Mohamd Reza Avazpoor, a schoolboy has been charged with insulting the Leader and sentenced to 6 months imprisonment by the 118th branch of the penal Court

Prior to this Mohamad Reza was sentenced to 5months prison in the 118th Branch of Tabriz Court presided by Niakar, on charges of being a member of a political group whose aim was to destabilize the State

The first time he was charged with writing a slogan; "I am a Turk" on the walls, in the same court to 4 months detention on 31 of September 2007

He had testified to have been tortured violently during detention. Inhuman punishment such as such as being hung upside down for 24 hours on end from the feet while being interrogated, and prevented from eating food or using the toilet were practiced on him

Iranian Political Prisoners Association

  After Norouz, one can look back and review the past year’s events. This brief survey focuses on human rights and societal and cultural issues of the Azeri people in Iran. It examines daily predicaments that have plagued the lives of Azeri people and the intentional and unintentional circumstances that undermine their culture and identity. This report also summarizes the pressures and attempts by the Islamic Republic to suppress freedom of expression and the press, and the extent to which Azeri activists and supporters of human and ethnic rights are persecuted. Of course, this report is not a thorough survey of Azerbaijan; nonetheless, I hope it can help us to better understand the crucial significance of this population’s struggles, sufferings, needs, and hopes

Abbas Lisani (39) is an Azerbaijani activist from the city of Ardebil. He is serving multiple prison sentences following prosecutions for his peaceful activities promoting respect for the cultural and linguistic rights of the Azerbaijani ethnic minority

Lisani is currently finishing an 18- month sentence in Ahar prison for his conviction by the Revolutionary Court on charges relating to his participation in public protests in May 2006. He faces another conviction and sentence of one year imprisonment for participating in a cultural celebration. He suffers from serious medical complications including stomach and kidney problems and damaged ribs due to  a beating by an intelligence ministry agent

According to his wife, Roghieh Mohammad-Alizadeh, prison authorities plan to transfer Lisani to a prison in the central city of Yazd, some 600 miles away, for the remainder of his prison term. This would make it extremely difficult, if not impossible, for Lisani’s family to visit him and ascertain his health and safety

Lisani actively promoted recognition of the cultural rights of the Azerbaijani minority by participating in celebrations such as annual gatherings at the Babak Castle honoring Babak Khorramdin, an Azerbaijani and Iranian hero from the Ninth Century.  On September 15, 2007, Branch 6 of East Azerbaijan Appeals Court sentenced him to one year in prison for his participation in the Babak Castle event in August 2005. He was charged with “acting against national security.”

Another court had earlier convicted Lisani  for his presence during public protests in Ardebil on May 27, 2006. The court prosecuted Lisani for participating “in an illegal gathering,” and allegedly urging destruction of public property. In his appeal, Lisani said the court had ignored videotapes of the demonstration showing he not only did not call on protestors to engage in violent acts or destruction of public property, but instead urged calm. Ignoring this evidence, the appeals court sentenced him to 18 months in prison and 50 lashes

Lisani has a history of being detained, harassed, and severely beaten by intelligence agents. In August 2003, security forces detained Lisani after his participation in a peaceful gathering at Babak Castle. After more than three weeks of detention, he was released on bail for the amount of 50 million Rials (US$5,500)

On June 22, 2004, Lisani participated in a peaceful sit-in protest at the Sarcheshmeh Mosque in Ardebil. Intelligence agents broke up the sit-in violently. Lisani suffered several major injuries as a result, including broken ribs and damage to his left kidney. His left lung was punctured and he fainted after intelligence agents covered his face with a blanket, apparently attempting to suffocate him. According to his associates, he was subsequently held in solitary confinement for 2 days without any medical attention. When he was brought in front of a Revolutionary Court Judge, the Judge ordered his detention for a month and refused medical release

From June 3 to September 26, 2006 Lisani spent four months in detention following public protests in May. He was arrested on October 31, 2006 and is currently serving his multiple sentences