complained of ethnic and linguistic discrimination, including banning the Azeri language in schools, harassing Azeri activists or organizers, and changing Azeri geographic names. The government traditionally viewed Azeri nationalism as threatening, particularly since the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the creation of an independent Azerbaijan. Azeri groups also claimed that there were a number of Azeri political prisoners jailed for advocating cultural and language rights for Iranian Azerbaijanis. The government has charged several of them with “revolting against the Islamic state.”
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After couple of months, Three South Azerbaijani activists were freed with unusual bails
Savalan Sesi (Translated by Oyrenci):
Today, 27th February, three south Azerbaijani political prisoners including Saeid Matinpour, human rights activist and journalist, Jalil Ghanilou, journalist, and Alireza Matinpour, activist of Azerbaijani culture, were freed from Evin prison with 500,000 USD, 80,000 USD, and 100,000 USD bails respectively.
Mr. Saeid Matinpour from 25 May 2007, Jalil Ghanilou from 26 May 2007, and Alireza Matinpour from 28 August 2007 had been detained by Iranian intelligent services in north-western city of Zanjan and had been transferred to the Evin prison.
These three prisoners have passed more than half of their detention in sporadic cells of the section 209 of Evin prison under vision and torture of Iranian intelligent services. Worthy to say, they were not allowed to access to any advocatory in this time period.
From the other side, according to the received news, bail amount of Mr. Behrouz Safari and his wife has been changed to 120,000 USD and 80,000 USD respectively. Iranian official asked their family to prepare mentioned bails to free them.
Oyrenci-News congratulates freedom of South Azerbaijani prisoners in Zanjan to Azerbaijan nation, and hopes other Azerbaijani prisoners also be freed as soon as possible.
One more activist of Azerbaijani movement in Iran arrested
Today Azerbaijan:
Hojat-ul-Islam Abdulaziz Azimi Gadim, one of the activists of the movement for restoration of the rights of Iranian Azerbaijanis, has been sentenced to one year of imprisonment.
According to movement activists, the decision was passed by the court of Gum city, Iran.
The decision states that A.Gadim failed to fulfill the requirements of the decision, passed on him two years ago, by taking part in the meetings near Sattarkhan and Bagirkhan^s graves, as well as a march to the Babek fortress in a garment of a clergymen, which contradicts the rules set in Iran for clergy.
For this reason, A.Gadim was prohibited to put on religious garments along with being sentenced to one year imprisonment. Yet, now the court, referring to Gadim^s failure to fulfill the second paragraph of the decision, sentenced him to imprisonment again.
Moreover, Gadim will be sent to exile to one of Azerbaijani provinces of Iran.
In 2006 A.Gadim was imprisoned for 6 months for his socio-political activity.
Tabriz Revolutionary Court Decision: 1 Year Jail for 7 Nationalist Activists
Savalan Sesi (Translated By Oyrenci-News):
Revolutionary Court No.2 in Tabriz, sentenced Khosro Derakhshi, Yusef Lotf Hagh, Mehdi Afsari, Mohammad Ali Javadi, Javad Kanaani and Hasan Asadi, charged with "membership in Islamic Republic^s opponent group "GAIP" (south Azerbaijan Independence Party) to 1 year actual imprisonment. Besides, Taher Mahdavi blamed due to "propagation against Islamic regime" and sentenced to 1 year imprisonment.
According to article 25 of Islamic Criminal Law, 8 months of these indictees^ punishments, except Hasan Asadi, is suspended for three years.
This decision has been issued by judge Hamlbar, the highest judge in Tabriz Revolutionary Court No.2.
These activists have been detained and subsequently released on bails, last year (2007)
Voice of America: Pressures and confinements to continue for Azerbaijani activists
Translated By Oyrenci-News:
According to reports issued by ASٍMK (committee to protect Azerbaijani political prisoners rights), Iranian special court for clergy crimes, sentenced Azerbaijani clergyman and nationalist activist, Abdolaziz Azimi, to one year jail. Hosein Bahrami, high judge in Ghom clergy crimes court, has blamed clergyman Azimi for "provoke anti-national feelings". Musavat newspaper has reports that Mr. Azimi has been detained several times because of his pursuits for Azerbaijani nation requests. Previously, Amnesty International had issued three statements advocating his activities.
Furthermore, in accord with student committee to defend human rights reports, Hadi Hamidi Shafigh, jailed in prison of Urmia due to vague charges such as "illegal protest" and "insult national unity", has been tortured when he was kept in detainment center of Intelligence Ministry. Hamidi Shafigh has been sentenced to 10 months in primitive court, but reviewal court increased to 17 months.
Province court to persist in jail and lash for seven Azerbaijani activists
Savalansesi (Tran. By Oyrenci):
Lash and imprisonment sentences for seven activists, participated in demonstrations in northwestern city of Ahar on 26 may 2006 in protest at offensive cartoon published by the state-owned daily newspaper Iran, confirmed by reinvestigation court of East Azerbaijan Province.
Reinvestigation court of East Azerbaijan No. 2, confirmed primitive sentences, actual 6 months imprisonment and 70 hits of lash, for Afshin Bazzaz Ghadim, Karim Kargar, Mortaza Shokri Serqini and Avaz Hasanpoor, accused of disturbance in public order by participating in illegal demonstration.
Parviz Ghaneh and Reza Salmanzadeh who appealed too, sentenced to six months imprisonment and 50 hits of lash, wich suspends for 5 years.
Besides, Farhad Heydari who convicted in primitive court trial and sentenced 2 years actual imprisonment for destruct of public properties and six months actual imprisonment and 74 hits of lash for disturbance in public order, commuted his sentence to 6 months jail and 70 hits of lash which are actual.
Omid Seyfi, Reza Soleymani and Jalal Esfandyari, impeached in recent file, were excused by province court.
Reviewal sentence has been issued by judge and prosecutors of reinvestigation court No.2 in East Azerbaijan Province.
Further Information on UA 61/07 (MDE 13/027/2007, 09 March 2007) and follow-up (MDE 13/067/2007, 7 J
PUBLIC AI Index: MDE 13/035/2008
7 February 2008
Further Information on UA 61/07 (MDE 13/027/2007, 09 March 2007) and follow-up (MDE 13/067/2007, 7 June 2007) - Prisoners of conscience/Torture
IRAN Jelil Ghanilou (m) ]
Released: Esma'il Javadi (m), aged 31, journalist ]
Ebulfezl Alilu (m) ]
Ramin Sadeghi (m) ] Azerbaijani cultural and linguistic
Qahreman Qanbarpour (m) ] rights activists
Adel Allahverdipour (m) ]
Safar Ali Kho'ini (m) ]
Ja'far Haqnazari (m) ]
All of those named above, except Jelil Ghanilou have been released. Safar Ali Kho'ini was released on 11 March 2007 on bail totalling around the equivalent of US$325,000. It is not known whether he has been charged or tried. Esma'il Javadi and Ebulfezl Alilu were released on 12 March and on 30 April respectively after a judge dismissed a case against them. Ramin Sadeghi was released on 15 March 2007. However he was sentenced on 20 October 2007 by Branch 14 of Ardabil Revolutionary Court to 50 lashes and a fine of the equivalent of, roughly, US$325. It is not known whether the flogging sentence was carried out. Qahreman Qanbarpour, Adel Allahverdipour and Ja'far Haqnazari have also been released. Amnesty International has no further information concerning them.
Azerbaijani cultural and linguistic rights activist Jelil Ghanilou continues to face torture and interrogation following six months' arrest and ongoing interrogation, while being moved between prisons in two different cities. He has neither been charged nor given access to legal representation. He has however been allowed to meet with and speak with family members. Amnesty International believes that Jelil Ghanilou is a prisoner of conscience, detained solely for the peaceful exercise of his right to freedom of expression.
Jelil Ghanilou was arrested in Zenjan in February 2007 in connection with his participation marking International Mother Language Day. He was released around 10 days later but on 28 May 2007 he was re-arrested following demonstrations marking the anniversary of the publication in May 2007 of a cartoon seen by many Iranian Azerbaijani activists as offensive. It appears that he was then moved to incommunicado detention, prompting a statement by the National Movement of Azerbaijan - Zenjan (Harakat-e Melli-ye Azerbaijan - Zenjan) on 2 June 2007, entitled "Where are Sa'id Metinpour [another Azerbaijani activist] and Jelil Ghanilou?" Amnesty International has now learned that from June 2007, he was repeatedly been moved between Evin Prison in Tehran and a Ministry of Intelligence detention facility in Zenjan and that he continued to face both interrogation and torture throughout the latter part of 2007 and into 2008.
Amnesty International has learned that Jelil Ghanilou was permitted one family visit in September 2007. By then he had reportedly been deprived of sleep for long periods and faced 24-hour interrogation. Officials also threatened that members of his family could be harmed. He is reported to have required medical treatment several times and when family members apparently tried to post the bail that officials demanded, they were turned away. They reportedly had irregular telephone contact with him in the latter part of 2007, though if he spoke Azerbaijani Turkic, the line was sometimes cut, when conversations in Persian were allowed to continue. Guards watched over him during his telephone conversations.
Jelil Ghanilou has been held in the Ministry of Intelligence-run Section 209 of Tehran's Evin Prison since 4 December 2007. On 3 February 2008, flanked by guards, he is reported to have said in a telephone conversation that he had been held in solitary confinement for 6 months and that he continued to face torture. Jelil Ghanilou allegedly added that he is no longer afraid to say over the telephone that the psychological pressures of uncertainty, misleading information; of repeated interrogations and threats from the authorities are wearing him down. Secret detention has been shown to facilitate torture and ill treatment. Prolonged incommunicado detention can itself be a form of cruel inhuman and degrading punishment.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Iranian Azerbaijanis speak a Turkic language and are mainly Shi'a Muslims. The largest minority in Iran, they live mainly in the north and north-west of the country, and in the capital, Tehran. Many Iranian Azerbaijanis demand greater cultural and linguistic rights, including implementation of their constitutional right to education in Azerbaijani Turkic. Article 15 of Iran's Constitution states that Persian is the official language of Iran and that “official documents, correspondence and texts, as well as textbooks, must be in this language and script.” It adds that “the use of regional and tribal languages in the press and mass media, as well as for teaching of their literature in schools, is allowed in addition to Persian.”
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in English, Farsi, Arabic, French your own language:
- calling on the authorities to halt any torture that Jelil Ghanilou may continue to face, and ensuring that any such reports are fully investigated and, if necessary, the perpetrators brought to justice;
- urging the authorities to promptly charge Jelil Ghanilou with a recognisably criminal offense and try him in a fair trial or release him;
- expressing concern that Jelil Ghanilou has been detained without charge or access to a lawyer of his choice for over six months, and that prolonged Secret detention has been shown to facilitate torture and ill treatment;
- pointing out that if he is detained solely for the peaceful exercise of his right to freedom of expression, Amnesty International would consider him a prisoner of conscience, and would call for his immediate and unconditional release.
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PUBLIC AI Index: MDE 13/019/2008
30 January 2008
Further Information on UA 137/07 MDE 13/068/2007, 7 June 2007 and follow-up (MDE 13/106/2007, 23 August 2007) - Concern for safety/Torture, Ill-Treatment
IRAN Sa’id Metinpour (m), journalist, Azerbaijani cultural rights activist and Elirza Metinpour (brother)
Sa’id Metinpour was arrested on 25 May 2007, in the north-western city of Zenjan, and is held in Section 209 of Evin prison, Tehran. In attempts to obtain a videotaped confession the authorities tortured him. On 28 August, the Ministry of Intelligence summoned and arrested his brother, Elirza Metinpour, who was also transferred to Evin prison and subsequently tortured. The brothers are not known to have been formally charged with any offence.
Atiye Taheri, Sa'id Metinpour's wife, visited him on 17 December. She described his health as being very poor and said that he had lost a lot of weight and that much of his hair had fallen out. He has been in solitary confinement for most of his detention. His bail has been set at the equivalent of approximately US $540,000, a sum which his family cannot afford.
Amnesty International believes that Sa’id and Elirza Metinpour are prisoners of conscience, held solely on account of their peaceful activities on behalf of the Iranian Azerbaijani community. The brothers had previously been arrested for taking part in protests against the restrictions imposed by the authorities on education being delivered in Azerbaijani Turkic. Sa’id Metinpour is an advocate of linguistic and cultural rights for Iranian Azerbaijanis and has criticized the Iranian authorities’ repression of the Azerbaijani minority in articles published in the daily newspaper Merdom-e-nov and other local publications.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Iranian Azerbaijanis speak a Turkic language and are mainly Shi’a Muslims. As the largest minority in Iran, they make up 25-30% of the population; they live mainly in the north and north-west of the country and in Tehran. They are demanding greater cultural and linguistic rights, including implementation of their constitutional right to education in Azerbaijani Turkic. Article 15 of Iran’s Constitution states that Persian is the official language of Iran and that “official documents, correspondence, and texts, as well as textbooks, must be in this language and script.” It adds that “the use of regional and tribal languages in the press and mass media, as well as for teaching of their literature in schools, is allowed in addition to Persian.”
A small minority want Iranian Azerbaijani provinces to break away from Iran and join with the Republic of Azerbaijan. In recent years the authorities have grown increasingly suspicious of Iran's minority communities, many of which are situated in border areas, and have accused foreign powers such as the US and UK of stirring unrest among them. Those who seek to promote Azerbaijani cultural identity and linguistic rights are often charged with vaguely worded offences such as "acting against state security by promoting pan-Turkism".
In May 2006, there were massive demonstrations in towns and cities in north-western Iran in protest at a cartoon published on 12 May by the state-owned daily newspaper Iran, which many Iranian Azerbaijanis found offensive. Hundreds were arrested during and after the demonstrations. Other waves of arrests have occurred around dates significant to the Azerbaijani community, such as a boycott of the start of the academic year in September 2006; after demonstrations in February 2007 on the occasion of International Mother Tongue day; and on the anniversary of the May 2006 demonstrations.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in English, French, Farsi, Arabic or your own language:
- calling on the authorities to release Sa’id and Elirza Metinpour immediately and unconditionally, as they are prisoners of conscience, held solely on account of their peaceful activities on behalf of the Iranian Azerbaijani community;
- calling on the authorities to allow Sa’id and Elirza Metinpour immediate and regular access to their family and a lawyer of their choice, and to any medical treatment they may require.
- calling on the authorities to order an immediate investigation into reports that Sa’id and Elirza Metinpour have been tortured, and for anyone found responsible for abuses to be brought to justice;
- reminding the authorities that the use of confessions extracted under duress is prohibited by Article 38 of the constitution of Iran.
APPEALS TO:
Leader of the Islamic Republic
His Excellency Ayatollah Sayed ‘Ali Khamenei, The Office of the Supreme Leader
Islamic Republic Street - Shahid Keshvar Doust Street
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Email: info@leader.ir
Salutation: Your Excellency
Minister of Intelligence
Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejeie
Ministry of Intelligence, Second Negarestan Street, Pasdaran Avenue, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Salutation: Your Excellency
Head of the Judiciary
Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi
Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Justice Building, Panzdah-Khordad Square, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Fax: +98 21 3390 4986 (please keep trying)
Email: info@dadgostary-tehran.ir (In the subject line write: FAO Ayatollah Shahroudi)
Salutation: Your Excellency
COPIES TO:
President
His Excellency Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
The Presidency, Palestine Avenue, Azerbaijan Intersection, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Email: dr-ahmadinejad@president.ir
via website: www.president.ir/email
Salutation: Your Excellency
Speaker of Parliament
His Excellency Gholamali Haddad Adel
Majles-e Shoura-ye Eslami, Baharestan Square, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Fax: +98 21 3355 6408
Email: hadadadel@majlis.ir
and to diplomatic representatives of Iran accredited to your country.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 11 March 2008.
http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/MDE13/019/2008
PUBLIC AI Index: MDE 13/015/2008
25 January 2008
UA 21/08 Torture/possible prisoners of conscience/medical concern
IRAN Behrouz Seferi (Safari in Azerbaijani Turkic) (m), Iranian Azerbaijani Layla Heydari (f), his wife
Iranian Azerbaijani Behrouz Seferi, who has campaigned for Iran’s Azerbaijani minority to be given greater rights to use their mother tongue, is now known to have been detained without charge or trial since late May or early June 2007. His wife, Layla Heydari, has been detained since 28 August. Both are held in Tehran's Evin Prison, where they have allegedly been tortured. Neither has been allowed to consult a lawyer.
Behrouz Seferi was arrested shortly after demonstrations around the first anniversary of the publication of a cartoon in an Iranian newspaper which many Iranian Azerbaijanis found offensive. He was held in his home town of Zanjan until 4 December, when he was moved to Evin Prison.
Layla Heydari ran a shop selling Azerbaijani books, music and other cultural material until the authorities closed it down in 2006. She obeyed official warnings not to publicise her husband's arrest, but on 28 August she was summoned to visit him at the Ministry of Intelligence detention centre where he was held at the time, and was arrested. She too was moved to Evin Prison on 4 December.
Their families were allowed to visit them on 31 December, and say they think both have been tortured to make them give “confessions”. Layla Heydari is apparently in poor health, suffering from severe headaches, but has been given very little medical help. She has also reportedly suffered from heart problems, and has had to be treated on the medical wing, whose staff apparently recommended that she be allowed medical treatement outside prison
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Iranian Azerbaijanis, who live mainly in the north and north-west of the country and are mainly Shi’a Muslims, are the largest minority in Iran (at least 25-30% of the population). They are increasingly demanding greater cultural and linguistic rights, including the right to education in Azerbaijani Turkic. A small minority want Iranian Azerbaijani provinces to break away from Iran and join with the Republic of Azerbaijan. The Iranian authorities view those who seek to promote Iranian Azerbaijani cultural identity with suspicion, and often charge them with vaguely worded offences such as "acting against state security by promoting pan-Turkism".
In May 2006, there were massive demonstrations in towns and cities in north-western Iran in protest at a cartoon published on 12 May by the state-owned daily newspaper Iran, which many Iranian Azerbaijanis found offensive. Hundreds were arrested during and after the demonstrations. Other waves of arrests have occurred around dates significant to the Azerbaijani community, such as a boycott of the start of the academic year in September 2006; after demonstrations in February 2007 on the occasion of International Mother Tongue day; and on the anniversary of the May 2006 demonstrations.
In recent years the authorities have grown increasingly suspicious of Iran's minority communities, many of which are situated in border areas, and have accused foreign powers such as the US and UK of fomenting unrest among them.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in Persian, English, Arabic, French or your own language:
- expressing concern that Behrouz Seferi and his wife, Layla Heydari, have been detained without charge for some months, and asking why they were arrested;
- calling on the authorities to release them immediately and unconditionally if they are held solely for their peaceful activism on behalf of Iran’s Azerbaijani minority, or else charge them with recognisably criminal offences and try them promptly and fairly;
- urging them to investigate reports that Behrouz Seferi and Layla Heydari have been tortured, and bring anyone found responsible for abuses to justice;
- reminding the authorities that the use of confessions extracted under duress is prohibited by Article 38 of the constitution of Iran.
APPEALS TO:
Leader of the Islamic Republic
His Excellency Ayatollah Sayed ‘Ali Khamenei
The Office of the Supreme Leader, Islamic Republic Street - Shahid Keshvar Doust Street
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Email: info@leader.ir
Salutation: Your Excellency
Head of the Judiciary
Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi
Howzeh Riyasat-e Qoveh Qazaiyeh / Office of the Head of the Judiciary
Pasteur St., Vali Asr Ave., south of Serah-e Jomhouri, Tehran 1316814737,
Islamic Republic of Iran
Email: info@dadgostary-tehran.ir (In the subject line write: FAO Ayatollah Shahroudi)
Salutation: Your Excellency
Minister of Intelligence
Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejeie
Ministry of Intelligence, Second Negarestan Street, Pasdaran Avenue, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Salutation: Your Excellency
COPIES TO:
President
His Excellency Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
The Presidency, Palestine Avenue, Azerbaijan Intersection, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Email: dr-ahmadinejad@president.ir
via website: www.president.ir/email
Speaker of Parliament
His Excellency Gholamali Haddad Adel
Majles-e Shoura-ye Eslami, Baharestan Square, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Fax: +98 21 3355 6408
Email: hadadadel@majlis.ir (Please ask that your message be brought to the attention of the Article 90 Commission)
and to diplomatic representatives of Iran accredited to your country.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 7 March 2008.
http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/MDE13/015/2008
PUBLIC AI Index: MDE 13/016/2008
25 January 2008
UA 24/08 Fear of torture
IRAN Jamshid Arazpour (m), ethnic Turkmen from Gomesh Deppeh Haji Aman Khadivar (m), ethnic Turkmen from Chapaqli, Golestan 200-300 others
The two men named above were detained in the first week of January, during or after unrest that followed the killing of a Turkmen fisherman by the security forces. They are believed to be held incommunicado in Bouyeh Prison by officials from Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence in the city of Gorgan, the capital of the north-eastern province of Golestan. They are at risk of torture.
On 28 December, an 18-year-old Turkmen fisherman, Husamettin Khadivar, was killed by maritime security officers. He had been fishing without a license in the Caspian Sea off the city of Bandar-e Torkman. Three other fishermen taking part in the unauthorised fishing were arrested.
It is not known where Jamshid Arazpour was arrested. Haji Aman Khadivar, older brother of the dead man, was detained while taking part in mourning and commemorative events for his brother, outside the family home in Chapaqli. Both men, and others detained in the course of protests which followed Husamettin Khadivar’s death, are said to have been tortured by three security officials while being transported in a minibus from Bandar-e Torkman to prison in Gorgan. Following the arrests, Bouyeh prison in Gorgan was said to have been so crowded that shackled detainees were forced to stand, possibly for hours, in freezing temperatures in the prison’s courtyard, before they were put in cells.
An Iranian body, the Turkmen Human Rights Group is said to have taken up the arrested men^s case with the authorities.
On 30 December people from Turkmen fishing villages including Chapaqli and Khoja Nafas went to the military base near Chapaqli to seek information and to protest at the killing. Some also tried to lodge complaints at the office of the security chief of Bandar-e Torkman, but were turned away. Protests followed which are said to have led to broken windows and cars set on fire near the offices of the district governor, the security forces and the maritime security office. The protests are said to have continued until around 6 January, when the authorities received reinforcements. Dozens of Turkmen protesters are said to have been injured, and 200-300 were arrested in villages in the region, including at least two from Gomesh Deppeh (Gomeshiyan in Persian), 20 from Chapaqli and 75 from Bandar-e Torkman. The detainees were reportedly not given any reason for their arrest, nor told what was going to happen to them. Their families have not been told where they are held, nor allowed to contact them.
Scores, if not hundreds, of Turkmen have reportedly been taken to Zahedan in Sistan-Baluchistan province, possibly to make it harder for families to find out what has happened to them. One report suggested that these people were arrested at night and taken, in whatever they were wearing, to a detention centre where they received clothing and, in many cases, were taken from the region.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Turkmen of Iran number around 2.2 million (no more than 3% of the population), and speak a Turkic language. They are Sunni Muslim and live in the north-west of the country. They are allowed no education or social services in their mother tongue, though a small number of newspapers are allowed to publish in Turkmen. Turkmen cannot obtain senior positions in even local government, under discriminatory gozinesh, or selection policies.
According to Turkmen sources, at least two other fishermen have been killed in the past two years, in a region marked by poverty and up to 40% unemployment. Fishing has reportedly recently been transformed into a state enterprise, effectively banning individual fishermen from their traditional livelihood.
The parliamentary representative for Bandar-e Torkman, himself a Turkmen, has reportedly complained to parliament on three occasions about the killing of Husamettin Khadivar and the subsequent mass arrests of his constituents. In one of his statements he is reported to have said that, "One cannot tell poor villagers that they should continue to live in hunger."
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in Persian, English, Turkmen or your own language:
- expressing concern at the reports of the incommunicado detention of up to 300 Turkmen, including Jamshid Arazpour and Haji Aman Khadivar following the killing of Husamettin Khadivar;
- calling on the authorities to ensure that none is tortured or ill-treated;
-calling on the authorities to allow all those detained to be granted immediate and regular access to their families and lawyer of their choice and to be granted any medical treatment they may require;
- reminding the authorities of their obligation under international human rights law to charge the detainees with recognisably criminal offences and to try them promptly and fairly, or else release them.
APPEALS TO:
Head of the Judiciary
Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi
Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Justice Building, Panzdah-Khordad Square,
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Email: info@dadgostary-tehran.ir (In the subject line write: FAO Ayatollah Shahroudi)
Salutation: Your Excellency
Minister of Intelligence
Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejeie
Ministry of Intelligence, Second Negarestan Street, Pasdaran Avenue, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Salutation: Your Excellency
COPIES TO:
Leader of the Islamic Republic
His Excellency Ayatollah Sayed ‘Ali Khamenei, The Office of the Supreme Leader
Islamic Republic Street - Shahid Keshvar Doust Street, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Email: info@leader.ir
Governor of Golestan province
Governorate of Golestan (Ostandari-ye Ostan-e Golestan)
Gorgan, Islamic Republic of Iran
Email: via website: http://www.golestanstate.ir/layers.aspx?quiz=contact
Put your name in the top field and your message in the last field. Click the grey box beneath to send.
COPIES TO: diplomatic representatives of Iran accredited to your country.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 6 March 2008.
Report of Mr. Alireza Javanbakht, speaker of the committee of defense of Azerbaijan political prisoners in Persian section of VOA TV
Savalan Sesi(Translated by Oyrenci News):
News and Comments- news program of Persian section of VOA (14 January)
Student committee of without border reporters expressed concern about the health condition of Mrs. Leila Heidari in Evin prison.
Mrs. Leila Hedari, wife of Mr. Behrooz Safari, Azerbaijan political activist that himself without explanation of accusation and without right to visit his lawyer and his family is in detention of intelligence forces for months.
In this regard an interview with Mr. Alireza Javanbakht, speaker of the committee of defense of Azerbaijan political prisoners is coming next:
Mrs. Leila Heidari after imprisonment of His spouse Mr. Behrooz Safari, on August 28th 2007 goes to intelligence office of Zanjan to visit his spouse but she is detained and after passage of five months is kept in detention house of intelligence ministry in Evin prison.
According to the statements of her relatives, Mrs. Heidari does not have good and suitable health condition. She has had several heart attacks in Evin prison in Tehran and it was due to her previous concerns and tortures she has experienced in prison. Earlier we had received reliable news about her torture and her spouse.
Mrs. Heidari because of cultural activities has been under the pressure of security forces. Also she was detained and interrogated on the occasion world mother tongue day on February 21st 2006.
Perhaps her detention is in relation with her previous activities and also with the aim to put her spouse, Mr. Behrooz Safari, under extra pressure.
Mrs. Heidari and other Azerbaijani prisoner in Evin prison in Tehran, namely "Said Matinpour", journalist and human rights activist, "Jalil Ghaniloo", journalist, "Alireza Matinpour", civilian activist, and "Behrooz Safari",spouse of Mrs. Leila Heidari, after several months temporary detention do not have right to choose a lawyer. Families of all these prisoners have informed us about painful and severe tortures in order to record baseless and fabricated confessions.
It is while those families themselves are not aware of the accusations made. However, according to the statements of some of the recently released, on heavy bail, Azerbaijani activists and while awaiting issue of sentence of acting against national security, probably accusation of those in prison now will be acting against national security. It is an accusation made against Azerbaijani activists frequently and unfortunately in these conditions and in such accusations penal laws of Iran associates accessibility to lawyer to the permission of judge, a permission which is given rarely.
Saleh Kamerani, lawyer, Abdollah Abbasi Javan, university professor, Yagoob Saleki nia, journalist and member of the committee of defense of Azerbaijani political prisoners (ASMAK), Mir Gasem Seyedinzade, journalist and Mohammad Nosrati, university student,recently have been released on heavy 150,80 and 40 million tumans bail. They say that they have been tortured during imprisonment.
VOA: Mr. Javanbakht, there are reports about the lashing of some Azerbaijani activists. Are they true?
Yes, in recent days lashing sentence of some Azerbaijani activists has been executed.
Mr. engineer Ibrahim Moini, political activist from Nagade (a city in west Azerbaijan), some days ago after bearing 40 lashes has been released from 10 months long passed prison. He was imprisoned on May 2007 and also was in detention for a while on 2006. His total detention time is ten months, after finishing this term and after forty lashes he was set freed. Also Mr. Ali Haj Mohammadi, another activist from Nagade, after 50 lashes was imprisoned. He is in Nagade prison now. Another activist from Nagade is Mr. Vali Azariyun, whose brother, Tohid Azariyun, was killed on May 2006 because police shot him, is to be exposed to the execution of thirty lashes.
It is while that families of four Nagade activists, whom have lost their lives on May 2006, are under the pressure of intelligence forces in Nagade and they are warned not to attend on the tombs of their dears with others. These are families of Hosein Fathipoor, Tohid Azariyun, Hemmat Esmzade and Asgar Gasemi. Also their complaints against police, revolutionary corps and Basij because of direct shooting towards their children after 20 months have not received any definite response.
250 days passed from Saeid Metinpour’s detention
(Translated by Oyrenci News)
Saeid Meninpour, Azerbaijani Turk hero, after 250 days resistance against torture of Iranian intelligent services not only he made us shame, but also he wondered Persian tyrants. It is obvious that besides to Seid his family especially his father, mother and wife also are under torture and they are also fighting along side with Saeid. We want their unconditional freedom, because they are innocent and their wanting is just basic human rights. We hope some day all of our brave prisoners (Abbas Lisani, Ali Shadi, Hadi Hamidi, Shirzad Hajilou, Elman Nouri, and others ) be freed and live with freedom.
Iranian revolutionary court condemned south Azerbaijani writer to one year imprisonment and 2 years exile
VOA News, Azerbaijani Section (Translated by Oyrenci News):
According to the received reports form south Azerbaijan, Hamid Arghish writer of some Azerbaijani books, for instance, “… ve Senin Hikayelerin”, “ Gharli Ark”, and “ Hikayeler Toplusu” has bee condemned to one year imprisonment and 2 years exile to the Bijar city by Iranian revolutionary court in north-western city of Khoy.
His books publication has been prohibited for 3 years. He was detained on 26th February of 2007, by Iranian intelligent services after attendance in a demonstration on international worldwide mother language day (21 February) and his writings, personal computer and other personal stuffs were blocked.
Some news about him have been propagated by “Mediya Forum”, “Hagh”, and “ Savalan Sesi”.
Report of Radio Farda: Due to Resistance of Mr. Abbas Lesani Lashing Sentence has not been executed
Oyrenci News:
Interview with Mrs. Rogayye Alizade wife of Mr. Abbas Lesani
Latest reports from Ardebil indicate that today (Sunday December 30th) sentence of 50 lashes of Mr. Abbas Lesani, civil activist, has not been executed because of his opposition.
Mr. Abbas Lesani last solar year was detained because of participation in the civilian protests of Ardebil people on May 2006 and in a private court with the accusation of demolition of public and governmental property sentenced to 18 months jail and 50 lashes.
It was assigned to execute lashing at the end of 18 months prison. Mrs. Rogayye Alizade wife of Mr. Abbas Lesani about non-execution of lashing in interview with Mr. Behrooz Karooni from Radio Farda said:
Abbas did not let them lash him. He said: "I do not want anything except rights of my nation; you can not respond them with lashing. Lashing was proper for slaving era." They made attempts for three hours, and attorney general of Ardebil talked with Abbas but he prevented sentence from being executed.
But then attorney general ordered to execute the decree in prison but three times they made attempts to execute again Abbas did not let them. Then lawyer ordered soldiers to take him and let lawyer to execute the decree himself but no soldier listened to his words.
According to the statements of Mrs. Rogayye Alizade: " It was assigned that those in charge of prison to send Abbas today morning and after execution of order to Ahar (a city in eastern Azerbaijan) prison to pass 12 months long prison. It is while that the order is not final and keeping him in prison is illegal."
It is notified that primary court of Tabriz and Kaleibar had sentenced Mr. Abbas Lesani in relation to its case about the publication Turkish Calender in 1382 solar year and attendance in Babak Castle in 1384, to two years prison that appeal court of eastern Azerbaijan province lessened it to one year.
Warning: Leyla Heydari^s life is in Danger
Savalan Sesi (Translated by Oyrenci News):
Leila Heidari, Behrouz Safari^s wife, that had gone to intelligence service office on 28th August to receive permission to visit her spouse who is one of jailed Azerbaijan national movement activists has been detained and is kept in Evin prison.
Leila Heidari after detention was in the prison of Zanjan for a while and then has been moved to the section 209 of Evin prison along with some other political prisoners kept there.
She is detained in a double cell in section 209.
Based on received reports, she is suffering from acute heart problem as well as migraine and endured and intensified those illnesses in the prison, so that she has passed out twice during investigations and has been transferred to prison medical centre.
She also has endured heart attack in her cell in the prison. It is reported that medical center of section 209 in Evin prison has asked authorities of the prison to release her for cure purposes.
Her detention is going on while based on the rules families of accused person are privileged.
Based on citizen rights "only accused person is accountable in front of judicial authorities, calling and detaining members of accused family is restricted."
Student committee of human rights committee, while announcing anxiety of health condition of Mrs. Heidari asks for unconditional release of her. Since Mrs. Heidari is detained because of her ideological beliefs, she is recognized as ideological prisoner.
Un-aboveboard trial of 6 South Azerbaijani activists in revolutionary courtroom of Tabriz
Savalan Sesi (Translated by Oyrenci News):
Sunday, 13th January, trial of 6 Azerbaijani activists was held in revolutionary courtroom of north-western city of Tabriz. In this trial with attendance of Taher Mahdavi Chizigh, Yousef Lotfi hagh, Khosro Derakhshi, Mohammd Ali Javadi, and Mehdi Afsari, Judge informed them about the reports prepared by Iranian intelligent services and asked them to sign and approve reports. Then Judge said them: "your sentences will be announced in a few days".
It is worthy to say that Javad Kanani also was in the list of the people to be attend in the courtroom, but because of unknown proofs he was not able to be there.
All of these Six Azerbaijani Turks have been charged in members of the South Azerbaijan independent party (GAIP), and they had been arrested last year and had been freed after one month jail with 40 Million Tomans (about 50000 USD) bails.
We also received other news from Tabriz that Mr. Hassan Asadi, south Azerbaijani political activist, also had been asked to attend in courtroom, but he also was not attend there.
Mr. Ebrahim Moini got freed from Naghadeh prison after 40 lashes
Urmu News (Translated by Oyrenci News): 
Mr. Ebrahim Moini got freed from Naghadeh prison after enduring 40 lashes.
He is civil engineer and is one of primitive Azerbaijan national movement activists in Naghadeh. He had been detained in demonstrations of Naghadeh people on 25 May, 2005 (in which 4 people were killed by police shoots) because of attending in demonstration, and got freed by paying pawn 2 months later. He had been arrested on early May 2006 before the anniversary of previous demonstration and was sentenced to 10 months jail as well as 40 lashes.
Hassan Aziz-zadeh, Azerbaijani activist, was condemned to three months jail
Savalan Sesi (Translated by Oyrenci):
Hassan Aziz-zadeh, Azerbaijani officer of Iranian police services, was condemned by the first military court of north-western city of Urmu (Oroumiyeh) to 3 months jail on charge of pan-Turkism and separation activities and propagation. From the other side he also was condemned to pay 500,000 Rials (about 60 USD) as a penalty on charge of watching satellite TV programs.
It is worthy to say that Mr. Aziz-zadeh had been arrested in April 2007 because of his national activities in Maku city and he had been deported from his job by Iranian police commission in the West Azerbaijan providence.
He was under torture of Iranian intelligence services and they tried to comply him for taking some lie confessions under intense spiritual and physical pressures.
Report of Mrs. Fakhte Zamani, head of association for defending Azerbaijan political prisoners, in Persian section of VOA TV
"Azerbaijani activists in Evin prison for giving false and fabricated confessions have been tortured."
Savalan Sesi (Translated By Oyrenci): news and comments- news program of Persian section of VOA (1/1/2008)
In recent days a number of Azerbaijani activists have been released on heavy bail. They were kept in solitary confinement and they say that in order to confess obligatorily they were under mental and physical pressures.
Mrs. Fakhte Zamani, head of association for defending Azerbaijan political prisoners, in an interview with VOA about recent situation of these prisoners has said:
We have received reports about recently released prisoners and also about families of other prisoners who are presently in jail. These reports indicate that all of prisoners have been kept in solitary confinements under severe and harsh physical and mental tortures.
Because of straight blows on the faces and mouths of the prisoners, tympanum of ear of one of them has been damaged and teeth of some of them have broken. However, they have high morale but mentally and physically have been severely offended. At present some of them are under treatment of medics. They also were under mental pressures, interrogators with their contemptuous behavior and words have insulted them, their families and Azerbaijan nation.
If possible please point to the situation of some of the prisoners.
Mr. Saleh Kamerani, lawyer and defender of human rights, after undergoing four months prison has been released, during this detention he was under repeated physical and mental tortures for about three weeks. His wife has been frequently threatened and even in his presence has been interrogated. Under these frequent tortures and after long term solitary confinement now he is under supervision of several specialists. Before detention he had heart disease that because of tortures it deteriorated. His lawyer, Mr. Riyahi, has not managed to study the case yet and he said although they have accused him verbally but nothing has been given in written form yet.
Mr. Engineer Abdollah Abbasi Javan, professor of Tehran universities, also after undergoing 4 months long prison has been released that about 80 days he was in solitary confinement. He was accused of acting against national security, and having relation with foreigners.
Mr. Mohammmad Nosrati, student of Ankara University, had been arrested in borderline while entering in Iran in order to visit his ill mother. He has recently set freed on bail.
Five Azerbaijani activists who have been released from Evin prison from beginning were under severe torture and offense of interrogators in order to make TV confessions.
How is the situation of some of other Azerbaijani prisoners who are in prison now?
At present, Mr. Saiid Matinpoor, Ali Reza Matinpoor, Jalil Ghaniloo, Behrooz Safari and his wife Leila Heidari are in very worrying situation un Evin prison. Among these situation of Mr. Saiid Matinpoor is the most critical. Despite of passage of more then seven months from their detention no clear information has been given about their accusation.
After seven months his wife has visited him and reported his physical condition as very weak and critical.
According to the statements of released prisoners, Mr. Saiid Matinpoor has been tortured more than others.
Mohammadreza Faghihi, attorney of Abbas Lisani: Mr. Lisani has been called to attend at Tabriz revolutionary court
Savalan Sesi:
Mohammadreza Faghihi, attorney of Abbas Lisani, Azerbaijani civil activist, announced that he has received subpoena asking Mr. Abbas Lisani to attend at revolutionary court of Tabriz on 20th January. This news announces in such a time that now Mr. Lisani is in Prison of north-western city of Ahar illegally.
According to the mentioned report, it is planned Mr. Lisani, Azerbaijani political activist, be trialed at court on charge of attendance in sepulcher of Sattarkhan on 5th August 2004.
Death Sentence in Iran Border of Wildness: Law Observer
11.01.08 11:00
Azerbaijan, Baku 10 January /corr. Trend D.Khatinoglu / The law observers are concerned with the implementation of the death sentence in Iran. “The death sentence in Iran, is the border of the wildness,” said the law observer Amirhossein Movahhedi, the Secretary General of Iran’s Crisis Committee. In the first days of 2008, the punishments began with regard to the13 people in Iran, BBC reports. In addition, the sentence was given by the Revolution Court to cut off the right arms and left legs of the five imprisoned people in Zahedan city. According to the unofficial information, the Iranian Court sentenced two people to be thrown off from the mountain. Movahhedi confirmed the implementation of the final sentence, in his conversation with Trend from Tabriz on 10 January. According to him, such a kind of punishment is inhuman. “The cases of human rights violations in Iran have reached to a critical point and the international organizations should give reaction to the official Tehran,” he said. Mohammadreza Fagihi, Iranian politician and lawyer, reported to Trend by telephone that the punishments ‘cutting off right arm and left leg’ and ‘throwing from the mountain’ found their reflections in the articles of the Criminal Code of Iran and is the Islamic measures in their kinds. “These kinds of punishments are applied to the people who opposes the Islamic religion and revolution,” Fagihi.
26 December 2007
Azerbaijani Iranian Activists Threatened (MP3)
Human rights monitors say a number of Azerbaijani-Iranian human rights activists remain imprisoned by the Iranian regime. Fakhteh Zamani is Director of the Association for the Defense of Azerbaijani Political Prisoners in Iran. She says Abbas Lisani [ah-bahs lih-sahn-ee] is one of them:
“Abbas Lisani, a prominent Azerbaijani-Iranian activist, has been in Ardibil prison since 2006. In addition to a sentence of fifty lashes, he has been given an additional sentence of twelve months to be served in Ahar prison. He has written several open letters, protesting unlawful treatment by prison officials and the violation of his rights and those of other Azerbaijani-Iranian human rights activists.”
Mr. Lisani has conducted several lengthy hunger strikes to protest mistreatment by Iranian authorities. Ms. Zamani says his life is in danger:
“As a result of hunger strikes and torture, he is suffering from a number of medical problems. We have reports that the torture he is receiving from prison authorities exceeds even the brutality of flogging, which is common in Iran.”
Other Azerbaijani-Iranians imprisoned for human rights activities include Behruz Seferi and his wife Leyla; Sa’id Metinpour and his brother Elirza; Ilqar Merendli, Jelil Qenilu, Mehemmed Nusreti, Mir Qasim Seyyendinzadeh, and Ebdullah Abbassi Javan. Relatives of Sa’id Metinpour and Ebdullah Javan say both men are in poor health because of ill-treatment.
Human rights lawyer Saleh Kamrani is still being held in Evin prison. The human rights monitoring group Amnesty International says that Mr. Kamrani was “detained solely in connection with his activities as a lawyer defending Iranian Azerbaijanis and others and for the peaceful exercise of his rights to freedom of expression and association in support of greater rights for the Iranian-Azerbaijani community.”
Earlier this year, U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack reaffirmed the U.S. call for the Iranian government “to cease the systematic oppression of its citizens, respect the human rights of all Iranian people and to release those arrested and imprisoned for insisting on their universal rights.”
http://www.voanews.com/uspolicy/2007-12-26-voa4.cfm
Changiz Bakhtavar, Azerbaijani Proletarian and national activist, was recognized innocent in Tabriz
Oyrenci News:
Finally, Houshang Gharebaghi and Hosein Hafezan, counsellors in the 7th branch of East Azerbaijan^s revision court, recognized Mr. Changiz Bakhavar, Azerbaijani Proletarian and national activist, as innocent. It is worthy to say that Mr. Bakhtavar has been arrested and jailed several times on charge of unproved charges. Attorney of Mr. Changiz Bakhtavar was Mr. Hassan Azimzadeh, one of the most repute attorneys in north-western city of Tabriz.
Saiid Matinpoor undergoes very critical conditions.
Oyrenci:
Said Matinpoor, human rights activist and activist against linguistic and ethnical discrimination of Azerbaijan, spends very miserable and hard time.
It is more than seven monthes that Said Matinpoor, a blogger and collaborator of Azerbaijan local newspapers and magazines, is in solitary confinement and under torture. Regime^s security forces try to break tolerance and resistance of Said Matinpoor and take him before TV screen to confess to an uncommitted and ascribed and claimed crime. Following failures of security forces in suppressing Azerbaijan National Movement, these forces try to force Said Matinpoor to artificial and forged confessions and through broadcasting that connect antidiscrimination Movement of Azerbaijan, which entered a new phase since may 2006, to foreign countries and pave the way for wide suppression and detention of Azerbaijan civil and cultural activists.
Although some of Azerbaijan activists released last week some of bails so high that prisoners families faced numerous problems in providing bail and they have been forced to supply these huge sums with assistance of relatives and friends. For instance, in order to release saleh kamerani, first-ranking lawyer and human right activist, regime has determined 150 millions tumans as bail. According to the statements of activists and analysts of Azerbaijan political and national issues regime intends to suppress theoreticians and activists of Azerbaijan National Movement with determining huge sums of bail.
Furthermore, makes attempts with determination of uncustomary punishments weaken and break the spirit and humiliate Azerbaijani activists. Abbas Lesani, poet, writer and civil activist of Azerbaijan, despite being imprisoned has been sentenced to 50 lashes. Although according to the court verdict Abbas must be freed immediately after completing the period of conviction, it is predicted that Revolution Court of Ahar (a city east Azerbaijan) will put forward a new case to prevent Abbas Lesani from being released.
At the moment, tens of Azerbaijani student and national activists are in jails or they are awaiting court orders, in a way that within six days six national activists have been summoned to Revolution Court.
It is necessary that human rights activists without any discrimination among human and political activists in Iran and in coordination with Azerbaijani human rights activists take suitable measures to set these prisoners free.
Ehsan Tabrizli- Azerbaijan student activist.
Mr. Abbas Lisani^s jail will finish on 31 December 2007
In a telephone call with Hassan Ark, journalist in Tabriz, Abbas Lisani congratulated Ghadir anniversary to Azerbaijan nation and informed Mr. Hasani that his 18 months jailings will finished on 31th December 2007.
Mr. Hasan Arak in an interview with Azgala internet site said: Now it is 18 months that Mr. Lisani, Azerbaijani warrior, is in prison. He added: from our viewpoint Mr. Lisani is innocent and his real charge is defiant Azerbaijanis rights. According to his method, Mr. Lisani tries hard to defy these rights.
Mr. Ark also said: Mr. Lisani also has been condemned to 50 strikes lash and it is scheduled to be done on 31th December. Mr. Lisani also has said to Mr. Arak that he will resist against this sentence and Iranian official maybe run this savage sentence on him by force. Mr. Lisani has pointed that this sentence is apparent scorn of humankind in the modern era we live.
From Mr. Lisani^s view, all of sentences, especially lashing, against Azerbaijani Turks are illegal, tyrannous and scornful.
Mr. Ark added: there are other sentences against Mr. Lisani, but none of them has been approved yet. We hope revision court resist against Iranian anti-Turk chauvinists and judge with justice. We hope Iranian official free him tomorrow and allow him to come back to his nation and family.
Mr. Ark emphasized that with regard to reality that his jailing time will finish tomorrow, so keeping him in prison is tyrannous and illegal.
Hasan Asadi^s family is under pressure of Iranian intelligent services (Ettelat)
Friday, December-28-07
Savalan Sasi:
Acording to the received news from north-western city of Tabriz, family and spouse of Mr. Hasan Asadi, Azerbaijani activist from Tabriz, are under intense pressure by Iranian intelligent services (Ettelat).
According to the mentioned report, Iranian intelligent services have referred to Hassan Asadi^s home to arrest him, but after they found he is not at home, they threatened his family and spouse with intensified scorns.
His detention after pawn issuance and without any official subpoena is illegal and reversal of the provisions.
It is worthy to note that Mr. Hasan Asadi had been arrested on 9th February 2006 in a demonstration against Abbas Lisani jailing and torture in front of Ardabil prison, then he had passed 5 months in detention at Ettelat prison located in Ardabil and Tabriz. He had been sentenced to be member of South Azerbaijan independence Party (GAIP) and he had been freed with 70 Million Tomans (About 70 thousands USD) as a guaranty.
Ebrahim Jafarzadeh^s condemnation to jail and Exile was approved
Reconsideration court of western Azerbaijan province approved Ebrahim Jafarzadeh^s condemnation to one year jail and two years exile.
Seyyed MohammadReza Faghihi, attorney of Mr. Jafarzadeh, announced this news and added: My client had been condemned to 1 year jail and 2 years exile on charge of propagation against Iranian government. We asked for reconsideration on this sentence, but our request was rejected by reconsideration court of the western Azerbaijan province and they approved the mentioned sentence.
He added: My client had been detained in one of the Khoy^s streets on world mother day. Firstly, official said that his charge is racial, but they changed my client^s charge later and announced that his charge was propagation against Iranian government.
Mr. Faghihi said also that: we will try to ask again reconsideration on this sentence.
Moral Pressure Put on Arrested National Azerbaijani Activists in Iran: Law Observer
25.12.07 20:18
According to the information provided by the Committee for Protection of the Rights of Political Prisoners, the family of the arrested national activist of South Azerbaijan, Abdulla Abbasi, paid more than $80,000 to the court as security to free Abbasi, but the activist has not been released yet. The punishment of other national activist, Abbas Lisani, who was sentenced to 50 blows of lash, was postponed up to new year. Many national activists in Iran incur physical tortures, the Secretary General of the Committee, Javanbekht, reported to Trend during conversation from Ankara on 25 December. “50 blows of lash to Lisani in new year is the small part of the pressure put on him and his family,” Javanbekht said. Since 2006 Lisani has been detained in prison in Iran’s city of Ardebil, with accusations of breaking national security. In addition, Lisani’s former lawyer Saleh Kamrani was arrested. Amnesty International stated in its final report that the lawyer was arrested for protecting national activists. The Amnesty International condemned the pressure on the national activists in Iran. Lisani’s spouse reported to Trend by telephone from Iran that the punishment to Abbas is of inhuman character. “Abbas has been detained in prison since 2006 for his national-cultural activities and will stay there for one more year. Official Tehran repeatedly tried to prolong the period of his arrest. Lisani was sentenced to the fine, punishment with lash and currently efforts are being made to prolong the period of his arrest with new accusations,” she said. According to unofficial information, 35mln Azerbaijanis reside in Iran. 
Azerbaijan, Baku /corr. Trend D.Khatinoglu / Moral pressure is being put on the arrested national Azerbaijani activists in Iran, said the Iranian law observer, Alirza Javanbekht , who is working in Turkey.
AFTER COUPLE OF MONTHS, 3 AZERBAIJANI ACTIVISTS FREED FROM EVIN PRISON
Savalan Sesi:
Saleh Kamrani, human right activist and repute attorney, and Mirghasem Seyyedinzadeh, former student activists and Azerbaijani journalist, were freed yesterday from Evin prison of Tehran with 10 Million and 40 million pawn respectively.
Saleh Kamrani and Mirghasem Seyyedinzadeh were detained on 18th August and 2nd of November respectively and have been kept in Evin prison.
Both of them passed almost all of their detention in sporadic cells of number 209 where they were there under direct and continuous supervision of Iranian intelligent services.
They were not allowed access to the attorney in their detention period.
From the other side, Mohammad Nosrati, master student of Ankara University, whom had been detained in early October in his entrance to Iran from Turkey, has been freed.
6 Azerbaijani national activists were called to revolutionary court of Tabriz
Savalan Sesi:
According to the received news from north-western city of Tabriz, 6 Azerbaijani national activists have been called to the revolutionary court. List of the people mentioned in this report:
1- Taher Mahdavi Chizigh. Jailed on 4th April 2007 and freed on 7th May 2007
2- Yousef Lotfi. Jailed on 10th March 2006 and freed on 19th April 2007
3- Khosro derakhshi. Jailed 4th april 2007 and freed 7th May 2007
4- Mohammad Ali Javadi. Jailed on 5th April 2007 and freed on 6th May 2007
5- Mehdi Afsari. Jailed on 10th March 2006 and freed on 19th April 2007
6- Javad Kanani. Jailed on 24th April 2007 and freed on 27 May 2007
Official have asked from the above mentioned activists to attend in revolutionary court of Tabriz on 13 January 2008. These people have been condemned on charge of membership in south Azerbaijan independence party (GAIP) and all of them had been jailed in the last year and passed about 1 month in prison and had been freed with 40 Million Tomans (About 40 thousands USD) pawn.
