14:12, 20 July 2008

Defenders of South Azerbaijanis' rights detained in Iran

During the recent three days, six activists of the movement in defence of the rights of South Azerbaijanis have been detained in Iran.

On July 17, employees of the ETTELAAT detained Sadzhad Radmekhra, Aidyn Khadzai and Feraz Zekhtab. The activists were detained at the entrance to the building of the Tabriz University, an hour later their apartments were searched.

The "Mediaforum" reports that these persons have been repeatedly reprimanded for participation in protest actions against publication in the "Iran" newspaper of caricatures offending Azerbaijanis.

Also on July 17, engineer Daryus Khatami, an activist of the movement for the rights of Iranian Azerbaijanis, was detained and taken away in unknown direction. Later, Gamid Valai and Gulam Nadzafi were detained, the Day.Az reports with reference to the Party for Independence of Southern Azerbaijan.

Thus, the detainee Gamid Valai is a graduate of the Law Department of the Tabriz University and a member of the Association of Students and Teachers. They wrote articles directed against the "mullah-cratic regime of Iran."