Those sentenced include prominent figures associated with South Azerbaijan’s national movement, among them Yurush Mehralibayli, Hamid Yeganapur, İbrahim Avazzada, Araz İbrahimnejad, Huseyin Azadi, Emirhuseyin Aghayi, Naser Rezmcu, Davud Shiri, Javad Sudbar, Mehrdad Kadiri, Ali Babayi, Murtaza Nurmuhammadi, and Muhammedreza Muvahhid.

The Court of Appeal of occupying regime of Iran has upheld heavy prison sentences against 13 Azerbaijani Turkic activists, confirming a combined total of 85 years in prison. The ruling is being viewed not merely as a legal judgment against a small group of individuals, but as part of a broader crackdown on rising national consciousness in South Azerbaijan.

Many of the activists are known for their work on mother-tongue education, cultural rights, environmental concerns, the Urmia Lake crisis, and Azerbaijani Turkic identity.

The activists faced charges including “gathering and colluding against national security” and alleged membership in the so-called “Democrats” group. Yurush Mehralibeyli reportedly received a harsher sentence due to accusations that he founded the group.

Observers argue the case reflects a growing pattern in which cultural, linguistic, and civil activism in South Azerbaijan is increasingly treated by raicist regime of Tehran as a national security issue. Demands for mother-tongue rights, cultural recognition, and civic organization are being framed as political or security threats.

According to reports, the activists were detained by intelligence authorities in Tabriz in 2023 and held for months in solitary confinement. The use of prolonged isolation has been described as part of a broader strategy of psychological pressure aimed at weakening organizational ties, instilling fear, and discouraging dissent.

Concerns have also been raised over transparency, with reports indicating that the appellate rulings were communicated to the defendants through their lawyers rather than delivered directly.