The systematic violation of ethnic and human rights of Azerbaijanis in Iran continued throughout July. Azerbaijani activists were detained arbitrarily and were subjected to torture and other ill-treatments. In most cases, the cause for arrest and the location of the detainees are not given. The activists are usually not allowed to access a lawyer or granted visits from their families.  

Azerbaijani journalist and ethnic rights activists sent to prison to serve 8-year jail term

Azerbaijani journalist and human rights activist Said Matinpur was detained after he was summoned to the Revolutionary Court of Tehran. He was then transferred to Evin Prison to serve his 8-year jail term.

In May 2007, Said Matinpur was arrested in Zanjan and released after 278 days of detention in solitary confinement under Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) custody. He was released on bail of 5 billion Rials ($500,000), to be tried at a later date. He reported suffering from back and digestive problems after his release from prison, as a result of harsh treatment and unhealthy cell conditions. Said Matinpur was tortured to confess in front of cameras by MOIS officers. He was not allowed to access a lawyer or visit his family. Iranian authorities detained his younger brother as a means to increase pressure on him.

Matinpur’s trial was not made public. He was charged with “connections to foreigners” and “propaganda against the regime”. He was sentenced to eight years in prison. The appeal trial also issued the same verdict.

Matinpur is a graduate of Philosophy from Tehran University. He was a writer for the journals Yarpaq and Moj-e Bidari. He has also been moderating a blog called haq (right).

Amnesty International, Reporters without Borders, Front Line and Association for the Defence of Journalist Rights released urgent actions on his behalf. They described Matinpour as a prisoner of conscience and called for his unconditional release. 

Azerbaijani student activists sent to prison

Azerbaijani student activists Faraz Zehtab, Aydin Khajeyi, and Ehsan Najafinasab, who were sentenced to one year in prison and two years of probation, were sent to Tabriz prison on July 8 and 9, to serve out their terms. They were arrested in the summer of 2008 and were detained for almost three months. Reportedly, they were tortured and subjected to other brutal conditions. They were released on bail to be tried later.

Their trial was on February 9, 2009, where they were charged with “participating and establishing illegal groups against national security” and “propaganda against the regime”. 

Arrests of Azerbaijani cultural and ethnic rights activists continue

Jafar Agamohammadi, an Azerbaijani cultural activist and university student, was arrested in his home in Meshgin Shehr (Khiyav) on July 21, 2009 by security forces. He was not granted permission to contact his family. Security forces searched his home and confiscated his personal items including various books and notebooks. 

According to local sources, his arrest was in connection to the recent arrests of writers who distributed articles in Meshgin Shehr. The articles called for Azerbaijani ethnic and language rights and condemned former Iranian president Khatemi’s insults toward Azerbaijanis, which could be seen in an internet video that emerged in May. 

Hasan Abdollahi (Umudoglu), a writer and Azerbaijani Turkish teacher in Tabriz, was arrested by security forces on July 13, 2009 at his home. He was held in MOIS custody and was recently transferred to Tabriz Prison.

Agamohammadi’s family members claim that they were not given a cause for his arrest. Security forces took some of his personal writings and books when searching his home. 

Detained activists suffer long-term arbitrary detentions

 Behnam Sheykhi and Mahmud Ojaghli were released on bail of 500 million Rials ($50,000). The Azerbaijani rights activists were arrested on Jun 9, 2009 by Tehran intelligence officers and sent to section 209 of Evin Prison, which is governed by Ministry of Intelligence and Security.

Sheykhi’s family had stated that they were gravely worried for his health when they visited him on July 19. He was on his 15^thday of a hunger strike to protest his arbitrary detention and the cruel conditions that he was facing at Evin Prison. During his hunger strike, he suffered from kidney failure and was transferred to a hospital for 2 days.

Ojaghli, who is serving time in arbitrary detention at the hands of the MOIS was released from Evin Prison on August 10. According to his family, judiciary authorities have granted his release on a bail of 500 million Rials ($50,000) after 61 days in MOIS custody.  

Azerbaijani activists released on bail from arbitrary detention

Ilqar Moazzenzadeh, Mansur Seyfi, and Feridun Nobakht, Azerbaijani activists from the city of Meshgin Shehr, were released on bail on July 8, 2009. Mansur Seyfi, and Feridun Nobakht were detained for 38 days and Ilqar Moazzenzadeh was held for 23 days. They will defend against the charge of “propaganda against the regime” at their respective trials.

The activists were arrested after distributing articles about Azerbaijani language rights and condemning any insult against Azerbaijani identity throughout the town. They are barred from access to a lawyer or visits from their families. 

Reza Abbasi, Ahmad Medadi, and Rauf Taheri, three Azerbaijani cultural activists who were detained on July 16, 2009 by security forces and were held in Zanjan intelligence office custody, have been released on bail after 12 days of detention. They were detained while assembling at Matinpur’s parents’ home to pray for Matinpur’s release.

Matipur’s family was threatened to not allow Azerbaijanis activist from gathering in their home. Tavakkol Ghanilu, another activist from Zanjan, was interrogated by MOIS officers for hours and was then released. He was told by authorities that praying for Matinpur is illegal. Zanjan intelligence office authorities have called known Azerbaijani activists in Zanjan and asked them to not participate in praying for Matinpur release. They also made threats that whoever participated in meetings on behalf of Matinpur would be arrested.   

Yunes Aghayan’s execution report is false

Despite previous reports on his execution that have emerged throughout the internet, Yunes Aghayan has not been executed according to his family.

Mehdi Ghasemzade, Sehend Ali Mohammadi, Bakhshali Mohammadi, Abdullah Ghasemzadeh, and Yunes Aghayan, members of the Ehli-Haq religious order from Uch Tepe village, were all arrested following a clash between security forces and villagers in 2004. They were tried and subsequently sentenced to death. The Court of Appeals reduced the verdict of Sehend Ali Mohammadi, Bakhshali Mohammadi, and Abdullah Ghasemzadeh to 13 years of imprisonment coupled with exile to Yazd, but the verdicts of Mehdi Ghasemzade and Yunes Aghayan were not changed.

Following the execution of Mehdi Ghasemzade, human rights organizations have expressed their fears of the possible execution of Yunes Aghayan. 

Ban on the annual Babek Castle celebration

Iranian security authorities announced that the gathering at Babek Castel on July 2 and July 3 2009 was forbidden. Every year Azerbaijanis gather at the famed Babek Castle to celebrate the birthday of Babek, an ancient Azerbaijani national hero. Participants in the gathering perform cultural activities in memoriam of Babek’s achievements. Iranian authorities, however, have performed a military exercise near the castle every year since 2005 to prevent Azerbaijanis from taking part. The paths leading to the historical castle are closed during this time. 

A Woman Sentenced to Stoning to Death in Tabriz

An Azerbaijani woman by the name of Sakineh Mohammadi (Ashtiani) was sentenced to death by stonning in Tabriz. She was previously charged with "adultery" and has been held in Tabriz Prison for 4 years.

In a recent interview with Radio Azadliq, a news source broadcasting from the Republic of Azerbajan, her lawyer Mohammad Mostafavi stated that "Mrs. Ashtiani was sentenced to 100 lashes with the same charge [adultery] in her previous trial. But after her husband was killed, she was tried again and forced to "confess" that she had commited adultery. She denied this charge several times and expressed that she was forced to say that she had done it. Five judges were responsible for her case, two of them sentenced her to acquittal and three of them to death by stoning." The lawyer opposed to the sentence and applied for a formal appeal.