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| Musa Berzin, Human Rights Lawyer |
In an interview with Voice of America, lawyer Musa Berzin stated that the judges of the Tabriz and Maragha Revolutionary Courts have violated both Iranian laws and international human rights conventions by issuing harsh sentences against national activists. Berzin made this statement following the long-term prison sentences given to national activist Ogtay Valizadeh, as well as members of the Yeni GAMOH organization—Latif Hasani, Mahmud Fazli, Yurush Mehralibeyli, Shahram Radmehr, and Behbud Quluzadeh.
"In this charge, 'security' refers to the security of the people. However, this group has not taken any actions against the people's security. It was organized based on the demands of a people. They have not engaged in terrorism or acts of unrest," said the lawyer, who currently lives in exile in Turkey. "Regarding propaganda against the regime—if the propaganda is based on facts, it does not violate the law. For example, this group has mentioned in their writings and statements that mother tongue rights are violated in Iran. This is not a lie; it is the truth."
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| Leaders of Yeni GAMOH |
Berzin also commented on the case of national activist Abbas Valizadeh (Ogtay), who was sentenced to eight years in prison by the Maragha Revolutionary Court. One of the charges against him was "obtaining a video of an interview given to Voice of America by Mahmudali Chohraganli, the leader of the South Azerbaijan National Awakening Movement (GAMOH)."
The lawyer emphasized that giving interviews to the media is not illegal: "There is no such law. When Iranian courts consider communicating with foreign media or giving interviews as a charge, they are actually the ones violating the law."
Musa Berzin also pointed out that several activists who were prosecuted in connection with the 2011 protests over the environmental disaster at Lake Urmia have recently been sent to Tabriz prison. He condemned the Islamic Republic of Iran for imposing harsh pressure on individuals who work to protect the environment.
Link to the original interview in Turkish on the Azerbaijani section of Voice of America:
Musa Bərzin: Təbriz və Marağanın İnqilab Məhkəmələri qanunu pozublar