AMNESTY
INTERNATIONAL
Public Statement
AI Index: MDE 13/074/2006 (Public)
News Service No: 168
29 June 2006
Iran: Authorities should exercise restraint in policing Babek Castle
gathering and address human rights violations against Iranian Azeri Turks
As the
annual Babek Castle cultural gathering of Iranian Azeri Turks approaches on 30
June 2006, Amnesty International is urging the Iranian authorities to exercise
restraint while policing the gathering. In addition, it is calling on the
authorities urgently to address increasing human rights violations being
committed by Iranian security forces and others against members of Iran’s
Azeri Turkish minority (who sometimes refer to themselves as Iranian
Azerbaijanis).
The largest ethnic minority in Iran, the Azeri Turkish community is believed to
number between 25-30 percent of the total population and is found mainly
in the north-west. Mostly Shi’a Muslims, like the majority of the population,
they are not subject to as much discrimination as minorities of other
religions, and are well-integrated into the economy. In recent years,
however, they have increasingly called for greater cultural and
linguistic rights, such as the right to be taught in Turkish and to celebrate
Azerbaijani culture and history at events such as at the annual Babek
Castle gathering and Constitution Day, celebrated in October. A small minority
advocate the secession of Iranian Azerbaijani provinces and union with the
Republic of Azerbaijan. Activists who promote Azeri Turkish cultural identity
are viewed with suspicion by the Iranian authorities, who often charge them
with vaguely worded offences such as "promoting pan-Turkism".
The annual Babek Castle gathering has reportedly been held for the last six
years at Babek (or Bazz) castle in the town of Kalayber, north-western Iran.
Each year, thousands of Azeri Turks gather in Kalayber and walk up to the
castle to celebrate the birthday of Babek Khorramdin, who lived in the
ninth century and is regarded as a hero by Iranian Azeri Turks. These
gatherings have frequently met with repression on the part of the Iranian
authorities. In 2005, for example, scores of people were reportedly
arrested and at least 21 were sentenced to prison terms of up to one
year, though some of these were suspended.
Mass demonstrations broke out in towns and cities in north-west Iran following
the publication on 12 May 2006 of a cartoon in the state-owned daily newspaper,
Iran, which offended many in the Azeri Turkish community. The
government suspended publication of the newspaper on 23 May and both the
editor-in-chief and cartoonist were arrested. Protests began on a small scale
mainly among Azeri Turkish students in universities in Tehran and Tabriz, but
rapidly to Azeri Turkish areas. A huge demonstration took place in Tabriz
on 22 May and further demonstrations were held in other places in the following
days. Most of these protests were peaceful, but some ended with attacks on
government buildings and cars. Some Iranian Azeri Turkish sources have claimed these
attacks were instigated by government agents. The Iranian government has
accused the United States (US) and other outside forces of stirring up
the unrest. The US government has denied this.
The Iranian authorities reportedly used excessive force to disperse
demonstrators, including beatings and lethal gunfire. Amnesty International has
received the names of 27 people who are alleged to have been killed,
including seven in Tabriz and 14 in Naqadeh (known as Sulduz by Iranian
Azeri Turks). One, 26-year-old Jalil Abedi was reportedly shot in
the left side of his head by a member of Iran’s Intelligence service in Meshkin
Shahr (known as Khiyov in Azeri Turkish) during a demonstration on 25
May, and left to die by security officials who would not let a doctor
treat him. His family were reportedly prevented from holding his funeral
in a mosque and only a few of them were permitted to attend his burial.
The Iranian authorities have generally denied that any deaths occurred
during the demonstrations, although a police official acknowledged publicly
on 29 May that four people had been killed and 43 injured in Naqadeh.
Hundreds, possibly thousands, of demonstrators, are reported to
have been detained, of whom Amnesty International has received the names
of almost 200. On 23 June, Hojjatoleslam Aghazadeh, Head of the Office
of the Ministry of Justice in East Azerbaijan province, told the press
that some 330 people had been arrested in Tabriz, most of whom had already been
released, although as many as 85 would be tried later. He said that 20
to 25 people had been identified as playing a major role in the disturbances
and that some were Baha’is, some Tudeh party members (communists) and two had
“links with Israel”.
While many protestors have been released, scores are believed to remain
in detention, including Changiz Bakhtavar, Dr Ahmad Gholipour Rezaie (known as
Dr Heydaroglu) and Hassan Ali Hajabollu (known as Hassan Ark), all of whom were
detained after the Tabriz demonstration on 22 May. Hassan
Damirchi, aged 65, a businessman and a well-known musician from Tabriz (also
known as Hassan Azerbaijan) and his son Babak were arrested at home on 26 May
and Gholam Reza Amani was detained on 28 May; he is now reported to be
on hunger strike. Some or all of these may have been transferred to Evin prison
in Tehran for questioning but their current whereabouts are unclear.
Some detainees are reported to have been tortured, including Davoud
Maghami, held in Parsabad (known as Mughan in Azeri Turkish) who is said
to have required hospital treatment as a result. He has now been released.
Other prominent Azeri Turkish activists who are reported to have
been detained include Abbas Lisani (or Leysanli), who was
arrested on 3 June when he returned home after hiding for a week following a
demonstration in Ardebil in which he was beaten by security forces. He
is reportedly on hunger strike and his condition is causing concern. His
home telephone line has apparently been cut, possibly to prevent
his wife publicising his plight. Abbas Lisani has previously been detained several
times because of his political activities on behalf of the Azeri Turkish
community, including during or following the Babek Castle gatherings in 2003
and 2005. He was severely tortured during his arrest at a sit-in protest by
Azeri Turks at the Sarcheshme Mosque in Ardebil in June 2004.
In advance of this year’s Babek Castle gathering, Iranian security forces are
reported to be carrying out arrests, possibly to prevent certain individuals
attending. One, Akbar Qorbani, was reportedly arrested on 26 June at his
workplace in Ardebil by unidentified men in plain clothes (lebas-e
shakhsi), having previously been threatened by such people since he took
part in the demnonstration in Ardebil. Another, political activist
Ebrahim Ja’farzadeh, was reportedly arrested on 26 June in Khoy after
being summoned to an Intelligence Ministry facility; he was released the next
day. On 27 June, Reza Abbasi, a member of ASMEK (Association for the Defence of
Azerbaijani political prisoners) and of the Office for Strengthening Unity
(Daftar-e Tahkim-e Vahdat), a student body, was reportedly arrested in Zenjan
after he refused to comply with a verbal summons to attend an Intelligence
Ministry facility for interrogation. On the same day, Jahanbaksh Bekhtavar, the
brother of Changiz Bekhtaver (see above) was reportedly arrested at his home in
Tabriz by Intelligence Ministry officials who are also said to have confiscated
his books and other personal belongings. Also on 27 June, ‘Isa Yeganeh, the
managing director of the suspended newspaper Payam-e Sulduz was
reportedly arrested in Naqadeh, Sayed Mehdi Sayedzadeh was arrested in Tabriz
and at least five people released after the May demonstrations in Miandoab were
reportedly redetained.
Amnesty International recognizes that the Iranian authorities have a right and
a responsibility to bring those suspected of criminal offences to justice.
However it is concerned that many of those detained may be prisoners of
conscience, detained solely on account of their peaceful exercise of their
right to freedom of _expression and association, or on account of their
peaceful political activities on behalf of the Iranian Azeri Turkish community.
Amnesty International is calling on the Iranian authorities to
·
respect
international human rights standards in relation to the policing of the Babek
Castle gathering and ensure that those responsible for law enforcement conform
at all times with standards such as the United Nations Code of Conduct
for Law Enforcement Officials
·
release all
prisoners of conscience immediately and unconditionally. Other detainees should
be released unless they are to be charged with a recognizably criminal offence
and brought to trial promptly and fairly
·
grant all
detainees prompt and regular access to lawyers of their own choosing and their
families and to appropriate medical care if necessary
·
investigate
all allegations of torture or ill-treatment promptly and thoroughly. The
methods and findings of any such investigation should be made public. Anyone
implicated in human rights violations should be brought to justice promptly and
fairly and victims of torture and ill-treatment should be granted compensation
·
ensure that
any trials respect, as a minimum standard, the relevant provisions of the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
·
investigate
all possible unlawful killings or extra-judicial executions promptly and fairly
in accordance with the UN Principles on the Effective Prevention and
Investigation of Extralegal, Arbitrary and Summary Executions, and bring to
justice, fairly and promptly, any members of the security forces responsible
for unlawful killings or other grave violations of human rights.
بیانیه
عفو بین الملل
در مورد نقض
حقوق بشر در
حق رضا عباسی
PUBLIC
AI Index: MDE 13/101/2006
12 September 2006
UA
246/06 Fear
for safety/ Unfair trial/ Possible prisoner of conscience
Human rights
defender Reza Abbasi, a member of the Azeri Turkish minority in
Reza
Abbasi is a member of ASMEK (Association for the Defence of Azerbaijani
Political Prisoners) and of the Alumni Association of
On 5
September, Reza Abbasi reportedly appeared before Branch One of the
Reza
Abbasi's arrest followed widespread demonstrations in predominantly Azeri
Turkish areas in May 2006 in protest at a cartoon published on 12 May by the
state-owned daily newspaper
BACKGROUND
INFORMATION
Hundreds
of people were reportedly arrested during or following the May 2006
demonstrations (see UA 151/06, MDE 13/055/2006, 26 May 2006 and UA 163/06, MDE
13/063/2006, 8 June 2006). Some of those detained have allegedly been tortured,
with some requiring hospital treatment. Publication of the newspaper was
suspended on 23 May and the editor-in-chief and the cartoonist were arrested.
Azeri sources have claimed that dozens were killed and hundreds injured by the
security forces. The security forces have generally denied that anyone was
killed, although on 29 May a police official acknowledged that four people had
been killed and 43 injured in the town of
ASMEK
was reportedly founded in 2002. Four of its founding members,
including Reza Abbasi, are said to have been detained in April 2004 in
connection with their activities.
RECOMMENDED
ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in Persian,
Arabic, English, French or your own language:
-
expressing concern that Reza Abbasi may have been detained solely in connection
with his work as a human rights defender;
-
calling on the authorities to ensure that he is not tortured or ill-treated,
and to allow him immediate access to a lawyer of his own choosing, and to any
medical treatment he may require;
-
calling on the authorities to release him immediately and unconditionally
unless he is to be promptly charged with a recognizably criminal offence and
given a prompt and fair trial.
-
asking the authorities for information about the reasons for his arrest,
including any charges brought against him;
-
expressing concern for the safety of his family, who have reportedly been
harassed and intimidated by the authorities, and calling for them to be given
all necessary protection to ensure their safety.
APPEALS
TO:
Leader
of the Islamic Republic
His
Excellency Ayatollah Sayed Ali Khamenei
The
Office of the Supreme Leader,
Fax:
+ 98 251 774 2228 (mark "FAO the office of His Excellency, Ayatollah al
Udhma Khameni'')
Email:
Info@leader.ir
Salutation:
Your Excellency
Head
of the Judiciary
His
Excellency Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi
Ministry
of Justice, Park-e Shahr,
Email:
Please
send emails via the feedback form on the Persian site of the
website
http://
www.iranjudiciary.org/contactus-feedback-fa.html
The text of the feedback form translates as:
1st Iine: name, 2nd line: email address,
3rd line: subject heading
then enter your
email into the text box
Salutation:
Your Excellency
Ministry
of Intelligence
Gholam
Hossein Mohseni Ejeie
Ministry
of Intelligence, Second
Email:
iranprobe@iranprobe.com
Salutation:
Your Excellency
COPIES
TO:
President
His
Excellency Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
The
Presidency,
Email:
dr-ahmadinejad@president.ir
via
website: www.president.ir/email
Speaker
of Parliament
His
Excellency Gholamali Haddad Adel
Majles-e
Shoura-ye Eslami,
Fax:
+ 98
21 6 646 1746
and to diplomatic representatives of
PLEASE
SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International
Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 24 October 2006
چهارشنبه 22
شهریور ماه
سال 1385
آخرین وضعیت
زندانیان آذربایجان
از زبان سخنگوی
آسمک
مهندس
علیرضا
قولونجلو
سخنگوی کمیته
دفاع از زندانیان
سیاسی آذربایجان
آسمک وضعیت
زندانیان
آذربایجان را
تشریح کرد
علیرضا
جوانبخت
قولونجو
سخنگوی کمیته
دفاع از زندانیان
سیاسی آذربایجان
( آسمک )
با ناعادلانه
خواندن این
احکام اعلام
کرد : احکامی
که بر اساس پیشداوری
سیاسی و
پرونده سازی
تحت شکنجه و
در محیطهای
رعب آور صادر
شده باشد واجد
ارزش حقوقی نیست
و محکومین پیشاپیش
نزد افکار
عمومی تبرئه
شده محسوب می
گردند.
وی
با اعتراض به
سکوت برخی
رسانه ها
وگروههای مدعی
حقوق بشر و
دمکراسی در
قبال احکام اخیر
و نقض حقوق
بشر در آذربایجان
عنوان نمود ،
امروز برای
آنها روز
امتحان است و
ادامه سکوت
موجب شرمساری
آنها و روشن
شدن سرشت واقعی
آنها در ضدیت
با حقوق ملی
آذربایجانیها
خواهد شد.
جوانبخت
با بیان اینکه
دومین و آخرین
جلسه رسیدگی
به اتهامات
رضا عباسی –
عضو موسس کمیته
دفاع از زندانیان
سیاسی آذربایجان
– تشکیل شده
ادامه داد :
نحوه برخورد
دادگاه با رضا
عباسی شاخص
خوبی برای
سنجش نحوه
برخورد حاکمیت
با فعالان
حقوق بشر است
و امیدواریم
دادگاه با درایت
و بدور از سیاسی
کاری رضا را
تبرئه کند .وی
همچنین اعلام
کرد که آسمک
از طریق مجامع
داخلی و بین
المللی در
دفاع از رضا
عباسی و دیگر
زندانیان سیاسی
تلاش می کند.
سخنگوی
آسمک همچنین
در پایان از
اشخاص حقیقی و
حقوق و وکلای
مستقل که به یاری
زندانیان سیاسی
و عقیدتی
آذربایجان
شتافته اند
قدردانی نمود
و این فعالیتها
را موجب ایجاد
همبستگی در
مبارزه با نقض
حقوق بشر
خواند.
آخرین
وضعیت زندانیان
آذربایجان
زنجان:
آخرین
جلسه بررسی به
اتهامات رضا عباسی -
روزنامه نگار
و فعال حقوق
بشر - ۲۰ شهریور
به صورت غیر
علنی در شعبه
اول دادگاه
انقلاب زنجان
برگزار شد.
موضوعات
مطرح شده در این
جلسه دادگاه پیرامون فعالیتهای
وی در انجمن
اسلامی و جمعیت
اسلامی
دانشجویان
دانشگاه
زنجان و در
قالب کمیته
دفاع از زندانیان
سیاسی آذربایجان
(آسمک) و فعالیتهای
هویت طلبانه
اش در شهر
زنجان بوده
است .
همچنین خلیلی
مدافع عباسی
در مورد این
جلسه به ایلنا
گفت : در این
جلسه آخرین
دفاع از موکل
اخذ شد و قرار
است دادگاه
ظرف مهلت
قانونی نسبت
به صدور رأی
خود اقدام
کند.
وی همچنین
گفت : قرار
کفالت پنج میلیون
تومانی موکلم
صادر شده است
اما هنوز مورد
پذیرش قرار
نگرفته است. وی
با بیان اینکه
عباسی در قرنطینه
زندان نگهداری
میشود، این
اقدام
مسوولان
زندان را خلاف
قانون دانست .
امروز سازمان
عفو بین المل برای دومین
بار با صدور بیانیه
ای خواستار
آزادی رضا
عباسی گردید.
ارومیه :
حکم حسین
نوری یکی از
فعالین
دانشگاه اورمیه
که در روز 6
خرداد به
همراه 5 تن از دیگر
دانشجویان
دانشگاه اورمیه
دستگیر و در
تاریخ 11 شهریور
دادگاهش
برگزار شده
بود اعلام
شد. حسین نوری
به اتهام اقد ام
علیه امنیت ملی، شرکت
در قیام های
خرداد ماه ، شرکت در
تحصن دانشگاه
اورمیه و
اقدام به نبش
قبر شهید فرزاد
اسدپور به 8
ماه تعلیقی به
مدت 2 سال
محکوم شده است .
همچنین
اسدالله
سلیمی،
روزنامه نگار
و فعال فرهنگی
آذربایجان،
چند روز پیش
در حین عزیمت
به تبریز
بازداشت شد. وی
که ساکن اورمیه
می باشد قصد
سفر به تبریز
را داشت که در
بین راه
توسط ماموران
امنیتی این
شهر بازداشت
گردیده و اینک
در زندان تبریز
به سر میبرد.
وی، روزنامه
نگار و مدرس
زبان ترکی
آذربایجانی
در اورمیه می
باشد. هنوز
خبری از
علت بازداشت وی
به دست نیامده
است اما
احتمال می رود
وی به دلیل
حوادث خرداد
ماه آذربایجان
و نیز به دلیل
خبرهایی مبنی
بر تحصن در
روز اول
مهرماه
بازداشت شده
باشد
کلیبر :
بر
اساس رای
صادره از
دادگاه
انقلاب
شهرستان کلیبر
سعید
محمدی و سعید بیدخت از
هویت طلبان
ترک به ترتیب
به یک سال حبس
و دو سال تبعید
به جزیره
خورموج و هشت
ماه حبس محکوم
شدند.
اردبیل :
بر
اساس خبرهای
دریافتی از
اردبیل حکم 4 تن
از بازداشتشدگان
اعتراضات خردادماه
این شهر به
ترتیب زیر
اعلام شده است
:
- رضا تدین ،
چهار ماه و یک
روز زندان و 40
ضربه شلاق
- مظاهر
معالی ، سه
ماه و یک روز زندان
و 40 ضربه شلاق
- رحیم
خدادادی ،
سه ماه و یک
روز زندان و 40
ضربه شلاق
- جلال تقوی ،
سه ماه و یک
روز زندان و 40
ضربه شلاق
- حسن بالا
زاده
(نوجوان 16 ساله)……
3 ماه زندان
تعزیری و 50
ضربه شلاق به
جرم تخریب
اموال عمومی و
حمله به مامور
اطلاعات و
شکستن دوربین
وی
- بهمن
افغان فرزند
بایرام علی، 20
ساله،
دانشجو…… 6 ماه
زندان تعزیری
و 3 میلیون ریال
جزای نقدی و 40
ضربه شلاق
- قاسم
غریبی فرزند
عباس، 20 ساله…… 10
میلیون ریال
جزای نقدی و 40
ضربه شلاق
همچنین
بهروز
علیزاده
زندانی 18 ساله
اردبیلی پس از
88 روز حبس دیروز
با قرار وثیقه
پانزده ملیون
تومان آزاد
گردید.
تهران :
آخرین
جلسه محاکمه
صالح کامرانی - وکیل
و فعال حقوق
بشر - در شعبه ۱۳ دادگاه
انقلاب تهران
برگزار گردید
در این جلسه
متهم و وکیل
مدافعش دکتر یوسف
مولایی با رد
اتهامات به
دفاع پرداختند.
به گفته مینا
اصغری همسر
متهم رای
دادگاه در
هفته آینده
صادر خواهد شد
گفتنی است وی
از ۲۴ خرداد
در زندان اوین
محبوس است.
تبریز :
مهدی
نوری (ائلمان تبریزلی) نوزدهم
شهریور ماه پس
از تحمل هشتاد
روز حبس و
شکنجه آزاد شده
است.
بیست ودوم شهریور 1385
به
امید آزادی
همه زندانیان
سیاسی و عقیدتی
کمیته
دفاع از زندانیان
سیاسی آذربایجان
www.asmek.blogfa.com
چهارشنبه 22
شهریور ماه
سال 1385
آخرین
جلسه محاکمه
صالح کامرانی
از وکلای
مدافع فعالین
آذربایجان
برگزاری
دادگاه یک وکیل
به خاطر دفاع
از موکلان هویت
طلب ترک
آخرین
جلسه محاکمه صالح
کامرانی - وکیل
و فعال حقوق
بشر - در شعبه ۱۳
دادگاه
انقلاب تهران
برگزار گردید
در این جلسه
متهم و وکیل
مدافعش دکتر یوسف
مولایی با رد
اتهامات به
دفاع
پرداختند. به
گفته مینا
اصغری همسر
متهم رای
دادگاه در
هفته آینده
صادر خواهد شد
گفتنی است وی
هم اکنون90روز
است که باقرار
بازداشت موقت
در اوین محبوس
است
چهارشنبه 22 شهریور
ماه سال 1385
احکام
سنگین برای
فعالین حرکت
ملی آذربایجان
در کلیبر
احکام
سنگین زندان
در آذربایجان
دو
تن از فعالین
حرکت ملی
آذربایجان
به نام سعید
محمدی به
یک سال حبس و دو
سال تبعید به
جزیره خورموج
و سعید بیدخت به
هشت ماه حبس
محکوم شدنداین
افراد از هویت
طلبان ترک
شهرستان کلیبر
بودند که در
خرداد ماه امسال
دستگیر وبدون
داشتن وکیل
وبصورت غیر
علنی در این
دادگاه
محاکمه گردیدند
لازم به
ذکر است سعید
محمدی علاوه
بر این حکم باید
حکم شش ماهه
حکم قبلی تعلیقی
اش را نیرز
باید بگذراند
این افراد
اکنون در
زندان مرکزی
تبریز به سر می
برند
دستگيري
دونفر در
سولدوز به
دليل پخش
اعلاميه
اورمونيوز(
23 شهريور 1385): در روزهاي
اخير دو نفر
در شهر سولدوز
(نقده) به اتهام
پخش اعلاميه
هايي مبني بر
دعوت مردم به حضور
در راهپيمايي
روز اول مهر
ماه از سوي
مقامات امنيتي
شهر بازداشت
شده اند. نام
يكي از اين
افراد اسكندر
ميرزايي
ميباشد كه
راننده تاكسي
در شهر سولدوز
است. دستگيري
وي در اتومبيل
خود صورت
گرفته است.
فرد ديگر وحيد
نام دارد و
صاحب يك مغازه
در سولدوز است
كه دستگيري وي
نيز در محل
كارش صورت
پذيرفته است.
مردم شهر عقيده
دارند پس از
قيام مردم
سولدوز بر
عليه سياستهاي
حكومت، و
بويژه در
روزهاي اخير
بر تعداد
نيروهاي
امنيتي كه به
شكل نامحسوس
در شهر تردد
مي نمايند
افزوده شده
است.
بنابر
فراخوان
فعالين
آذربايجاني،
در روز اول مهرماه
كه به عنوان
روز بازگشايي
مدارس در ايران
به شمار مي
رود، ملت
آذربايجان در
اعتراض به
فشارهاي
وارده بر مردم
و فعالين
آذربايجاني و
نيز اعتراض به
عدم به رسميت
شناخته شدن حقوق
و زبان اين
ملت، در
شهرهاي مختلف
آذربايجان
تجمع خواهند
نمود.
تبريزليلرين
تبريز اورمو باغچاسينا
گئتمکلری
ياساق ايميش!
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