Amnesty International calls for the release of those detained at the Qale Babak rally

Amnesty International has issued a statement calling on the authorities of the Islamic Republic of Iran to unconditionally release and quash the sentence issued against Azerbaijani Turkish activist Ibrahim Nouri and other activists who were arrested during cultural gatherings of the Azerbaijani Turkish minority.

Mr. Nouri, an activist from Ahar, was arrested during the Babak Castle rally and has been transferred to Ward 209 of Evin Prison.

According to the statement, in recent weeks, about 120 people have been arrested in connection with two separate gatherings, one in July and the other in August.

Amnesty International says these activists were acting only within the framework of their rights to freedom of expression and freedom of peaceful assembly and association.

The statement also names Abbas Lesani, Kiyomars Eslami, Jafar Rostami Rad, Hamid Adib, Mohammad and Meysam Joulani, Tohid Amin Amiri, Ali Vathiqi, Rahim Gholami, Saeed Sadeghifar, Morteza Parvin, Hojjat Fekri, Gholam Gholizadeh, and Mehdi Houshmand as individuals who have been insulted and mistreated.

Source: Voice of America