Azerbaijani Turk activist sentenced without due process, UN committee informed

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Azerbaijani Turk activist sentenced without due process, UN committee informed

2025.06.04, 10:30

Rushed approval of Hamid Abbasi’s sentence and referral of another case for harsher punishment: a case of security fabrication and systematic violation of the defendant's rights in Iran.

Gunaz.tv

In a controversial move, the appeals branch of the West Azerbaijan judiciary approved a sentence of 9 years, 9 months, and 5 days of discretionary imprisonment for Hamid Abbasi, an Azerbaijani Turk civil rights activist, without following legal procedures and ahead of schedule. This decision, reportedly made under the direct order of the Salmas intelligence office, was issued before the legally scheduled appeal session (Tir 7, 1404 / June 27, 2025). The appeal was dismissed without reviewing the defense brief or holding a public hearing, citing clause (a) of Article 455 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

From his arrest, all stages—interrogation, charge notification, indictment issuance, and sentencing—were carried out under the influence and direction of security agencies, particularly the Salmas intelligence office. The main objective has been to suppress Abbasi’s peaceful civil activism in defense of the national and human rights of the people of Azerbaijan. During a security raid, Abbasi’s personal belongings were also confiscated without any legal documentation or his signature, a clear breach of fair trial standards.

Regarding one of his other cases, the appeals court stated that due to the preliminary court’s failure to address certain charges, the case must be returned to the initial court for review and issuance of an appropriate ruling.

Legal experts view this case as part of a broader project to securitize the atmosphere in Azerbaijan and systematically suppress Turk activists, where the independence of the judiciary has been entirely disregarded.

In this context, all documents, evidence, and contradictions in the case, highlighting widespread human rights violations and blatant interference by security agencies, have been submitted to the UN fact-finding committee on Iran. Human rights organizations, concerned about the securitization of the civil space, are calling for international oversight, respect for defendants' rights, the right to defense and free expression, and protection of lawful civil activism.

GUNAZ.TV

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