The International Center for Human Rights in Canada (ICHR) has been informed of the arrest of Canadian resident and film-maker, Mr. Mosatafa Azizi in Iran, and urges the Iranian authorities to release Mostafa Azizi immediately and unconditionally.
Mr . azizi , 53, was arrested on February 01, 2015 shortly after his return to Iran to care for his ailing father, spent over two weeks in solitary confinement under Revolutionary Guard ‘s Intelligence Service detention (ward 2-A) before transferring to Evin Prison’s general ward.
Mr. Azizi has not been given a fair trial and right to counsel since then. It’s believed that his arrest may have been connected with social media posts he made in Canada as well as his articles in magazines and online. Mr. Azizi is a critic of Iranian regime.
ICHR executive director, Ardeshir Zarezadeh, said that according to inside sources, Mr. Azizi has been charged under the pretext of “insulting the supreme leader”, “affronting the founder of the Islamic revolution”, “propagandizing against the regime” and “conspiracy against public order”, and his case referred to the revolutionary court.
Mostafa Azizi is a prisoner of conscience and his rights have been violated by the Iranian regime. He is a cultural figure, writer and film-maker.
ICHR is concerned about well-being and unlawful detention of Mostafa Azizi and demands for his unconditional and immediate release.
“The human rights situation in Iran is deteriorating and government’s promises to improve the situation have not been fulfilled. Iranian regime is detaining civil society and human rights activists and executing prisoners since the nuclear deal entered to its serious stage.” Said Ardeshir Zarezadeh.
ICHR also urges The Canadian Government to raise concerns regarding Mostafa Azizi as done in other cases such as Saeed Malekpour in a number of occasions.