Communication: Waves 1 to 4 of Politically/Racially Motivated Persecution of Azerbaijanis in Azerbaijani Provinces by Iranian Authorities

Communication: Waves 1 to 4 of Politically/Racially Motivated Persecution of Azerbaijanis in Azerbaijani Provinces by Iranian Authorities
Iranian authorities did not respect the deeds and opinions of Azerbaijanis but subjected them to repression and deprived them from:
• Right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.
• Right to freedom of opinion and expression.
• Deprived Azerbaijani protesters by physical violence, arresting and detaining them. and
The Azerbaijani individuals suffered from being deprived of their humans rights in recent months by probably as much as 500 individuals, out of which we have been able to account for as many as 189 individuals in four waves, as follows:
Wave 1 (19 July 2020): See ArcDH /2020/620 in September and its updates in October; as well as ArcDH /2020/600; Date: 10 October 2020
Wave 2 (27 Sep. 2020): See ArcDH /2020/550; Date: 30 Sep. 2020; as well as: ArcDH /2020/620.1-12; Date: 25 October 2020
Wave 3 (15 October 2020): See: ArcDH /2020/610; Date: 25 October 2020
Wave 4 (10-12 Nov. 2020): As presented in this communication together with updated name list for Waves 1, 2 and 3

Below are the names of Azerbaijani individuals, who were persecuted, and many of them are being prosecuted by Iranian authorities. The individuals are presented in their geographical locations. They expressed themselves not from one single location but from all over Azerbaijani provinces in Zengan, Urmia, Ardabil and Tabriz recognised as the hotbeds of the Azerbaijani National Movement, despite untold and existential threat from the Iranian authorities. We will lodge complaints for the protection of their human rights when they are tried, for which the process has already begun.

Wave 4:
Azerbaijanis in Azerbaijani provinces in Iran celebrated the preliminary Agreement among the Republic of Azerbaijan, Russia and Republic of Armenia and for this reason, the individuals identified for being prosecuted include.

Tikantepe (Tikab)

Emir Riza Muradi Merdan (امیررضا مرادی پهلوان) 16 years old
Huseyn Sedri (حسین صدری) 16 years old
Ali Sedri (علی صدری) y… 15 years old
Majid Zahidpur (مجید زاهدپور)
Saib Nahavendi (صائب نهاوندی)
Abdullah Qulami (عبدالله غلامی)
Sarab
Firuz Aqili (فیروز عقیلی)
Babek Delkhani (بابک دلخونی)
And several more but their names have not been yet identified

Khiyov

Resul Nerimani (رسول نریمانی)
Ardabil
Hemid Adib Shafaq (حمید ادیب شفق)
Isa Azizi (عیسی عزیزی)
Tabriz:
The following 29 individuals have been summoned to court but the Iranian authorities have failed to provide any further detail. So, they are assumed to be related to Wave 4 of detentions but this can be due to Waves 2 or 3, when reportedly 100s were arrested and we are yet to identify their names.
Siyamek Kushi (سیامک کوشی)
Seid Maliki Masqiran (سعید ملکی مسقران)
Suleyman Alizade Fard (سلیمان علیزادهفرد)
Ferhad Aftabi (فرهاد آفتابی)
Rehim Abdullahi Gulenber (رحیم عبداللهی گلنبر)
Hemid Mohammad Taghizade (حمید محمدتقیزاده)
Siyavush Hazreti Dushtvar (سیاوش حضرتی دوشتور)
Emin Mihen Ibrahimi (امین مهین ابراهیمی)
Mohammadriza Asgarkhani Genjelu (محمدرضا اصغرخانی گنجهلو)
Ekber Qocheli Purqasim Sultanlu (اکبر قوچعلی پورقاسم سلطانلو)
Ferhad Beqayi Sefidan (فرهاد بقایی سفیدان)
Ali Asgariyan (علی اصغریان)
Amir Huseyn Kamrani (امیرحسین کامرانی)
Hadi Mustafai (هادی مصطفایی)
Mehdi Ibrahimzade ( مهدی ابراهیم زاده)
Ismayil Kukhi Beshir ( اسماعیل کوهیبشیر )
Mesud Fehti (مسعود فتحی)
Riza Payinperest (پرستt (رضا پایین)
Milad Ali Nejad (میلاد علی نژاد)
Shahin Pur Abdullah Mineq (شاهین پورعبداله مینق)
Javad khan Mohammadi (جواد خان محمدی)
Mohammad Heyderzade (محمد حیدرزاده)
Ferdin Abdi (فردین عبدی)
Rehim Abdullahi (رحیم عبدالهی)
Mohammad Khan Mohammadi (محمد خانمحمدی)
Ali Dadashzade (علی داداشزاده)
Murtaza Ferhadzade (مرتضی فرهادزاده)
Maqsud Baqiri Gulzari (مقصود باقری گلزار)
Abulfezl Akbarzade Saqqay (ابوالفضل اکبرزاده سقای)

Wave 3:
Urmia

Bakhtyar Behnemun (بختیار بهنمون).
Tabriz
Akbar Mohajiri (اکبر مهاجری).
Hosein Amir Hejri (حسین امیرهجری).
Resul Razavi (رسول رضوی).
Hemid Mohammad Taghizade (حمید محمد تقی زاده).
Hosein Mohammadian (حسین محمدیان).
Riza Zarei (رضا زارعی).
Suleyman Alizade (سلیمان علیزاده).
Karim Haqiqi (کریم حقیقی).
Shahin Barzgar (شاهین برزگر).
Fatime Ibrahimzade (فاطمه ابراهیم زاده), who is mother of Kovser below.
Kovser Nemati (کوثر نعمتی), who is daughter of Fatime above. She is 13 years old.
Mahtab Asgarinejad (مهتاب اصغری نژاد) and her daughter Aylin as below
Aylin Shirzadi (آیلین شیرزادی) and her mother Mahtab as above.
Sakine Abdi (سکینه عبدی), who suffers from cancer.
Miss Sara Turi (سارا طوری).
Shima Almasi (شیما الماسی)
Hebibe (or possibly Melihe) Barqi (حبیبه (ملیحه) برقی)
Mina Velipur (مینا ولیپور)
Maqsud Baqiri Gulzar (مقصود باقری گلزار)
Mehdi Nikpur (مهدی نیک آذر)
Khiyov (Meshgin shehr)
Aydin Zakeri (آیدین ذاکری).
Ardabil
Afshar Mohebb (افشار محب).
Mansur Seyfi (منصور صیفی).
Parsa Abad
Reza Seyyid Nuri (رضا سید نوری).
Maraga
Mukhtar Ibrahimi (مختار ابراهیمی).
Rasht
Ibrahim Ganji (ابراهیم گنجی).
Mohammad Eyni (محمد عینی).
Vadud Asadi (ودود اسدی).
Vehid Beyzade (وحید بیگ زاده).
Shebuster
Aydin Helali (آیدین هلالی).
Husein Imani (حسین امانی).
Murtuza Nur Mohammadi (مرتضی نورمحمدی)
Tehran
Mrs. Iffet Nikbakht (عفت نیکبخت).
Abuzar Khodayi (ابوذر خدایی).
Jabrail Qulipur (جبرییل قلیپور).
Mahbub Mohammadi (محبوب محمدی).
Melik Kendi (Malekan)
Sejjad Ismayilzade (سجاد اسماعیل زاده).
Wave 2:

In Zanjan (Zengan)
80 Majid Karimi محید کریمی
81 Akbar Qarabagi اکبر قره باغی
In Urmia
82 Sejjad Ismayilzade (سجاد اسماعیل زاده)
83 Salar Taher Afshar (سالار طاهر افشار)
84 Abolfazl Asgarzade (ابوالفضل عسگر زاده)
85 A lady kickstarted the protests in Urmia but arrested by colonel Ganjali (سرهنگ گنجعلی)
86 Mikayil Qulipur (میکائیل قلی پور)
87 Husheng Naghizade,
88 Amir Gohari (امیر گوهری)
89 Ashkan Saadat Mehr (اشکان سعادت مهر)
90 Reza Khalili (رضا خلیلی)
91 Javad Rezai (جواد رضایی)
92 Abdollah Sadoughi (عبداله صدوقی)
In Ardabil
93 Sajjad Jolani (سجاد جولانی)
94 Asgar Akbarzadeh (عسگر اکبر زاده)
95 Hosein Balakhani (حسین بالاخانی)
96 Hamed Heydari Baris (حامد حیدری باریس)
97 Mehdi Hoshmand (مهدی هوشمند)
98 Mohammad Jolani (محمد جولانی)
99 Bahman Kherju (بهمن خیرجو)
100 Parviz Siyabi (پرویز سیابی)
101 Mojtaba Parvin (مجتبی پروین)
102 Mortaza Parvin (مرتضی پروین)
103 Mostafa Parvin (مصطفی پروین)
104 Sobhan Bakhshi (سبحان بخشی)
105 Unidentified Woman 1
106 Unidentified Woman 2
107 Unidentified Woman 3
108 Ali Kheyju (علی خیرجو)
109 Ahmed Mohammadpur (احمد محمد پور)
110 Yashar Muradi (یاشار مرادی)
111 Ali Maali (علی معالی)
112 Yunis Muradi (یونس مرادی)
113 Meysam Jolani (میثم جولانی)
114 Mohsen Ismayiali Moqaddam (محسن اسمعیلی مقدم),
115 Marziyye Janavshir (مرضیه جوانشیر)
116 The sister of Mrs. Javanshir (جوانشیر)
117 Afsane Akbarzade (افسانه اکبرزاده)
118 Dariush Niyazi Shiran (داریوش نیازی شیران)
119 Hemayil Azizi (حمایل عزیزی)
120 Khatm Gul (ختم گل)
121 Maryam Alizade (مریم علیزاده)
In Meshginshahr (Khiyov)
122 Vahid Khavendi (وحید خاوندی)
123 Siyamek Seyfi (سیامک سیفی)
124 Kazim Safabakhash (کاظم صفابخش)
125 Mehdi Ibadollahi (مهدی عبادالهی)
126 Qudret Manafzade (قدرت مناف‌زادگان)
127 Shahruz Hommatoglu (شهروز همت‌اوغلی)
128 Ahmed Yaqubi (احمد یعقوبی)

In Maragha
129 Hamed Yeganepur (حامد یگانه پور)
130 Davud Azimzade (داود عظیم زاده)
In Tabriz (Tebriz), East Azerbaijan
An estimated number of peaceful participants of ordinary citizens in Tabriz, the historic capital of Azerbaijan, is more than 100,000. However, the police opened pellet shots to civilians, used tear gas to disperse them but the participants managed to save the injured ones from the arrest.
131 Mehdi Dustdar (مهدی دوست دار)
132 Murtuza Naghizade (مرتضی نقی زاده)
133 Mujtaba Naghizade (مجتبی نقی زاده)
134 Mohammad Naghizade (محمد نقی زاده)
135 Zeynal Tanhai (زینال تنهایی)

In Tehran and Karaj
136 Mrs. Zahra Aslani (زهرا اصلانی) she published a beautiful poem related to Qarabagh that she reads it with high skills of poetry but we have no confirmation one way or another.

In Bazurqan, East Azerbaijan (a large number have been arrested)
137 Meysam Hommentzade (میثم همت‌زاده)
In Parsa-Abad, Ardabil Province
138 Peyman Agai (پیمان آقایی)
In Kaleyber, East Azerbaijan
139 Vuqar Ne’mat (ووقار نعمت)
In Zunuz, Julfa and Alamdar towns, East Azerbaijan
140 Said Sultani (سعید سلطانی)
141 Babek Keyumerzi (بابک کیومرثی)
142 Ali Qahramani (علی قهرمانی)
143 Ahmed Yaveri (احمد یاوری) arrested on 6 Oct 2020 and released on bail 15 Oct. 2020
144 Sasan Aminzade, the Asian boxing champion (ساسان امین زاده), Maku
145 Ali Isazade (علی عیسی زاده), Maku
146 Mehrab Maqsudi (محراب مقصودی), Maku
147 Jahanbakhsh Sultanzade (جهانبخش سلطان زاده), Maku
148 Hafez Hasanzade (حافظ حسن زاده), Maku
149 Bahman Nasirzade (بهمن نصیرزاده), Maku
150 Majid Jafazade (مجید جعفرزاده), Maku
151 Ahmad Mohammadi (احمد محمدی), Maku

Wave 1:
In Tabriz: 19 activists were arrested: 16 July 2020; Released on 29 July 2020 under bail for 1 billion Iranian Rial; Tried on 23 Oct 2020.
152 Miss hakime Ahmadi (حکیمه احمدی)
153 Mrs. Yasemen Zafari (یاسمن ظفری):
154 Mehdi Asadi Gulzar (مهدی اسدی گلزار)
155 Sadiq Partou Bayraq (صادق پرتو بیرق)
156 Ali Muradian (علی مرادیان)
157 Behzad Sheykhi (بهزاد شیخی)
158 Rehim Sasani (رحیم ساسانی) – a kickbox trainers and a champion several times
159 Hadi Quluzade (هادی قلزاده)
160 Majid Akbari (مجید اکبری)
161 Sadullah Sasani (سعدالله ساسانی)
162 Ali Ab Khizir (علی آب خضر)
163 Abulfaz Ibrahimzade (ابوالفضل ابراهیم زاده)
164 Mehdi Purali Khurmalu (مهدی پورعلی خرمالو)
165 Mrs. Yasamine Zafari
166 Saadullah Asadi (سعدالله اسدی)
167 Maqsud Fazli Chimenzamin (مقصود فضلی چیمن زمین)
168 Rasul Razavi (رسول رضوی)
Individuals Arrested in Urmia
169 Farid Khorshidi (فرید خورشیدی)
170 Salar Taher Afshar (سالار طاهر افشار)
171 Miss Shiva Mojarrad (شیوا مجرد)
172 Said Behnemun (سعید بهنمون)
173 Sehend Behnemun (سهند بهنمون)
Individuals Arrested in Tehran
174 Hosein Shahidi (حسین شهیدی)
175 Hadi Alishi (هادی علیشی)
176 Yaqub Majidi (یعقوب مجیدی)
177 Hemid Jabbari (حمید جباری)

Miscillenous:
Activists whose Human Rights Were Violated but More Details are needed
178 Ali Haju Mohamadi میلاد حاحی محمدی
179 Abolfazl Ebrahimzadeh الوالفضل ابراهیم زاده
180 Milade Akbari میلاد اکبری
181 Isa Yeganeh عیسی یگانه
182 Magsoud Bageri Golzari مقصود باقری گلزاری
183 Ahad Bageri احد باقری
184 Reza Seyed Norouzi رضا سید نوروزی
185 Mohram Karimi محمد کریمی
186 Nasser Ahmadi ناصر احمدی
187 Ebrahim Faraj Zadeh ابراهیم فرح زاده

Preliminary Cases

188 Mehdi Amirinejad (مهدی امیرینژاد) was arrested for his protested to the discrimination of Iranian policies Arrested in 2015; released on 3 April 2020.
189 Javad Ahmedi Yekenli (جواد احمدی یئکانلی) was persecuted for a contribution on the first wave of protests to Iranian policies.

Repression Against Azerbaijani Media
The licence of Oyaq Rasht (Awake Rasht) was repealed for supporting the activists
Background
• Iranian authorities militarised all cities by paramilitary units and special units to display their brutal muscle power as a deterrent.
• Iranian authorities made threatening telephone calls to the houses of the activists and used foul language or stalked them or kept their houses under threatening surveillance.
• Iranian authorities intimidated the protestors by using the police and in many cases by plainclothes agents to make protests impossible for individuals from every walk of life.
• Iranian authorities used tear gas, batons and tasers to physically prevent the protests.

Following a callout for peaceful protests on 14 October 2020 to take place on 17 October 2020 (Wave 3) in all Azerbaijani cities in Iran, the response was overwhelming. People from every walk of life gathered in major Azerbaijani city and town centres, Iran, on 18 October 2020 for protests and included the closure of Bazars. Azerbaijanis protested in peace, but the Iranian authorities resorted to the use of force.
Scale of Protests
As the above show, the scale of protests was wide, and this covered street protests and the closure of business in bazars. The participants were from all walks of life, including activists and therefore these protests are at a popular scale. The protests in Urmia, Ardabil, Tabriz, Zengan, Tehran and Qazvin were the strongest and in other cities the overwhelming number of plainclothes security agents reduced the scale of the protests.
Overall
In three waves of protests since July 2020 and the celebration in November 2020, the individuals who suffered arrests or persecutions are as follow:
• The total number of identified individuals is some 200 individuals
• The number of females arrested was at least 22 including a girl of 13 years old together with her mother. There are a number of teenager-boys arrested.
• In Wave 2, there were reportedly 100s rounded up in Tabriz
• In Wave 2, one estimate described the number of participants in Tabriz to reach 100,000.