Behnam Vaziri-Nia, a Qashqai Turk civil rights activist imprisoned in Evin Prison, has announced in a statement marking the 44th anniversary of the execution of Khosrow Khan Qashqai by the Iranian regime that his initial conviction has been upheld by the Court of Appeal. He also reaffirmed his commitment to pursuing the national, civil, and territorial rights of the Qashqai people.
He wrote that, after 15 months in prison, his appeal had been rejected. Describing the verdicts issued by the Revolutionary Courts as predetermined judgments, Vaziri-Nia stated that he would not submit to this unjust ruling or to the baseless charges against him.
The imprisoned activist described a reported promise by provincial officials to name a road after Soulat al-Dowleh Qashqai as an inadequate and insulting response to the demands of the Qashqai people. He also warned against distorting these demands for personal or group interests.
Vaziri-Nia stated that commemorating Khosrow Khan requires continuing his path. He wrote that the Qashqai Ilkhans were not seeking to reclaim past privileges, but rather were striving for the future of their people, including popular governance and self-government in Qashqai-populated regions. He described protests by young Qashqai Turks against cultural distortion and assimilation policies as a continuation of this legacy and criticized the security crackdown against them.
He also identified the economic crisis, poverty, repression, and war as factors intensifying public anger. Warning of the danger of infrastructure being destroyed and civilians losing their lives, he emphasized that the people’s silence should not be interpreted as sympathy for the government. In his view, censorship and threats have deprived people of meaningful participation and the ability to determine their own future.
Vaziri-Nia linked the future of Iran’s geography to freedom, democracy, justice, and recognition of national, cultural, and linguistic diversity, and called for the guarantee of the right to self-determination. While opposing the Iranian regime, he also rejected the restoration of previous systems with undemocratic characteristics.
Vaziri-Nia was arrested in Tehran on June 20, 2025 (30 Khordad 1404) and was subsequently transferred to Evin Prison. The activist, who works in the field of Qashqai Turk culture and language, had previously been sentenced to a total of 18 years in prison on five charges.
