Shirko Hajazi, Head of Saqqez Football Association, Sentenced to 73 Months in Prison

Shirko Hajazi, a civil activist and the recently dismissed head of the Saqqez Football Association, has been sentenced to six years, one month, and 17 days of imprisonment. According to the Hengaw Human Rights Organization, Mr. Hajazi was recently convicted by the First Branch of the Revolutionary Court of Saqqez, presided over by Judge Javad Mostafaei, on charges of 'participating in gatherings and conspiracy against national security,' receiving a sentence of three years, six months, and one day of imprisonment, and for 'membership in opposition groups,' receiving a sentence of 31 months and 16 days of imprisonment, totaling six years, one month, and 17 days. Hengaw reported that the harsher sentence of Shirko Hajazi, namely three years, six months, and one day, is executable considering the time already spent in detention. According to the issued ruling, two-thirds of the harsher punishment has been suspended for three years; however, he must not associate with those detained on the anniversary of Mahsa's death, report to the intelligence office monthly, and attend educational, moral, and religious courses during this period. Shirko Hajazi has also been sentenced to two years of travel ban as an additional punishment. This prominent civil activist from Saqqez has also been convicted of writing a biography of one of the government agents killed during the protests against the death of Mahsa (Zhina) Amini and presenting it as an article to the enforcement of sentences and broadcasting it on one of the popular social media platforms in Saqqez. According to Hengaw, he was forced to resign from the presidency of the Saqqez Football Association last week under pressure from security agencies. Shirko Hajazi was arrested on Tuesday, September 10 of this year, during a raid by the Islamic Republic's intelligence agents at his workplace and was released on bail of 2 billion and 400 million tomans after 94 days of detention on Friday, December 14, pending the conclusion of the legal proceedings. According to Hengaw, during his detention, he was deprived of access to a lawyer and was tortured to provide forced confessions.