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| Akbar Abulzadeh |
Approximately 80 Turkish activists have been detained since last week in connection with the annual march to Babak Castle in the Qaradağ region of South Azerbaijan. Dozens of other activists have been summoned by the Ettelaat (intelligence) agencies or threatened over the phone. Speaking to Voice of America from the Qaradağ region, activist Akbar Abulzadeh explained the events and assessed the Iranian authorities' sensitivity towards the traditional Babak march.
"The arrests took place in cities such as Ardabil, Tabriz, Urmia, Ahar, Sulduz, Sarab, Khoy, Bostanabad, and Kaleybar. Some of our friends were arrested at their homes or workplaces before they even set out for the castle. Others were detained on the way to the castle," said Akbar Abulzadeh.
The activist, who lives in Ahar, East Azerbaijan Province, also described to Voice of America how activists were threatened.
According to him, activists who had previously been sentenced to conditional imprisonment or had their sentences postponed were warned that if they participated in the march, they would be immediately arrested and their sentences would be enforced.
The Turkish activist noted that the pressure exerted by security forces to prevent the march was also felt by the local population:
"On Thursday (July 5), security forces blocked roads leading to Kaleybar, searched some vehicles, and filmed the people inside. By intimidating them in this way, they aimed to discourage ordinary citizens from attending the march."
Abulzadeh emphasized that many of the detained activists were subjected to torture and revealed the names of some of them:
"According to what Sədullah Sasani, Milad Əkbəri, Tovhid Əmir-Əmini, Məhəmməd Mərdi, Əli Ruhbəxş, Möhsün İsmaili, Yusuf Kari, Məmməd Azadi, and Cavad Yekanlı have shared, they were beaten with batons, leaving their bodies bruised. Rəhim Qulami, Əli Vasiqi, Səid Sadıqifər, and Mehdi Huşmənd were severely beaten by prisoners in Ardabil prison. The swollen and bruised heads, ears, and bodies of activists like Əli Xeyrcu, Rahim Novruzi, Murtaza Pərvin, Meysəm, and Məmməd Colani are evident from the pictures they have taken."
"In such a situation, we are deeply concerned about the fate of our comrades who have not yet been released," Abulzadeh stated, drawing attention to reports of torture.
Regarding the Iranian government's sensitivity towards the Babak Castle march, the Turkish activist believes that the authorities do not want activists to have platforms where they can gather and communicate with citizens.
"Since our people lack media, it is street movements that bring this movement to life, empower them, and awaken their consciousness. Street movements always frighten the government. When national activists and the people come together, an awakening takes place. That is why the government tries to sever the connections between activists and the people," he said.
Link to the original interview in Turkish on the Azerbaijani section of Voice of America:
“Hakimiyyət meydan hərəkatından qorxur”