Flogging in Orumieh: Ali Azizi and Eliar Hosseinzadeh Given 20 Lashes Each on Charge of "Disrupting Public Order" in Connection with November 2019 Protests
(The actual title of this Article was “Implementation of Ali Azizi and Eliar Hosseinzadeh’s flogging sentence in Orumieh”.)
The flogging and monetary penalty sentences issued for Ali Azizi and Eliar Hosseinzadeh, two citizens detained during the November 2019 Nationwide Protests, were carried out today, Monday, June 8. These citizens were each sentenced by Orumieh Criminal Court to 15 million Rials monetary penalty as a substitute for 8 months in prison, and to 20 lashes.
According to a HRANA News Agency report, the news arm of the Human Rights Activists in Iran, today, Monday, June 8, 2020, the flogging and monetary penalty sentences issued for Ali Azizi and Eliar Hosseinzadeh, two citizens detained during nationwide protests known as “the November Protests”, were carried out.
These citizens had been arrested during nationwide protests known as “the November Protests”. The hearing to examine the charges brought against them took place at the Orumieh County Criminal Court Two, Branch 101.
In February-March 2020, Ali Azizi and Eliar Hosseinzadeh, along with four of their co-defendants were each sentenced by the Orumieh County Criminal Court Two, Branch 101, presided by Judge Hamid Golinejad, to payment of 15 million Rials monetary penalty as a substitute for 8 months in prison, and to 20 lashes, on the charge of “disrupting public order”.
Ali Azizi was not able to attend the trial session due to being detained at [the city of] Tabriz Central Prison’s Security Ward. His trial took place again upon his objection and the request [for a new trial] being granted. He was therefore summoned by the Orumieh Criminal Court Two, Branch 101, located at Orumieh’s Beheshti Judicial Complex in April. Nevertheless, the Court did not accept his defense and approved the previous decision verbatim.
Eliar Hosseinzadeh’s sentence was issued in absentia.
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It must be noted that Ali Azizi, the citizen from the city of Orumieh and Azeri activist, had previously been arrested without a warrant by security agents at his father’s home in Orumieh, on Sunday, February 23, 2020, and was temporarily released on 500 million-Tuman bail from Tabriz Prison on March 25, 2020, and was out until the end of the proceedings. Investigating Judge’s Office, Branch 16, of the Tabriz General and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office, presided by Judge Seyyed Ali Mussavi, has charged Mr. Azizi in this case with “propaganda activities against the regime and membership in the illegal group GAMAC”. Prior to this, a one-billion-Tuman bail had also been issued for Mr. Azizi.
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Western Azarbaijan Province Judiciary
Court Decision Number: [Redacted]
Date Drafted: [Illegible]
Case Number: [Redacted]
Branch Archive Number: [Redacted]
City of Orumieh Criminal Court Two, Branch 101,
Shahid Beheshti Judidial Complex (101, formerly Khazai)
Court Decision
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Case Number [Redacted], City of Orumieh Criminal Court Two, Branch 101, Shahid Beheshti Judidial Complex (101, formerly Khazai), Final Court Decision Number [Redacted].
Plaintiff Asking for a New Trial: Mr. Ali Azizi, son of Zeynal, represented by Ms. Fatemeh Sattari, daughter of Asghar, whose address is Western Azarbaijan Province, Orumieh County, city of Orumieh, [Redacted].
Charges:
- Disrupting public peace and order through participation in illegal assemblies and protests, and destruction of a gas station;
- Disrupting public peace and order through participation in illegal assemblies and inviting others to participate in assemblies;
- Disrupting public peace and order through participation in illegal assemblies and chanting slogans;
- Disrupting public order through posting videos of disrupting public order on the internet;
- Disrupting public peace and order through participation in illegal assemblies and protests, creating traffic jams and chanting slogans.
Workflow: City of Orumieh Criminal Court Two, Branch 101, is in an extraordinary session, presided by the undersigned judge, examining the aforementioned case;
The Court, having examined the contents and the documentation contained in the case file,hereby declares the close of the proceedings, and relying on its conscience and honor, issues its Decision as follows:
Court Decision
Regarding Mr. Ali Azizi’s objection to [and request for a new trial] (Mr. Azizi is represented by Ms. Fatemeh Sattari) in case number 9809974412101986, dated March 12, 2020, issued by City of Orumieh Criminal Court Two, Branch 101, which sentenced him to fifteen million Rials monetary penalty as a substitute for 8 months in prison, and to 20 lashes for the crime of disrupting public order,
The Court,
Having taken into consideration the totality of the papers and documentation contained in the case file, determines that no valid objection or defects has been found that would nullify the Court Decision that is being appealed from and said Court Decision has been issued in observance of the rules and regulations and the evidence existing in the case file.
Consequently, the Court, pursuant to Articles 406 and [illegible] of the Law on the Rules of Criminal Procedure of 2013, rejects the objection, and confirms said Court Decision. This ruling [illegible] and can be appealed to the Western Azarbaijan Province’s honorable Courts of Appeal within 20 days of service hereof.