Voice of America - February 23, 2017
Four Turkish language activists of Azerbaijan in Iran have been sentenced to a total of 45 years in prison and 8 years of exile for charges including organizing International Mother Language Day celebrations.
According to the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, Alireza Farshi was sentenced to 15 years in prison and 2 years of exile in Baghmalek, Khuzestan Province; Akbar Azad to 10 years in prison and 2 years of exile in Darehshahr, Ilam Province; Behnam Sheikhi to 10 years in prison and 2 years of exile in Masjed Soleiman, Khuzestan Province; and Hamid Manafi to 10 years in prison and 2 years of exile in Azna, Lorestan Province.
Alireza Farshi, a Turkish civil activist, told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that the main charge against these individuals was organizing International Mother Language Day celebrations in 2013. The Revolutionary Court interpreted this, along with activities such as forming a mountaineering group and social media posts, as “separatist and divisive actions.”
February 21, designated as International Mother Language Day by UNESCO, is unofficially commemorated by ethnic rights activists in Iran and certain regions. This year, Twitter users also criticized the ban on teaching non-Persian languages in schools using the hashtag #MotherLanguage.
The link to the original article in Farsi on VOA Persian:
محکومیت ۴ فعال مدنی به اتهام برگزاری مراسم روز زبان مادری: ۴۵سال زندان و ۸سال تبعید