Say (No.): 325 / 2006

                                                                                       Tarix (Date): 26 May 2006

 

Amnesty International, London

CC                High Commiserate of Human Rights, Geneva

 

Dear Mrs. Harrison

 

It is now only an “open secret” that the national movement of (Southern) Azerbaijan has reached a new height in pursuing justice for Azerbaijanis by democratic means. Starting from the last week, the protesting voice of Azerbaijan is sweeping through all the cities of Azerbaijan as well as Tehran . This struggle still keeps gathering momentum owing to the participation of millions of Turkic Azerbaijanis in a background where the ruling police forces are engaged in their brutal suppression. If we remain silent to this struggle, a tragic consequence cannot be ruled out. We bear in mind that now we can be a victim of the wear-n-tear tricks deployed against us to undermine our morale through being arrested in thousands but being partially set free to the point of losing our initiatives.

 

Our latest information indicates that up to 1000 Azerbaijani participants of this resistance have suffered injuries, even paid the ultimate price or in detention. Naturally, we are holding the Iranian state responsible for their actions in any loss of life, the safety of those injured and whatever inflicted on the detained.

 

We are enclosing the translation of the statement issued by ASMEK together with the source document. Also, on the top of this statement we received authentic information from other channels of our committee on the conditions of the injured people and express our concern about these fellow human beings. We are listing below those who still suffer detention. We should also add that the conditions of the injured fellows in the hospitals are extremely concerning. Among these information items we learn about those who have been transferred from the hospital to detention centres and subjected to tortures for a confession. We are confident that the most effective way to ensure their safety is only the expression of solidarity or support by international organisations.

 

The name list of those under detention includes:

  1. Javad Ezimi - Urmu
  2. Mehemmed Jabbari - Urmu
  3. Sejjad Aghabala zade – Urmu
  4. Behzad Shahsavri – Urmu
  5. Yashr Hashemiyan – Urmu
  6. Mehdi Tereqqi – Urmu
  7. Esger Ekberzade – Erdebil
  8. Elireza Yusefi Sadat – Erdebil
  9. Huseyin Sebebi – Erdebil
  10. Reza  Sheebani – Erdebil
  11. Eli Ojaq zade – Marand
  12. Huseyin Elizade – Marand
  13. Mehdi Huseyin Zadegan – Marand
  14. Hamid Mehemmed pur – Marand
  15. Qulamriza Babai – Marand
  16. Mesud Hebibvend – Marand
  17. Behbud Quli zade – Qoshachay
  18. Shahin Hasani – Qoshachay
  19. Calal Kuderlu – Qoshachay
  20. Mehemmed Huseyni – Khiav
  21. Calal Pursadigi – Khiav
  22. Yashar Hakkak Pur – Maraga
  23. Vehi Sheykh Beygli - Heris
  24. Javad Abbasi - Salmas
  25. Dr. Heyderoglu - Tebriz
  26. Hesen Erk Tebriz
  27. Chingiz Bextever – Tebriz
  28. The sons of Chingiz Bextever but we do not have their individual names

 

The list of names received from mainly hospitals of Tebriz is given below:

  1. Eli Esger Rafizi,
  2. Behmen shahidi,
  3. Adil Benna zade,
  4. Reshid Pur Mehemmed,
  5. Mehdi Sultani,
  6. Qulam Eli Bennazade,
  7. Ilyas Xuda xanli,
  8. Mehemmed Ferec zade,
  9. Tohid Jengju,
  10. Rehim Umidi,
  11. Qafar Rustemi,
  12. Eli Nasiri Sheqaqi,
  13. Semed Mededi,
  14. Mehemmed Yedullahi,
  15. Abbas Diljavid,
  16. Behnam Shehameti,
  17. Emir Eli Shehrek,
  18. Resul Ibrahimi,
  19. Huseyn Mehemmedi,
  20. Qulam Eli Teymuri,
  21. Ismail Rezzaqi,
  22. Ebulfezl Imani,
  23. Esger Jelaliyan,
  24. Mehemmed Hesen Jovheri,
  25. Mehdi Sultani,
  26. Hemid Ferahani,
  27. Reshid Purmehemmed,
  28. Emir Ebdullahi,
  29. Jelal Penahi.

 

Naturally, we endeavour to send you the names as they come as our humanitarian duty. We therefore duly request you to use your good offices to express your support to our innocent and repressed people of Southern Azerbaijan .

 

Yours Sincerely,

 

Boyuk Resuloglu

 

For and on behalf of

The Committee for the Defence of the Rights of the World Azerbaijanis

 

 

 

The Translation of the ASMEK Statement on 25 May 2006

 

According to the news received from (Southern) Azerbaijan and following their relentless popular protests, many of our cultural and political activists have been arrested all over Azerbaijan .

 

Salmas: Yesterday evening, Mr. Javad Abbasi, who was set free after suffering four months of imprisonment, was re-arrested in Salmas. Security agents raided his home and removed all his personal belongings, CD, books and computer.

 

Urmu: Behzad Shehsavari, a member of the Young Writers Union of Urmu, “BUTA” was arrested by security agents. These arrests also include Mehdi Tereqqi and (another person with unknown first name) Qasimli (Qasimlu). They are detained in the Detention Centre No. 9 of security forces. Another person who is wounded and then transferred into the detention centres includes Yashar Hashimiyan. Some of the arrested ones are injured but they are deprived of medical treatments.

 

Qoshachay (Miyandoab): Those arrested here includes Jalal Kudurlu, Behbud Quluzade and Shahin Heseni

 

Tehran : on Wednesday round about evening times 9 activist youths were arrested in Veliesr Street while carrying placards in Turkic Azerbaijani. They were subjected to physical violence but set free at 22.30. Their names include: Abbas Eyvezi, Qulamrza (the surname is not known), Yaver Eli-nejad, Huseyn NemetYaeli Namver, Elshen Neqd Pashai, Emir Huseyn, Heseni Shahid.

 

Merend: More than 17 individuals were arrested in the demonstrations on Thursday including: Eli Ojaqzade, Huseyn Elizade, Mehdi Huseyn Zadegan, Hamid Mahmudpur, Qulamrza babai, and Mesud Hebibi Vend.

 

Tebriz: The General Judge of the Revolutionary Court in Tebriz informed of the 54 individuals being arrested by security agents in relation to protests against the insults by the Newspaper called Iran . Yusuf Firuzi the general Judge of the revolutionary court in Tebriz stated that summons have been issued for the arrest of a number of individuals and these will be carried out in a few days time.

 

Tebriz: While the statement by the general judge of the revolutionary court in Tebriz was being issued, the website Pars reported of the crackdown in Tebriz arresting 300 individuals. Some of these arrested peoples are in the custody of the Guard forces.

 

Urmu: The Western Azerbaijani commander of security forces stated: 15 individuals of leaders of unrest were arrested on Thursday.

 

The Committee for the Defence of the Political Prisoners of (Southern) Azerbaijan campaigns for the release of all political prisoners and requests the groups working on human rights to regard the fate of these individuals with due urgency.

 

Hoping for the liberation of all political prisoners

 

The Committee for the Defence of the Political Prisoners of (Southern) Azerbaijan