According to information obtained by IranWire, the East Azerbaijan Court of Appeals has upheld in full the sentences issued against Reza Salimi, Amin Taghizadeh, and Samad Heidari, three Turkish civil activists.
Under the earlier ruling by Branch 2 of the Tabriz Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Reza Abdi, each activist was sentenced to three years and seven months of discretionary imprisonment on the charge of “assembly and collusion to commit crimes against internal and external national security,” and eight months of discretionary imprisonment on the charge of “propaganda against the regime.”
Together, the sentences issued against the three Azerbaijani activists amount to 12 years and 9 months of discretionary imprisonment, which has now been upheld without modification at the appellate stage.
Security forces detained Reza Salimi and Samad Heidari in Tabriz on January 23, 2025. After interrogation and the formal communication of charges, the two activists were transferred to Tabriz Central Prison and were later released on temporary bail on February 5, 2025, after posting 1 billion tomans each.
Security agents also arrested Amin Taghizadeh in Tabriz on March 1, 2025. After interrogation and the formal communication of charges, he was released from Tabriz Central Prison on March 4, 2025, after posting bail of 1 billion tomans.
