Morteza Moradpour

Morteza Moradpour (Altay Ghardaghli) is an Azerbaijani activist who has been sentenced to prison for charges such as "propaganda against the Islamic Republic regime of Iran" and "assembly and conspiracy to commit crimes against the country's national and international security", all due to his political activism

<coverage-outsourcing id='4868'> He was arrested along with his brother and 4 other civil activists during a family gathering in Eil Goli park in Tabriz after uttering some slogans about the national and language rights of Azerbaijani people </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='5276'> He was tried at branch 3 of Tabriz Revolutionary Court along with his brother Fardin </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='5277'> After almost six months in solitary confinement of the Intelligence Department of Tabriz and Tabriz Prison, he was released on bail </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='5278'> His sentence for three years in prison was confirmed by branch 4 of the Eastern Azerbaijan appeal court </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='6295'> He was arrested at his workplace and transferred to Tabriz prison for his prison sentence </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='5280'> Jafar Fazelnia, the supervising prosecutor of Tabriz Prison behaved "rudely" towards Morteza Moradpour's mother, Masoumeh Amani, and denied the activist's request for a conditional release </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='5279'> He was sent on a seven day leave </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='6296'> In addition to Abbas Lessani, political prisoners Ayat Mehr Ali Beigloo, Rasoul Razavi, Hossein Ali Mohammadi, and Morteza Moradpour from Tabriz Prison, Meysam Jolani, Morteza Parvin, Mostafa Parvin, Tohid Amir Amini, Saleh Pichghanloo, and Mohsen Mohsenzadeh from Ardabil Prison, and Latif Hassani from Rajayi Shahr Prison, all went on hunger strike to protest the judiciary for framing and not releasing him </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='6294'> It was reported that the authorities at the Central Prison of Tabriz are refusing to provide him with his eye medicines </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='7553'> He was released on temporary leave </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='9884'> In protest to the lack of correlation between his actions and his charges, disregard for article 134 of the Islamic Code of Punishment and denying his freedom, he went on an unlimited hunger strike. A few days later Oyan News published his letter to the prosecutor </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='9914'> According to Oyan News, after Hossein Ali Mohammadi's objection to the humiliation of a Polish prisoner, he was assaulted and battered by some of the violent prisoners. Then the prison's security monitors - consisting of prisoners under the supervision of the warden - threatened his life and encouraged other prisoners to falsify their testimony in order to dissuade him from submitting a complaint. Morteza Moradpour also objected to this behavior and was assaulted and battered until he became unconscious. After this incident, Hossein Ali Mohammadi was transferred from ward 12 to the special ward, but Morteza Moradpour is still in ward 12 </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='9979'> Morteza Moradpour and Rasoul Razavi were exiled to the Central Detention Center of Karaj city </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='10276'> According to Harana, Rasoul Razavi and Morteza Moradpour are denied visitations and phone calls </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='10210'> Amnesty International released a statement offering details of the cases of the eight prisoners on hunger strike and demanding their freedom. The mentioned prisoners are: Mohammad Ali Taheri, Arash Sadeghi, Mehdi Rajabian, Hossein Rajabian, Rasoul Razavi, Morteza Moradpour, Vahid Sayadi Nassiri, and Ali Shariati </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='10280'> According to Harana, Morteza is kept in solitary confinement, has been suffering from heart conditions for the last few days, is not allowed to shower, and does not even receive enough drinking water </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='10329'> An article written by Morteza Moradpour titled "A Study of Human Rights Conditions in the Central Prison of Tabriz" was published. According to the article, the average space for each prisoner is less than the international standard and even domestic regulations. Ward 12 has the capacity for 85 to 100 prisoners, but currently there are 400 to 500 prisoners kept in this ward. On average around 141 prisoners sleep on the ground, and prisoners of this ward have to sleep on the ground for three to four months. Meanwhile ward 12 can be considered the best ward in Tabriz Prison. For example, ward 11 is so crowded that sometimes prisoners have to sleep on their sides (so they could all fit on the ground). The original article published by Radio Zamaneh is documented in the Supporting Evidence section of this page </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='10870'> According to informed sources, after Morteza Moradpour's exile from Tabriz Prison to Central Penitentiary of Karaj, he was abused and mistreated by the authorities of this prison. Atlas was informed that Mr. Moradpou is on hunger strike and he is denied drinking water, sugar, salt, blankets, and even shower. Also, prison authorities have detained him in solitary and blocked all the windows </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='10545'> His attorney, Jafar Afsharnia, published a note disproving the argument made by the judges at branch 4 of the Eastern Azarbaijan appeal court, and explained that enforcement of his interpretation of Article 134 is in the benefit of the defendant. He also pointed out that Branch 33 of the country's supreme court has denied the appeal request. The note published by Araz News, is documented in the Supporting Evidence section of this page </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='10625'> According to Oyan News, in a phone call to his family, he said that he had fainted in his cell that day </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='10580'> Harana reported that Hassan Rouhani was asked in a letter signed by twelve thousand people to look after the eights prisoners on hunger strike </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='10667'> In a letter to the prosecutor and branch 4 of the appeal court, Morteza's family offered some explanation regarding the legitimacy of Morteza's demand, described his deteriorating health, and requested his quick transfer back to Tabriz. The letter is documented in the Supporting Evidence section of this page </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='10651'> According to Fardin Moradpour's personal Facebook page, Morteza Moradpour's mother has visited the court to offer a measure. According to this report, the head of branch 11 of Verdict Enforcement department has told Masoumeh Amani that "If I had received these two cases (Morteza and Fardin Moradpour) in 2009, before everything else I would have put a bullet in your forehead for raising such children" and continued "if you do not leave the room right now, I will stump you to death" </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='10650'> Azoh published pictures of the "representation request" forms regarding the banishment of Morteza Moradpour and Rasoul Razavi to the Karaj city's Central Detention Center. In Mr. Razavi's document it is mentioned that his sentence of four months in prison - dating back to 2011- must also be enforced. Both documents are documented at the Supporting Evidence section of this page </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='10668'> In a signed letter to the chief of judiciary of the province, 1830 citizens asked him to meet Morteza's "legitimate demand" </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='10670'> Moradpour family reported "vulgar and sexual language and rude conduct" by supervising prosecutor of Tabriz Prison, Mr. Jafarr Fazelnia, towards Ms. Masoumeh Amani. Moradpour family had previously submitted a complaint regarding Mr. Fazelnia's "rude conduct" </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='10669'> His case was sent to branch 4 of the Eastern Azerbaijan appeal court for a new decision regarding the application of Article 134 </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='10730'> Rasoul Razavi and Morteza Moradpour were transferred back to Tabriz Prison. Oyan News reported that this transfer was ordered on November 22nd of 2016, and Karaj city police made the families of these prisoners pay for the transfer expenses due to "lack of budget" </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='10749'> Oyan News reported that after his transfer to Tabriz Prison, he was first sent to ward 12 work-treatment and later to ward 12 </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='10778'> There were widespread wall-writings in Tabriz in support of Morteza Moradpour and gratitude for Masoumeh Amani. Guney News has published some of these wall-writings </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='10777'> Azoh reported that branch 4 Western Azerbaijan's appeal court once again opposed the application of Article 134 to his case. This branch has decided that according to their interpretation, the application of this article is not in Morteza's benefit </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='10940'> Morteza Moradpour's family gathered in protest in front of Tabriz courthouse. According to Fardin Moradpour, this gathering ended the same day after speaking with a representative of the attorney general </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='10947'> Fardin Moradpour told Harana that his brother was transferred to the prison clinic and they tried to inject him with nutrition serums by force. He also stated that his brother's heartbeat is so irregular and slow that at first the doctors thought it was the fault of their equipment. He is worried and says that his brother has difficulty breathing </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='10981'> Three male agents and two female from Ministry of Intelligence went to Morteza Moradpour's family house and in the absence of Ms.Amani, they asked Mr.Moradpour to go to the Information Office later. Masoumeh Amani told Araz News that she thinks they intend to arrest the whole family and that is why they had brought two females to their house. She said their goals is to prevent the gathering from happening, even if they have to detain us at the Intelligence office for a few hours </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='10952'> Morteza Moradpour's Family and some of the Azarbaijani activists started their sit-in in front of Tabriz courthouse. Morteza's father visited him on the same day </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='10951'> Fardin Moradpour told Iran Wire that "It is true that my brother's life is at risk and he might die, but Morteza has made his decision and we respect it. We have not asked him to break his hunger strike yet. We are certain that at this point he will not listen to us either. He has also stated repeatedly that if you ask me to do so, I will refuse, I will stop calling you and bear this responsibility by myself." He pointed out that Mr. Jafar Fazelnia, Tabriz prison Judge, has been the main obstacle to resolving this case and ending his brother's hunger strike </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='11027'> With Morteza Moradpour's hunger strike reaching its 50th day, tensions increased between civil and political activists and the regime's authorities. Morteza Moradpour's family and Azarbaijani activists' concerns for Morteza Moradpour's life, and the regime's rigidity towards Morteza Moradpour's demands regarding the application of Article 134 and the possibility of parole led to their gathering in front of Tabriz Courthouse. In this gathering, security forces arrested the following participants: Fardin Moradpour, Mostafa Avazpour, Adel Boughchachi, Vahid Faezpour, Siamak Mardani, Amin Rostamzadeh, Sadollah Sasani, Mohammad Mardi, Hassan Moheddian, Milad Akbari, Hassan Moradpour, Rahman Akbari, Alieh Norouzi, and one unnamed individual. Hassan Moradpour, Rahman Akbari, and Alieh Norouzi were released a few hours after the arrest </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='10980'> Police attacked the gathering of Morteza Moradpour's family and supporters in front of Tabriz courthouse and arrested Fardin Moradpour, Hassan Moradpour, Mostafa Avazpour, Adel Boughchaychi, Vahid Faezpour, Siamak Mardani, Amin Rostamzadeh, Saadollah Sasani, Mohammad Marzi, Milad Akbari, Rahman Akbari, and Alieh Norouzi. A few hours later, Rahman Akbari, Hassan Moradpour and Alieh Norouzi were released </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='11025'> Harana published a letter signed by a group of former political prisoners and families of political prisoners and victims. In this letter they have asked the prisoners on hunger strike to end their strike, because in current conditions where "there is no strong will for a widespread grassroots movement, hunger strike specifically has no sustainable result but the destruction and decay of freedom fighters and bringing joy to the regime authorities </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='11028'> All the individuals arrested in front of Tabriz courthouse at the gathering in support of Morteza Moradpour were released on bail </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='11066'> His attorney, Jafar Afsharnia asked several members of congress from Azarbaijan province to help free Morteza Moradpour. Among these members of congress were Nader Ghazipour, Masoumeh Aghapour, Ali Shahi, and Davoud Mohammadi, who requested a review of Morteza Moradpour's case in separate letters.These letters are documented in the Supporting Evidence section of this page </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='11045'> According to Azoh, after his parents refused to sign a pledge not to publicize his case, the prison authorities only allowed Mr. Hassan Demirchi to visit Morteza Moradpour </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='11108'> In a letter to the supreme leader of Iran, 53 journalists and political activists stated that he is responsible for the life of Morteza Moradpour, Arash Sadeghi, and Golrokh Ebrahimi Iraee and other political prisoners </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='11103'> Fourteen political and civil activists wrote a letter demanding his freedom. The signatories are as follows: Noushabeh Amiri, Mehdi Aminizadeh, Abdolali Bazargan, Mehrzad Boroujerdi, Mohammad Heidari, Taghi Rahmani, Nasrin Sotudeh, Reza Alijani, Morteza Kazemian, Ammar Maleki, Mohammad Maleki, Ahmad Montazeri, Yasser Mirdamadi, and Hassan Yousefi Ashkevari </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='11148'> Hassan Farhoudinia, the head of the Lawyers Society of Tabriz and Hassan Arak went to Tabriz prison to meet him </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='11153'> In a letter to the chief of Judiciary, he explained his ideas and activities and emphasized that he has already followed all the legal procedures in order to qualify for Article 134 like other prisoners, and especially non-political prisoners, and has gone on hunger strike out of hopelessness. This letter and its audio file are documented in the Supporting Evidence section of this page </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='11150'> On this day's assembly, at least nine more people were arrested. Those arrested are as follows: Mehdi Zanjir Balaghi, Akbar Abolzadeh, Nima Abbaspour, Hadi Hamidi Shafigh, Madineh Ghassemi, Sajjad Khalilnejad, Akbar Samimi, and Javad Ahmadi Yekanli </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='11149'> His lawyer, Jafar Afsharnia, published an article on his Facebook page comparing the cases of Morteza Moradpour and Akbar Amini Armaki, and pointed out that these two similar cases have been treated differently by the judicial authorities. According to Mr.Afsharnia, while under similar circumstances to Morteza Moradpour's case, Akbar Amini has been released from prison in accordance with Article 134 </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='11188'> Oyan News reported that eight of the individuals arrested on December 26 and the one person remaining will be released the next day </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='11215'> Masoumeh Amani released a video asking his son to end his hunger strike. She talked about Morteza Moradpour's honor and underscored that neither members of congress nor any other authorities have made any efforts to save his life. This video is documented in the supporting evidence section of this page </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='11401'> He ended his hunger strike on the sixty-fifth day. His brother announced this news on his Facebook page </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='11410'> While emphasizing the necessity of upholding Human Rights principles, Germany's Ministry of Foreign Affairs asked the Iranian government to release Arash Sadeghi, Golrokh Ebrahimi Iraee, Mohammad Reza Nekounam, and Morteza Moradpour </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='11514'> He was released and transferred to hospital to receive medical treatment. It is noteworthy that he was released from prison under the title of "open ended temporary leave" (conditional temporary leave until the end of sentence) </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='13374'> Was arrested. It has been said, that IRGC agents arrested him at Ashoura (shiite religious holiday) and announced that he had been released only on temporary leave. A report was also published regarding the agent’s previous attempts to arrest him </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='16083'> According Azoh, went on 10 day leave </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='17207'> According to Gunaz TV he went on a 15 day leave </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='18267'> According to Araz News he returned to prison </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='18836'> He was sent on a ten day leave </coverage-outsourcing>