Iran: activist of the Movement for the Rights of Azerbaijanis of South Azerbaijan dies in prison

In Gyzylkhesar prison of the Iranian city of Karadzh, Medzhid Khudai Gamidoglu, an activist of the Movement for the Rights of South Azerbaijan Azerbaijanis and a member of the Party for Independence of South Azerbaijan, was lost.

The press service of the Party for Independence of South Azerbaijan has informed that M. Khudai was killed by electroshock, and during one month before his death he had been exposed to physical and psychological torture.

According to the Party's data, M. Khudai had died back on March 14, 2007, but only now the fact of his death has become known, as his family did not disclose the information for fear of prosecution by the Iranian special agencies.

M. Khudai took part in mass protest actions held in the cities where Azerbaijanis live. He was arrested by Iranian special agents on charges of "belonging to organizations that want to split Iran" and of "Pan-Turkism".

After his release on February 17, 2007, M. Khudai was arrested again for disseminating leaflets in Keredzh on the occasion of the International day of Mother Tongue.

According to Day.Az, another activist of the Movement for the Rights of Azerbaijanis in Iran was arrested in the Iranian city of Sulduz for non-payment of the fine to employees of the ETTELAAT.

According to the Committee for Defence of the Rights of South Azerbaijan Azerbaijanis, this activist Ali Gadzhmukhammadi is serving his punishments in the city prison.

A source at the Committee for Defence of the Rights of South Azerbaijan Azerbaijanis has reported that Azerbaijani journalists are also exposed to prosecution in Iran.

Only in October this year the following journalists were arrested: Mohammed Ali Geidari, Ilgar Marandli, Mir Gasym Seyidinzade; and the total number of arrested journalists reached 10 persons.