Iranian authorities have intensified their crackdown on Azeri ethnic minority activists, issuing severe prison sentences without credible evidence, according to a recent Human Rights Watch (HRW) report. The move is seen as part of a broader effort to suppress civil society and ethnic minority movements in the country.
Since October, Iran has imprisoned at least two dozen activists from the Azeri ethnic minority, HRW reported on Sunday. The organization emphasized that the Iranian government did not provide any substantial proof to justify the harsh prison terms imposed on these individuals. The sentences come amidst escalating tensions between Iran and Azerbaijan, with Azeris constituting Iran’s largest ethnic minority group.
The Tehran Islamic Revolutionary Court has handed down prison sentences ranging from three to fourteen years to at least ten Azeri activists. The charges against them include vague accusations such as “membership in an opposition group,” “propaganda against the state,” “conspiracy against the country,” and “forming an opposition group against the state.” HRW has condemned these charges as baseless, describing them as part of a systematic attempt to dismantle civil society and prevent ethnic minorities from advocating for their rights.
According to HRW’s extensively documented report, which cites informed sources, many of the detained activists were engaged in legitimate civil activism. Their work included addressing environmental concerns, advocating for the rights of ethnic groups in Iran, and providing support to the families of protesters who were killed or injured during the 2022 nationwide protests.
The report highlights that Iranian authorities have employed various oppressive measures to silence dissent within the Azeri community. Some detainees have been denied essential medical care, while others have been subjected to prolonged solitary confinement and psychological pressure. These tactics are part of a broader pattern of repression targeting not only the Azeri minority but also other marginalized communities in Iran.
“Iranian authorities systematically target civil society and ethnic minorities with abusive charges and heavy prison sentences to silence dissent,” said Nahid Naghshbandi, acting Iran researcher at HRW. Her statement underscores the Iranian government’s increasing use of judicial repression as a tool to suppress voices advocating for human rights and ethnic equality.
This latest crackdown on Azeri activists is not an isolated incident but part of a well-documented history of systematic discrimination against ethnic minorities in Iran. The government has consistently sought to undermine their cultural, linguistic, and political rights, imposing severe restrictions on their freedom of expression and assembly.
As international human rights organizations continue to call for justice, the Iranian government faces growing scrutiny for its treatment of ethnic minorities. HRW’s report sheds light on the urgent need for accountability and the protection of civil rights for all marginalized communities in Iran.
The international community has a crucial role to play in pressuring Iranian authorities to uphold fundamental human rights and cease the persecution of ethnic minority activists. Without such intervention, the repression of Azeris and other minority groups is likely to persist, further eroding Iran’s already fragile human rights landscape.
