Araz News: Iranian judiciary and security forces’ suppression on South Azerbaijani right activists continue. News about new imprisonments, detentions, dismissals and etc. are published frequently.

Some most recent cases are as below;

3-year imprisonment verdicts of three activists named Rasoul Razavi, Hossein Ali Mohammadi and Taha Kermani are approved in an appeal court in East Azerbaijan province. The court also approved Mr. Razavi’s 1 year additional imprisonment verdict on charge of propaganda against Islamic Regime.

According to Azerbaijani human rights activists’ reports the three activists were jailed and hardly tortured for six months before they were freed temporarily on heavy bails, on 15^th April 2014.

All three activists are charged on propaganda against Islamic Regime and insulting supreme religious leader.

Veteran South Azerbaijani right activist and author Hassan Ark and his daughter Solmaz Ark has been summoned by intelligence office of police in Tabriz. While Mrs. Solmaz was released after interrogation Mr. Hassan Ark was detained.

Mr. Hassan Ark has been detained and imprisoned several times due to his human rights activities in favor of Azerbaijani community in Iran.

Well-known South Azerbaijani musician, who also struggles for Azerbaijanis cultural rights, Mr. Abbas Nikravan has been detained in a wedding in Nadarli village near Tabriz.

Nadarli village is known as a stronghold of Azerbaijani nationalists. Eyewitnesses say Mr. Nikravan was performing traditional Azerbaijani music when he was arrested.

Azerbaijani activist Bagher Ebrahim Pour has been summoned to a court in East Azerbaijan province. He is accused of “organizing illegal group”.

Mr. Ebrahim Pour is a manager in “Lachin” group. Lachin is a minors group which performs traditional Azerbaijani dance and music. Group’s activities were prevented after they tried to take part in a festival in Istanbul city in neighboring Turkey.

Reza Abri, a South Azerbaijani activist is prevented from studying in master degree.

In a facebook post Mr. Abri has stated that when he approached to university exams center to receive his ration paper, instead he was told he had to approach to central office and that he could not receive ration paper until know, which means he cannot register for master degree.

A court in Tabriz has sentenced two Azerbaijani activists to money fine.

Mr. Abdollah Nouri and Mr. Vahid Valizadeh are sentenced each to 3 million rials of money fine by 1^st branch of Revolutionary Court of Tabriz. They are charged of taking part in illegal meeting related to environmental disaster of Lake Urmia.