February 2016 Ahraz-1602/010
Report on the situation of Iranian Azerbaijanis regarding human rights:
Ayat Mehralibeyglu, Rasoul Razavi, Hosein Alimohamadi, Morteza Moradpour, and Abbas Lesani:
On 19 Feb 2016 five Turk iranin Azerbaijan prisoners of conscious, Ayat Mehralibeyglu, Rasoul Razavi, Hosein Alimohamadi, Morteza Moradpour, and Abbas Lesani, started three days hunger strike to protest Islamic republic policies in ignoring the ethnic rights. These five Azerbaijani prisoners were opposing about Iran government and parliament negligence of language rights while it has been considered in the constitution.
Background: Ayat Mehralibeyglu, , Hosein Alimohamadi, Morteza Moradpour, Abbas Lesani and Rasoul Razavi have been sentence to , 9, 5, 3, and 6 moth imprisonment in Tabriz imprison respectively and Abbas lesani is spending his one year imprisonment in Ardabil prison.
Refrence: Oyan News
Arezoo Igani Ghajalu:
Ms, Arezoo Igani Ghajalu the Turk girl from Miyandoab city in Iranian Azerbaijan was terminated from school because of his belief to Bahaee religion. Mrs Arezu Ighani ghajalu got the notice termination in the last semester of her school before she graduate. “I wish to participate in development of Iran and its society”, She said in response to Bahaee News interview. Based on the directive of Education council approved on 25 Feb 1991, Bahaee citizen are not allowed to work in government as well as they are deprived of education. Based on this rule they need to be prevented to enroll any Scholl and the must be terminated as soon as they were recognized through the school. Reference: Oyan News
Asadollah Asadi:
On 31 January 2016 Mr Asadollah Asadi an Azebaijani Turk doctor and civil rights activist was released on bail from Tabriz Central Prison.
Mr Asadi declared on interview with HRANA: I was beaten brutally by three guardians, I claimed afterwards, and I transferred to forensics. I had to withdraw my claim as guardians said, they found sticker on my car and if I would not withdraw my case it will be revealed by them. Mr Asadi added, even half of the pita-bread we had in Tabriz prison was rationing and Tabriz prison condition is unbearable.
Background:
On 23 January 2016 Mr Asadi an Azebaijani transferred to Tabriz forensic for his complaints about the “violence that he has been faced while in detention.
According to Mr Asadi’s relatives, after medical examinations, he then was returned to “Tabriz intelligence office”.
On 20 January 2016 Mr Asadi was arrested by security forces, while he was protesting by carrying a banner around Tabriz Bazaar against the “violation of rights by the Department of Education”.
He was violated and beaten by security forces once he asked for legal document about his arrest in Tabriz Bazar.
Mr Asadi used to be employed as a teacher and forensic expert.
Background:
Mr. Asadi was arrested on 12 July 2010 in Tabriz. He spent four months at Tabriz intelligence services place of detention, where he went through intensive interrogation. He was transferred to Tehran Evin Prison in late 2010, where he spent time in solitary confinement at section 240 & 209.
In May 2012, after spending more than 20 months in prison without charges, Mr. Asadi was sentenced to ten years in prison on charges of “cooperating with enemy states” and “membership in the Muslim People’s Party (Khalghe Mosalman). The sentence was reduced to five years on second hearing.
Asadollah Asadi developed severe depression in prison. According to local news agencies he was tortured during interrogation that lasted for long time. Mr. Asadi appeared five times at Branch 15 of Tehran Revolutionary Court, to verify confessions extracted from him under torture, and each time Asadi retracted the confessions. Reports indicate that Asadollah Asadi was threatened with execution, being thrown into the sewer, getting buried alive, and sticking his head into the toilette. At one point he was kept awake and standing up for five days, denied permission to lay against a wall or to sit down.
Source: OyanNews
Mostafaie Parvin, Tohid Amir Amini, Meytham Jolani ,Saleh Pichganlu:
On 22 February, the 2nd branch of appeal court in Ardabil, northwest Iran, has confirmed the sentence for the civil society activists named above. In December 2015, the branch number 103 of Ardabil Criminal Court had sentenced Mostafaie Parvin, Tohid Amir Amini, Meytham Jolani and Saleh Pichganlu to 3 months in prison and 30 lashes for each of them. It was claimed that the sentence was based on Article 618 of Islamic penal code; “public disturbance via unordinary actions and unlawful slogans at the Ardabil Takhti sports stadium”. These activists were detained on their arrival to the stadium to watch football match between Ardabil municipality and Fajr Sepasi from Shiraz on 10 Sep 2015.The source: Oyan News from Hrana
Musa Sudi:
On 24 February 2016, The Second branch of The Revolutionary Court in Tabriz has summoned Mr. Musa Sudi to be present at the court on 4 April 2016. The reason for the summon is “suing against him” based on the subpoena.
Musa Sudi is an Azerbaijani Civil Society activist who was arrested previously. In February 2015, the branch number 104 of the Criminal Court in Tabriz sentence him and other 18 activist to 91 days in prison and 30 lashes. The accusation was “public disturbance via unordinary actions and unlawful slogans at the Yadgar Emam sports stadium”. They had been arrested on 26 February 2013 at the stadium during the football match between Tractorsazi FC and Aljazireh from U.A. Emirates. Tactorsazi FC is football club from Tabriz, Iranian Turk city, whose matches used to be a gathering for Azerbaijani activists to protest against the discriminatory policies of the government toward Iranian Turks.
Source: Oyan News
Ms Roqayeh Alizadeh & Abbas Lesani:
During last month (February 2016) Ms Roqayeh Alizadeh, Abbas Lesani’s wife and their kids were to Ardabil revolutionary court.
First Summons: 2 February 2016.
Mrs Roghayeh Alizadeh, Abbas Lesani’s wife was summoned by phone call from Iranian authorities to second branch of Ardabil revolutionary court.
She appointed to be present at Ardabil revolutionary court on 10 am, 2 February 2016.
According to OyanNews she stated that without official letter from court she would not go to court.
Ms Roqayeh Alizadeh & Abbas Lesani:
During last month (February 2016) Ms Roqayeh Alizadeh, Abbas Lesani’s wife and their kids were to Ardabil revolutionary court.
First Summons: 2 February 2016.
Mrs Roghayeh Alizadeh, Abbas Lesani’s wife was summoned by phone call from Iranian authorities to second branch of Ardabil revolutionary court.
She appointed to be present at Ardabil revolutionary court on 10 am, 2 February 2016.
According to OyanNews she stated that without official letter from court she would not go to court.
The time of reference was announced as 3 February 2016 at 10 o’clock and according to Alizadeh, probably she was summoned because of the complaint of intelligence office.
Abbas Lesani, imprisoned civil activist who was transferred from Ardabil prison to Shiraz prison without any notice on Thursday, 12th November is incommunicado. He has been prevented from having prison visits from the moment of his exile to Shiraz prison.
Abbas Lesani, civil activist who had refused to participate in any of the 3 trials, because of the court’s failure in respecting Article 168 of the constitution of the notion of public hearings, was sentenced to one year imprisonment on 25th April 2014 by a court verdict, issued by Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court in Ardebil, presided by Judge Asadpour.
Abbas Lisani, civil activist and father of three children, who had been arrested and imprisoned numerously, the last time was arrested in Ardebil on 9th September, following the protests against drying of the lake of Urmia. He was charged with propaganda against the regime and forming a group to disrupt the national security. He was released on 5th November, after 55 days of detention in Ardebil Intelligence service, on the bail of IRR 1000 million.
HRANA News Agency – Abbas Lesani, imprisoned civil activist in Shiraz prison is prohibited from having prison visits since his exile to this prison.
According to the report of Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), Abbas Lesani, imprisoned civil activist who was transferred from Ardabil prison to Shiraz prison without any notice on Thursday, 12th November is incommunicado. He has been prevented from having prison visits from the moment of his exile to Shiraz prison.
According to this report, his family has not been allowed to meet him because of the problem of being held in solitary confinement and financial problems since his exile to Shiraz prison.
Abbas Lisani’s physical condition was not suitable when he was transferred to Shiraz prison beacase of hunger strike.
Abbas Lesani was arrested on Wednesday morning 22nd July, when he was going to his work place, and was transferred to Ardebil prison to serve his sentence.
His wife had earlier said that he required continuous medical care due to a herniated disc and it was feared that the imprisonment and lack of access to essential care, would exacerbate his problems.
The Branch 1 of the Ardebil Appeal Court rejected the defense of Abbas Lisani in June, and also rejected the prosecutor’s request to exile Mr. Lisani, and just upheld his sentence of one-year-imprisonment.
This civil activist, who had refused to participate in any of the 3 trials, because of the court’s failure in respecting Article 168 of the constitution of the notion of public hearings, was sentenced to one year imprisonment on 25th April by a court verdict, issued by Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court in Ardebil, presided by Judge Asadpour.
HRANA News Agency – Abbas Lesani, civil rights activist from Ardabil, has announced hunger strike since February 24, in Shiraz prison. His family has also been summoned to the court multiple times.
According to the report of Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), Abbas Lesani, imprisoned Turk civil rights activist of Shiraz prison, has started the hunger strike since February 24, in protest to his transfer to Ebrat ward and not having contact with outside of prison.
Abbas Lesani, civil rights activist, who was transferred from Ardabil to Shiraz prison, without prior notice, has been deprived of visiting his family since then. Currently he is prohibited from having phone call as well.
Abbas Lesani who had refused to participate in any of the 3 trials, because of the court’s failure in respecting Article 168 of the constitution of the notion of public hearings, was sentenced to one year imprisonment on April 25, 2015 by a court verdict, issued by Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court in Ardebil, presided by Judge Asadpour.
According to HRANA, on 23 February 2016 Roghayeh Alizadeh, Ali Lesani And Mehdi Leasni (Abbas and Roghayeh’s children) were present at the second branch of Ardabil revolutionary court.
After investigation Lesani family declared that questioning was nonsense and irrelevant, thus they did not singe the court documentations.
On 24 February 2016 Abbas Lesani started hunger strike at Shiraz Prison.
According to HRANA Mr Lesani was transferred to “Lesson” section in Shiraz prison as he isolated and has no connection to the others in that section he started hunger strike against injustice act of prison authorities.
Abbas Lesani, has faced ban on prison visit after his exile to Shiraz Prison.
His family stated that they could not meet Abbas because of this ban as well as financial problems.
Abbas was exiled to Shiraz after announcement of hunger strike on 13. November.15.
On 09.11.15, Abbas started hunger strike at Ardabil Prison at the time of massive public protets against insult of the state’s broadcasting agency in a protet against the insult and in solidarity with the protesters.
Background:
An Azerbaijani Turk civil right activist from Ardabil city, ended his hunger strike after 12 days and was transferred to the general ward. This civil activist’s wife, in an interview with HRANA, confirmed the news and said that, after she had a meeting with him and the head of Ardabil prison promised not to exile him, Mr. Lesani was convinced to end his hunger strike. Roqieh Alizadeh, Abbas Lesani’s wife, also said about her husband’s physical condition, “He has extremely lost his weight and his physical condition is not good, and during this time, in addition to the hunger strike, he was held in difficult conditions and by informing him about his friends’ and our concerns, I asked him to end his hunger strike.”
According to Mrs. Alizadeh, her husband had gone on hunger strike to protest against the harassment in prison, and threats of exile. Abbas Lesani was arrested on Wednesday morning 22nd July, when he was going to his work place, and was transferred to Ardebil prison to serve his sentence. His wife had earlier said that he required continuous medical care due to a herniated disc and it was feared that the imprisonment and lack of access to essential care, would exacerbate his problems. The Branch 1 of the Ardebil Appeal Court rejected the defense of Abbas Lisani in June, and also rejected the prosecutor’s request to exile Mr. Lisani, and just upheld his sentence of one-year-imprisonment.
He was charged with propaganda against the regime and forming a group to disrupt the security national. He was released on 5th November, after 55 days of detention in Ardebil Intelligence service’s detention, on the bail of IRR 1 billion. Abbas Lesani, Azerbaijani Turk political activist ended his hunger strike after a week in Shiraz prison while in exile in solitary confinement. On 15 Nov 2015, Abbas Lesani had informed his family in a telephone conversation that he ended hunger strike based on request from the family and his friends. He was sent from Ardabil city prison to Shiraz city prison in exile after he had announced his hunger strike. He went on hunger strike at the same time when massive public protest erupted against racism in Iran on 09 Nov 2015. Abbas Lesani was spending his a-year in prison sentence in Ardabil prison. This civil rights activist was arrested by security forces on 22 Jul 2015 while going to work, for a-year in prison sentence in Ardabil prison.
The Ardabil Appeal Court rejected appeal prepared for Abbas Lesani Azerbaijani Turk civil rights activist from Ardabil on the claim of consistency of crime with punishment and eventually the court confirmed a year in prison for him. Need to be mentioned that in April 2015, the Branch 1 of Ardabil Revolutionary Court sentenced Abbas Lesani to a year in prison on the accusation of “propaganda against regime”. He was formerly arrested in Ardabil in September 2011 because of protest of Azerbaijanis against drying up Urmia Lake. He was then released on bail after 55 days in temporary detention. He was once sentenced to 30 months in prison because of participation in the public demonstrations of 2006 as well as participation in the annual ceremonies at Babak Castle in 2005. He was in prison in 2006-2008, part of which was spent in exile and prison in Yazd. He was formerly arrested many times in 2003-2005 during ceremonies at Babak Castle, participation in anniversary of the Constitution Movement in 2005, publication of Turkic calendar in 2003, protest at Ardabil Sarcheshme Mosque in 2004, participation at the anniversary of Azerbaijani martyrs of 2006 as well as on the occasion of Mother Language Day. Amnesty International and other human rights organizations defended him and have announced their concerns over him.
Behnam Sheikhi
On 4 February 2016, the Turk civil society activist, Mr. Behnam Sheikhi has been summoned by the revolutionary court in the city of Baharestan in Tehran province. He has been asked to be present at the court on 10 March 2016.
Behnam Sheikhi had been arrested by Iranian Intelligence Service forces on 5 March 2014 in relation with the event of the International Mother Tongue day in Tehran in the same year. He was held at Evin prison and released on 14 May 2104 on IRR 3 billion bail. In protest against his detention he had gone on hunger strike at prison.
Behnam Sheikhi because of his activities in connection with minority rights of the Iranian Turk has been arrested several times and sentenced in prison. Previously, the 1st branch of revolutionary court in Tabriz had sentenced Behnam Sheikhi to 6 months in prison accusing him accusing him for “Propaganda against Regime”. He was arrested on 12 October 2011 in connection with the preparation to mass protest in Tehran against the drying of Urmia Lake in Azerbaijan.
The Source: Oyan News
Execution in East Azerbaijan provinces
Based on Oyan News report, On 31 dec 2015, six prisoners, Amir Ahmadi, Jh
angir Saeedi , Jvad Rahnama, Reza Mohammadpour, Javad Gharabaghi and Hosein Hasanzadeh, were executed in Tabriz prison on charge of drug smuggling Three of these people Amir Ahmadi, Jhangir Saeedi , Jvad Rahnama were from Maraghe who were arrested 4 years ago and spent 4 years in section 7 of Maraghe prison. The other three people, Reza Mohammadpour, Javad Gharabaghi and Hosein Hasanzadeh were from Tabriz who spent their imprisonment in Tabriz prison.
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