Araz News: South Azerbaijani activist Abbas Lesani was arrested on Wednesday en route to his shop by Iran’s Intelligence Ministry, commonly referred to as Ettelaat.

The activist was detained on July 22 to fulfill a one-year sentence for his prior environmental activities. Earlier, Araz news reported that Branch 1 of the Ardabil Revolutionary Court passed down the ruling on March 25th.

Lesani was first arrested during a protest against the drying of Urmia Lake in 2011 on trumped up charges of “propaganda against the regime” and “the formation of a group that poses a threat to national security.” When he was released, Lesani refused to attend the trial since it was not open to the public. He then wrote a letter to the court invoking Article 168 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic, which states trials must be open to the public.

“I insist on my legal rights as a citizen, and I expect you, the Honorable Judge in the case, as a representative or part of the judicial system, to clearly follow the constitution, especially Article 168 and at least in this case, ensure your impartiality, commitment to rule of law, justice and your and your organization’s independence,” Lesani wrote.

Abbas Lesani, a well-known National Activist of South Azerbaijan, went on hunger strike repeatedly to protest prison conditions and his arbitrary sentence. He has multiple arrests on his record for his peaceful human rights activities.

Amnesty International, the Association for the Defense of Prisoners’ Rights, and various human rights organizations have made numerous statements over the years oh his behalf and addressed concerns about the mental and physical stress that he has endured defending the rights of ethnic Azerbaijani-Turks in Iran.