4 South Azerbaijani Mother language Advocates Sentenced to Total of 45 years in Prison in Iran
Araz News: 4 South Azerbaijani mother language advocates faced with heavy prison sentences by the judiciary of the Islamic Republic of Iran On 21 of February 2017.
The International Mother Language Day, Iran Islamic Tribunal sentenced 4 South Azerbaijani mother language advocates to sum of 45 years in prison simply for attempting to promote their mother language.
Mr. Akbar Azad, a well known poet and journalist has been sentenced to 10 years in prison and 2 years exile to the remote town of Dareshahr of Ilam province.
Another mother language advocate, Mr. Alireza Farshi has been sentenced to 15 years in prison and 2 years exile to the Bagmalik town of Khuzestan Province.
South Azerbaijan National movement activists Mr. Alireza Farshi is a university professor in computer engineering field . It is important to say that Alireza Farshi a dismissed university lecturer of the Azad International University of Jolfa had been arrested on 21stFebruary 2015 , during the activities in celebration of International Mother Language Day. He was released from Evin prison on the bail On 19th of April 2015.
Mr. Behnam Sheikhi has been sentenced to 10 years of incarceration and 2 years exile in Mascid Soleiman of Khuzestan Province and Mr. Hamid Manafi is another south Azerbaijani mother tongue advocate who is sentenced to 10 years imprisonment and 2 years exile in town of Azna of Province of Loristan.
The Islamic Tribunal of Baharestan of Tehran released the sentences on the International Day of Mother Language. The Tribunal found the aforesaid human rights activist “guilty of organizing a meeting to destabilize country’s national security”. The Tribunal indicated in its “Reasons for Decision” that the activist organized a peaceful gathering 3 years ago on the International Mother Language Day to “destabilize” the country.
It should be noted that more than 35 million of Iran’s population are Turkic origin who are mostly residing in the South Azerbaijan and their mother language is banned and advocates of minority rights are constantly persecuted.
By-H.A
Write your comment.