Human Rights Watch: Iran Must Drop Charges Against Azerbaijani Activists and Release Them

Human Rights Watch urged the Islamic Republic to drop all "illegal charges" against imprisoned Azerbaijani activists and to release them. In a statement on Friday, February 15, the organization noted the confirmation of sentences against these activists by Abolghasem Salavati in the appeals court, stating: "This repression is an attempt to dismantle civil society and prevent the demand for the fundamental rights of ethnic minorities." At least 20 Azerbaijani civil activists were arrested last December in the cities of Urmia, Bonab, Ardabil, Tabriz, and Karaj, facing charges of "propaganda against the regime," "collusion and conspiracy," and "espionage." Among them, Ayaz Seyfkhah was sentenced to 14 years in prison, Baqer Hajizadeh Mazraeh and Araz Aman Zarrinabad to 13 years, and Karam Mardane Mostali Beigloo to 11 years in prison. Additionally, lawyer Taher Naqvi and Morteza Purvin Jeda received six years, Fatemeh Atash Khiyavi Nasab, Salar Tahrafshar, and Saeed Minaei Qashlaq each received five years, and Hassan Ebrahimi was sentenced to three years in prison. Human Rights Watch stated that the charges against these activists were related to their activities in the field of civil rights and the rights of ethnic minorities in the country. According to the statement, these charges were based on unfounded claims such as forming a group called "Demokratlar" meaning Democrats and leading field operations during the "Women, Life, Freedom" protests, but security agencies have not provided any evidence in this regard. Families of some of these political prisoners reported last year in interviews with Radio Farda about the violation of the basic rights of these civil activists, including lack of access to a lawyer. They told Radio Farda that the statements of judicial and security officials regarding the charges against these civil activists have changed multiple times. Human Rights Watch also referred to the health problems of lawyer Taher Naqvi, noting that despite multiple issues and medical recommendations from prison healthcare, he has been deprived of appropriate medical treatment. This human rights organization announced last December that it had documented multiple instances of prisoners in Iran being deprived of medical services, and that officials in the Islamic Republic's prisons use these restrictions as a tool to silence dissenters.