The Tabriz Provincial Subdivision of Islamic Revolutionary Tribunal of Iran has released its final decision on 19 South Azerbaijani activists who were tried earlier this year by this court for their role in demonstration of a banner during an international soccer contest between Azerbaijan’s Tractor Soccer Club and UAE’s Aljazeera Soccer Team.
The banner in question recited a popular catchphrase of “South Azerbaijan Isn’t Iran” and has caused a lot of anger among government officials.
The tribunal has sentenced each of the 19 peaceful demonstrators charged with ” anti-state propaganda” to 3 months in jail and 30 strikes of flagellation.
The convicted activists are identified as follows:
Jafar Rustami Nejad, Kasra Davudi, Musa Sudi, Ali Ahmadi, Siamak Saifi, Husseein Adlju, Hussein Khaki, Said Dadashpur, Yasin Fathi, Babak Azernejad, Hussain Firuzi, Mokhtar Tenhaei, Hussein Bayat, Farhad Chavushi, Said Sheibani, Yavar mahmudpur, Siamak Irani, Shahram Ibrahimi.