Defend the Rights of Azerbaijani Alevi Prisoners in Iran

Sahand Ali Mohammadi, Bakhshali Mohammadi, and Ebadollah Ghasemzadeh are three Azerbaijani prisoners who have gone on hunger strike in Yazd Prison.

According to reliable sources, they have gone on hunger strike since Saturday 23 July 2011, in order to protest the fact that they have not been informed of the reason for a second court trial.

Sahandali Mohammadi, Bakhsali Mohammadi, Ebadollah Ghasemzade along with Yunes Aghayan and Mehdi Ghasemzade are Iranian Azerbaijanis citizens and members of Ahl-i haq sect. They were arrested following a conflict between security forces and villagers in Uctepe, a village near to Miyandoab (Qosacay). They were sentenced to the death penalty, but the sentences of Sahandali Mohammadi, Bakhsali Mohammadi, Ebadollah Ghasemzade were reduced to 13 years of imprisonment with exile by an appeals court. They served five years in Urmia Prison and then were transferred to Yazd Prison, a city which is thousands of kilometers from their home town on November 13, 2008. The death penalty of Yunes Aghayan, and Mehdi Ghasemzade were confirmed in appeals court. Ghasemzade was executed on February 28, 2009 in Urmia Prison.

As they are both ethnically and religiously minorities, Azerbaijani Ahl-e Haq people have serious problems in Iran.

Although Iran’s Constitution mentions the rights of religious minorities in two distinct articles, some minorities such as Ahl-i haq and Bahais are not indicated. Iran’s government prevents them from partaking in religious ceremonies. They are arrested, ill-treated and are deprived of their fundamental rights.