Iran: Sentencing of human rights defender and journalist Yusef Azizi Bani Turfi
Front Line is deeply concerned following reports of the sentencing of Yusef Azizi Bani Turfi to five years in prison. Yusef Azizi Bani Turfi is a journalist and writer who has written in defence of the rights of ethnic minorities, particularly the Ahwazi Arab ethnic group to which he belongs. He is also a founder member of the Iranian PEN association, which works to promote and protect the right to freedom of expression.
Further Information
Posted 03 September 2008
On 20 August 2008 Yusef Azizi Bani Turfi was sentenced by a branch of the Revolutionary Court to five years in prison following his conviction on charges of “acting against national security”, “incitement to rebellion” and “relations with foreign officials”. The charges relate to his activities as a writer and journalist. He is currently on release pending the appeal of his conviction.
Yusef Azizi Bani Turfi's family has also been subject to intimidation and harassment as a result of his activities; his daughter has been banned from receiving postgraduate education in Tehran University and his son was arrested in Syria in 2006 and detained for 42 days. The freelance journalist was initially arrested on 25 April 2005, when his home was searched and papers relating to his work were seized. He was released on bail to await trial on 28 June 2005. The judicial proceedings against Yusef Azizi Bani Turfi lasted almost two years before the recent sentence was handed down.
Front Line believes that the sentencing of Yusef Azizi Bani Turfi is directly related to his work in defence of the rights of Ahwazi Arabs and other ethnic minorities, and the promotion of freedom of expression in Iran. In view of his sentencing, Front Line is concerned for the physical and psychological integrity of Yusef Azizi Bani Turfi .
This Urgent Appeal has now ended. No further action is requested at this point. Thank you for taking action on this case.
Front Line issues Urgent Appeals on behalf of human rights defenders at risk on a daily basis. These Appeals normally remain active on our web site for a period of up to six weeks, depending on the situation. After this time they will be archived. Front Line maintains a watching brief on all these cases but no further action is requested after the six weeks, unless there is a significant development in the case.
