Chief Editor of an Azerbaijani newspaper in Iran is sentenced to 6 months imprisonment

The same court has also sentenced the editor in chief of the newspaper, Mr. Abulfazl Vesali to 6 months in prison. He has been held in jail since June 7th when ethnic riots erupted in the region.

In an Interview with Iran's ILNA news-agency Mr. Vesali said that revoking the publishing license of "Neda-ye-Azarabadegan" would have been enough to shut it down. However, the authorities have closed down the newspaper's office and ceased all of its property. Mr. Vesali added that the court's order is too severe and such an order has not had any precedence. Abulfazl Vesali has said that he is being punished for just doing his duties as a journalist. He has also complained about lack of support from local media and writers who have ignored the injustice. Mr. Vesali has called the court's decision unjustified and has said that he will appeal to higher courts as soon as he is able to do so.

It should be mentioned that "Neda-ye-Azarabadegan" was shut down right after publishing slogans of demonstrators chanting "Death to Persian Chauvinism", and "Let it be known: I am a Turk" during ethnic riots following publication of a cartoon in "Iran" newspaper insulting ethnic Azerbaijanis. The newspaper had also published an article spelling out the demands of the rebellious university students.

/BakuTODAY/