Saturday, July 4, 2020 / Branch 2 of the Urmia Revolutionary Court, chaired by Ali Sheikhlou, issued a lawsuit against Mullah Abdullah Ma’roufi, Ahmad Elahi, Hesam Mohammadi Khajlou, Nezam Naderi, Alireza Fattah Moradi, Khaled Ghaffari, Jalal Rostami Norouzlou and Mullah Rahmat Nosouhi, 8 citizens of West Azerbaijan and sentenced them to imprisonment.
According to Human Rights in Iran, today, Saturday, July 4, 2020, Mullah Ahmad Ma’roufi, Ahmad Elahi, citizens of Mahabad, Khaled Ghaffari from Sardasht, Hesam Mohammadi Khajlou, son of Hassan from Oshnaviyeh, Nezam Naderi, son of Rahman, resident of Bukan, Alireza Fattah Moradi, son of Seddigh from Bukan, Jalal Rostami Norouzlou, son of Abubakr from Mahabad and Mullah Rahmat Nosouhi, citizen of Mahabad were sentenced by branch 2 of the Urmia Revolutionary Court to a total of 28 years in prison on charges of propaganda against the regime and membership in Salafi groups.
Depending on the lawsuit filed by branch 22 of the Urmia Revolutionary Court, which was notified to the following individuals: “Hesam Mohammadi Khajlou sentenced to 1 year in prison on charges of propaganda against the regime, Nezam Naderi to 1 year on charges of propaganda against the regime, Alireza Fattah Moradi to 10 years in prison on charges of membership in Salafi groups, Jalal Rostami Norouzlou to 1 year on charges of propaganda against the regime, Mullah Rahmat Nosouhi to 10 years on charges of membership in Salafi groups, Mullah Abdullah Ma’roufi, Ahmad Elahi and Khaled Ghaffari were each sentenced to 1 year in prison on charges of propaganda against the regime.”
On November 28, 2018, Jalal Rostami Norouzlou was arrested by security forces and after completing the interrogation process in a security detention center, was transferred to ward 12 of the Central Prison in Urmia. He was temporarily released on a bail of 700 million Tomans on December 21, 2018, after completing the interrogation process and referral of the case to court.
Also on October 29, 2018, Hesam Mohammadi Khajlou, Nezam Moradi and Rahmat Nosouhi were arrested by security forces in Urmia.
Rahmat Nosouhi and Alireza Fattah Moradi were each temporarily released on a bail of 1 billion Tomans on October 20, 2019. Nezam Naderi was aslo released on a bail of 2 billion and 500 million Tomans on the same day. The next day, October 21, 2019, Hesam Mohammadi Khajlou was temporarily released on a bail of 2 billion Tomans, after completing the interrogation and transfer to Urmia Central Prison.
The issue of arbitrary detainment of persons without explaining their charges, and the defendants’ inaccessibility to a lawyer is a case of violations of principles noted in International Human Rights Instruments, including Article 9 of Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and Article 9 of International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, adopted on December 16, 1966. But judicial and security officials in prisons use these deprivations and inaccessibilities as a mean to repress the individuals because of their forced accusations, that this kind of behavior is a violation of Article 5 in Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Also the individuals’ right to a fair trial is one of the inalienable rights accentuated in Article 10 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Prohibiting Sunnite citizens from performing or attending their religious ceremonies is a violation of International Instruments, including Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, adopted on December 16, 1966, which stipulates: “Everyone shall have the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. This right shall include freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice, and freedom, either individually or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in worship, observance, practice and teaching.”
Extracting forced confessions through beatings and threats are among the most flagrant violations of International Human Rights Instruments, as well as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 7 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights explicitly prohibit torture.
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