Ethnic Azeri bloggers imprisoned in Iran
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 4 February 2009 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Ethnic Azeri bloggers imprisoned in Iran, 4 February 2009, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/49904c6721.html [accessed 22 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
February 04, 2009
BAKU – Five ethnic Azeri students running a popular blog have been sentenced to one-year prison terms in Iran, RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service reports.
The students were charged at a Tabriz court with establishing an illegal organization. The students' lawyer said the blog, azoh.blogsky.net, was singled out for its content and popularity.
The bloggers advocated language rights for Azeris living in Iran and criticized the pressure put on cultural and student activists by the government.
The blog continues to operate, but is often blocked by Iranian officials.
On February 2, five ethnic Azeri activists – including a journalist and two students – were sentenced to five years' imprisonment in the northwestern city of Ardebil for supporting Azeri-language schools in Iran.
