Azerbaijani Cultural Activist Sima Didar Arrested

ADAPP - Sima Didar, an Azerbaijani cultural activist, former editor in chief of the student journal Yashmaq and wife of political prisoner Ali Reza Farshi, was arrested in Tabriz on Thursday June 18.

According to Farshi's lawyer Abbas Jamali, authorities called him on Thursday afternoon and claimed that Didar could visit her husband in Section 37 of Tabriz Prison, which is controlled by Ettelaat (Ministry of Intelligence). Upon Jamali and Didar’s arrival, officials presented warrant and proceeded to arrest Didar. The charges were listed as "nationalism" and "participating to protests in rally to El Golu on 22 May".

Sima Didar participated in a peaceful demonstration demanding the release of Ali Reza Farshi in Abresan Cross Roads in Tabriz on June 10.

Engineer and University professor Alireza Farshi was arrested on May 22 by Iranian security officers in a government-organized rally in El Golu (Shah Golu) Park in Tabriz. He and a group of other participants were arrested after chanting Azerbaijani language rights slogans and criticizing an internet video showing Iran’s reformist politicians telling belittling jokes about Azerbaijanis.

Amnesty International published an article on June 9 called "Iran: Election amid repression of dissent and unrest.” The article mentions that more than 15 people including Alireza Farshi were arrested on May 22 in Tabriz.

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