- Target:
- UN, Navi Pillay, Ban Ki Moon, IR Embassies, Amnesty, HRW, EU members
- Region:
- Iran
- Website:
- www.adapp.info
Thanks to everyone who has signed this petition.
Alireza Farshi, a university professor and an Azerbaijani civil rights activist was arrested in Tabriz on Friday 13th April 2011, presumably to enforce the six-month jail sentence he received last year.
Ministry of Intelligence and Security officers (MOIS) arrested Farshi during a Tabriz rally May 22, 2009 at which Farshi and other rally participants chanted slogans demanding Azerbaijani rights such as “schooling in Azerbaijani Turkish.” Police officers responded with physical attacks and arrests. Amnesty International issued a report on June 9, 2009 condemning the human rights violations of the protesters in Tabriz—15 people, including Farshi—who had been injured and arrested. MOIS agents then deceptively requested that Didar visit her detained husband, at which time she was also arrested. The couple was released on bail after they held for 3 months and 30 days. They were tried three months later. Farshi also banned from teaching at Azad University of Jolfa in August 2010.
The Association for the Defense of Azerbaijani Political Prisoners, ADAPP, believes that, he is a prisoner of conscience, held solely for the peaceful civil, cultural and linguistic rights activities.
1) We the undersigned demand the immediate and unconditional release of Alireza Farshi and to drop all charges against him.
2) We demand for Alireza Farshi to receive urgently needed medical care for the torture wounds inflicted by prison authorities.
3) Reminding the authorities that, as a state party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Iran is obliged to uphold the right to freedom of expression and that linguistic minorities have the right to use their own language.
The Free Alireza Farshi petition to UN, Navi Pillay, Ban Ki Moon, IR Embassies, Amnesty, HRW, EU members was written by ADAPP and is in the category Human Rights at GoPetition.