Prominent Southern Azerbaijani activist Abbas Lisani was arrested after attending a court session on January 15 in Tabriz. It has been reported that the national activist has been on a hunger strike and his health condition is not good. Several observers have expressed concerns that his arrest could lead to an increase in the persecution of Southern Azerbaijani activists and potentially trigger a wave of arrests. Southern Azerbaijani human rights defender Mehsa Mehdili discussed Abbas Lisani’s arrest and situation in an interview on Voice of America’s "America Review" program.
Abbas Lisani was reportedly arrested in May of the previous year after making a speech at the funeral of the famous musician and teacher Hasan Demirchi in Tabriz. Mehsa Mehdili stated that the national activist had been arrested multiple times before, calling his latest arrest illegal.
According to Mehsa Mehdili, Abbas Lisani has not been allowed to meet with his family members, and his family has not been informed about his condition. She also noted that Abbas Lisani has not been provided with a lawyer.
“Mr. Abbas has not been given a lawyer to defend his rights. He has not even been allowed to meet with his family. Since January 15, no information has been provided. It has simply been said that ‘we kept him in Tabriz, brought him to Ardabil, and arrested him in court. Without any verdict, without a lawyer, without allowing him to meet with his family.’”
Mehsa Mehdili mentioned that national activists in Southern Azerbaijan have started a campaign to defend Abbas Lisani.
“Now, serious campaigns have been launched by the Southern Azerbaijani people and national activists. Both on social media and on the walls of the cities, posters and murals have appeared saying ‘We are all Abbas Lisani,’ and it caught my attention that in many cities of Southern Azerbaijan, it is also written on the walls: ‘Let Abbas Lisani defend Azerbaijan, let him be freed.’ Abbas Lisani is truly the defender of all of Azerbaijan, and it is our duty to defend him.”
Mehsa Mehdili shared her concerns that after Abbas Lisani’s arrest, a wave of persecutions and arrests may begin against other national activists.
“Our movement is a cultural movement. But the regime's response, the reaction it gives, is entirely uncivilized, inhuman, and completely based on repression and violence. Because what has Mr. Abbas done? He has spoken. He has talked about the rights of Azerbaijan. He has spoken about the rights of his people, and look at the regime's reaction.”
Link to the original interview in Turkish on the Azerbaijani section of Voice of America:
Məhsa Mehdili: Biz hamımız Abbas Lisaniyik