Dr. Latif Hasani also known as Araz the chairman of New Southern Azerbaijan National Awakening Movement has ceased his 52 days hunger strike. According to media reports, Hasani who is transferred to Rajayishahr Prison as a result of his lengthy hunger strike passed out yesterday and was taken to the prison’s medical care centre.
He was urged by his spouse, Mrs. Azam Piri Valikandi, the doctors and members of the Central Committee of the NEW SANAM to cease his hunger strike. Hasani, finally, was convinced to cease his hunger strike. He has released a statement thanking media, his friends, activists of Patriotic Movement of South Azerbaijan, and exclusively his wife, Mrs. Azam for their continued support. However, Dr. Hasani also threatened to recommence hunger strike in case of escalation of pressure against political prisoners and their families.
The leader of Southern Azerbaijan National Awakening Movement had gone on a 52-day-hunger strike demanding his transfer to a political compartment of any penitentiary centre closer to his family’s place of residence. The NEW SANAM leader’s family currently reside in Karaj, and Dr. Hasani demanded to get transferred to either the Evin Prison of Tehran or the Rejaishahr Prison of Karaj.
Dr. Latif Hasan also know as Araz Qarabaghli the leader of NEW SANAM
Dr. Hasani was previously held at the notorious “Labour Therapy” Compartment of Tabriz Prison where he is forced to up to 12 hours of forced harsh labour on a daily basis along with dangerous criminals.
Under Iran’s criminal justice law, prisoners have a right to be held at the closest facility of their place of origin or residence. However, the Iran’s notorious spy agency, Ettelaat and the Prosecutor’s Office was long opposing the South Azerbaijani prisoners’ transfer requests to ensure greater suffering of the political prisoners and their families.
Dr. Hasani a professor in International Law was arrested last year, along with other four leading members of SANAM, for establishing an “illegal” political organization SANAM and struggling to secure right of self-determination for people of south Azerbaijan which is perceived as “separatism” by the regime in Tehran. They were sentenced to 9 years in Prison by Tabriz Islamic Revolutionary Tribunal.
