Iran puts two Azerbaijani activists on trial for simply posing for a photograph with Azerbaijan’s flag.
The joint trial of Mohammd Tamaddon and Yaser Akbari both from the city of Urmia, South Azerbaijan was held in the Revolutionary Tribunal of the city of Urmia, Province of Western Azerbaijan.
The proceeding was presided over by Mr. Chabok, a judge of the West Azerbaijan Islamic Revolutionary Tribunal. The Judge arraigned the activists pursuant to the charges of “conspiracy against the national security of the state” and “manifestation of support to “Pan-Turkist” movements”.

He claimed that posing for a photograph with the flag of a foreign country is a crime and that photographs of the activists have been admitted into evidence.

Mohammd Tamaddon and Yaser Akbari both entered a not guilty plea. They rejected the spy agency- Ettelaat’s and the prosecutor’s allegations saying that they were simply watching a karate contest in the city’s gymnasium. The court deferred its decision.

The spy agency arrested the young activists along many others during a Martial Arts Contest in Urmia’s “Ghadir” Gymnasium, and criminal charges were laid. The activists were later released on a bail.

No crime is designated or identified in Iran’s Criminal Code which bans or penalizes citizens who pose with a foreign flag.