Amnesty international report on Political Prisoners of the Iranian Azerbaijan (23-Aug-2007)

Saeed Matinpour
Mr. Javanbakht has also reported that a student activist who has recently been released from jail has reported that Saeed Matinpour , journalist and a human rights activist from Azarbaijan ,has been tortured in the Intelligence Ministry Prison accused of spying. The Interrogators wanted him to make false televised confessions against himself.
Mrs. Atefeh Taheri, spouse of Mr. Matinpour, stated that her husband had told her in a couple of short telephone conversations that "he was still alive"!Mr. Matinpour's family had not been aware of his whereabouts for a long time. Mr. Matinpour is 32 years old and has his masters' degree in Philosophy from Tehran University.

Amir Abbas Banayi Kazemi
Amir Abbas Banayi Kazemi (who is a political activist currently in Tabriz Prison) has been brutally tortured in jail and as a result he has a number or broken teeth and his face is completely bruised, according to his mother who had called the Turkish language program of "radio America". Amir Abbas Banayi Kazemi was in the Intelligence Ministry prison in Tabriz for one month and later was transferred to section 9 of the Tabriz Prison.

Saleh Kamrani
Saleh Kamrani, lawyer representing "Shamse Tabrizi" Newspaper and a number of political prisoners in Azarbaijan was kidnapped on August 18, 2007 , by the Intelligence Ministry Officials while attending a wedding ceremony in the city of Karaj . He has recently called his wife to let her know that he is being held at Evin Prison. Mrs. Asghari, is extremely worried and concerned about the condition of her husband in the Evin Prison.

Jalil GhanylooJalil
Ghanyloo, a political activists from Zanjan has brutally been tortured in 209 of Evin Prison and is in a terrible psychological state, according to his brothers testimony. Alireza Javanbakht, spokeman for the Committee for the Defence of Political Prisoners in Azarbaijan has stated that Mr. Ghanyloo was first arrested simultaneously with the "International Mother Language Day" and then released after 26 days while depositing a $30,000 bail.

Hadi Hamidi Shafigh
Hadi Hamidi Shafigh, a 23 year old student in architecture from Tabriz has recently been sentenced an extra 7 months imprisonment by the Revolutionary Court in Orumiyeh. He had previously been charged 10 months for "participating in illegal demonstrations" but this time new charges were brought against him by the Public Prosecutor such as "possession of a CD that insult Khamenei (The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Regime) and Khomeini ( The founder of the Islamic Regime.) " It has been reported that two of Mr. Shafigh's fingers have been broken as a result of torture by the Intelligence Ministry Officials.

Gashtaseb Vaseghi and Mahmood Aslani
Gashtaseb Vaseghi and Mahmood Aslani, two men from Ardabil who had manifested in front of Ardabil's prison have been accused of spying and sentenced in the Iranian Revolution court to prison for 4 years. These men have been arrested by the intelligent officers and tortured in the security services prisons for a few months. After that they were sent to the Ardabil's prison and released after 105 days by bail in 1st April 2007.


Rights Group Warns Of Political Pressure In Iran's Northwest

August 23, 2007 (RFE/RL) -- A human-rights group in northwestern Iran claims that state pressure on political activists in the region has increased in recent months.

The Iranian provinces of East and West Azerbaijan are home to many ethnic Azeris.

The Committee To Defend Political Prisoners in Iran's Azerbaijan told Radio Farda that more than 20 Iranian citizens have been jailed by authorities for their political activities.

Group spokesman Alireza Javanbakht said a lack of media attention contributes to rights abuses in Iran's Azerbaijan provinces.

"Unfortunately, in statements that are being issued by human-rights groups, those Azeris who are jailed for political reasons are not being mentioned," Javanbakht said. "The reason is either a lack of access to news developments in [Iranian] Azerbaijan or there are other reasons, including sensitivities.

The lack of coverage results in pressure on [political prisoners] and their families. Most of the detainees do not have access to a lawyer."

The Committee To Defend Political Prisoners in Iran's Azerbaijan has issued a list of some 20 political prisoners who it says are facing particular hardship in prison.

http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2007/08/82342E91-4AE3-4EE3-959D-86F3F160849C.html