Abbas Lisani
Abbas Lisani | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 18, 1967 Ardabil province, Iran |
| Occupation(s) | Poet, writer, cultural advocate |
| Known for | Promoting national cultural identity; activism leading to multiple imprisonments and hunger strikes |
Abbas Lisani (born 18 February 1967 in Ardabil province) is an Iranian Azerbaijani poet, writer, and cultural advocate recognized for his efforts in promoting national cultural identity. Since 1997, his activism has resulted in several imprisonments. In the year 2006 alone, he was subjected to four separate trials within a six-month period, culminating in a 30-month jail term, 50 lashes, and a three-year forced relocation. His participation in significant gatherings such as the Babak Castle Congress (2005), commemorations of the Constitutional Revolution, ceremonies at Baqir Khan's tomb in Tabriz, and the National Uprising Day in May 2006 played a crucial role in these outcomes.
His experiences of incarceration, harassment, and exile persisted in the following years. Since 2007, Amnesty International has identified him as a prisoner of conscience. Various organizations and activists have organized campaigns and demonstrations calling for his freedom. Lisani himself engaged in multiple hunger strikes to advocate for his rights as well as those of fellow detainees.
Following his release from Ardabil prison in February 2023, he was ordered to relocate to Yazd but defied this directive by returning to Ardabil city, steadfastly asserting his innocence.
Early life and activism
Abbas Asad oghlu Lisani was born in 1968 in Ardabil. His involvement in national cultural movements has led to numerous arrests since 1997. On 25 August 2003, he was detained due to participation in an event at Babak Castle and subsequently released on 18 September 2003 after posting bail amounting to 50 million rials.
On 22 June 2004, Lisani was apprehended during a sit-in protest at Ardabil's Sarcheshmeh Mosque. During the arrest, security personnel inflicted severe injuries including multiple rib fractures, nasal damage, and harm to his left lung and kidney. He was isolated for two days before being held for an additional month. Despite undertaking hunger strikes and requesting medical care, treatment was denied. He secured release on 22 July 2004 after paying bail of 200 million rials and later received a fine of 800 thousand rials along with a sentence of 15 lashes for "disturbing public order."
In 2005, he was arrested once more for attending a ceremony at Baqir Khan's tomb in Tabriz honoring the Persian Constitutional Revolution. On 6 August that year, the Ardabil Revolutionary Court sentenced him to one year’s exile in Khuzestan, accusing him of promoting pan-Turkism, threatening national security, propagating against the regime, and publishing a Turkish-language calendar. Lisani contested this verdict; his case was transferred between courts in Tehran and Kalibar. Ultimately, the exile was revoked and substituted with a one-year imprisonment.
Period from 2006 to 2014
On 27 May 2006, during the National Uprising Day protests in Ardabil, Abbas Lisani took part in large-scale demonstrations. Violent confrontations with law enforcement involved gunfire, numerous injuries, and over 150 arrests. When police attempted to detain Lisani, demonstrators resisted.[1] He was eventually arrested on 3 June 2006 after approximately thirty plainclothes officers forcibly entered his residence without a warrant, assaulting him and confiscating personal belongings.[2] His location remained undisclosed until 7 June; he later disclosed being held in solitary confinement at Ardabil prison where he commenced a hunger strike that lasted 58 days before ceasing upon permission for family visits.[3]
In September 2006, protests outside Ardabil court demanded the release of political detainees; several individuals including Kubra Gurbanzade—who was pregnant—were arrested. Activist Fazail Azizian initiated a hunger strike which others joined. On 22 September, Lisani began his own hunger strike in solidarity; it concluded following Gurbanzade’s release.[4]
On 27 September 2006, Lisani received a sentence of sixteen months imprisonment plus fifty lashes for his involvement during National Uprising Day.[5] He filed an appeal on 26 October but was re-arrested on 31 October.[6]
In March 2007, he was relocated within the prison to a section housing arms and narcotics offenders—an apparent tactic aimed at exerting pressure on him and fellow activist Behruz Alizadeh.[7] Throughout this period he endured ongoing harassment including covert surveillance through hidden cameras and isolation via punitive measures against associates.[8] From prison in May 2007, he called for demonstrations opposing human rights violations tied to the uprising’s anniversary.[9] On 4 March 2008, authorities transferred him from Ardabil prison to Yazd prison.[10]
On 10 September 2008, during an iftar gathering at Seyyad Mohammadian's residence, security forces arrested seventeen individuals including Lisani’s wife and three children.[11] He was released on 29 October that year. In December 2009, Lisani along with other activists were assaulted by security officials while attending Genghis Bakhtavar’s funeral; prior warnings had been issued discouraging attendance.[12]
In response to protests across Azerbaijani-populated cities concerning Lake Urmia's desiccation in 2011, Lisani and other activists were detained in Ardabil.[13][14] On 9 September he was arrested at work following demonstrations on September 3rd and initiated a hunger strike protesting unlawful detention.[15][16] He secured release on bail amounting to $100,000 from Ardabil Revolutionary Court on November 7.[17][18]
2014–2017
On 20 February 2014, activists representing Azerbaijani nationals in Iranian Azerbaijan convened to observe International Mother Language Day; more than 100 participants, including Abbas Lisani and Akbar Abulzadeh, were detained and imprisoned in Ettelaat facility, with allegations of mistreatment. They submitted grievances to the Ahvaz Judiciary.
In April 2015, the Ardabil Revolutionary Court sentenced Abbas Lisani to one year in prison, accusing him of cooperating with separatist factions and advocating for a secular government, under charges of "propaganda against the regime." By July 2015, Lisani and other activists endorsed a statement supporting Uyghur rights, urging legal bodies to address their concerns at an international level.
Lisani was apprehended once more on 22 July 2015 and moved to the restrictive seventh ward of Ardabil prison, where his freedoms were curtailed. In response to violations of prisoner rights and forced relocations of detainees, he initiated a hunger strike. Authorities responded with intimidation tactics and physical abuse. Despite threats of exile, Lisani persisted in his hunger strike when denied permission to meet with family.
Following a provocative children's program aired on Iranian state television in November 2015 that offended Azerbaijani people, widespread demonstrations erupted. While incarcerated, Lisani expressed solidarity with these protests through a hunger strike. Subsequently, he was transferred to Adilabad prison in Shiraz but continued his strike.
In December 2015, Lisani joined over a thousand Turkish activists within Iran in signing a declaration condemning the massacre of Syrian Turkmen. On World Mother Language Day in February 2016, Lisani and other detained activists conducted a hunger strike protesting the absence of Azerbaijani Turkish language education within Iran.
Though Lisani’s official sentence concluded in May 2016, he remained imprisoned and resumed his hunger strike. Fellow detainees showed support by joining his protest. He was temporarily released on bail on 25 May.
On 7 November 2016, Lisani was arrested again following a speech delivered at a national activist’s wedding ceremony, facing accusations related to pan-Turkism and propaganda activities. He challenged these allegations and was acquitted by the Ardabil appellate court in 2017.
In August 2017, forty Turkish rights advocates—including Lisani—underwent collective trial at Ahar court. He received another court summons in October 2017.
2018–2020
On 2 July 2018, Abbas Lisani was detained prior to the annual Babak Castle Conference and commenced a hunger strike as an act of protest. He secured bail release on 14 July but was summoned by the Tabriz Revolutionary Court on 16 September; he declined attendance due to receiving the summons via SMS rather than formal documentation.
On 31 December 2018, Lisani again received an SMS notification from Ardabil Revolutionary Court regarding a ten-month prison sentence. In January 2019, he was arrested in Ardabil and transferred to Tabriz Prison. Lisani indicated that charges stemmed from his speech at national activist Hasan Agha Demirci’s funeral and organizing the Babak Castle march—activities he asserted were lawful civic participation.
Lisani contested being tried without an official summons; this objection led the Tabriz Court to temporarily suspend proceedings. Following a hearing on 15 January, he was re-arrested. Subsequently, five associates faced charges for "illegally organizing support threatening national security." Lisani was moved back to Ardabil Prison where he started another hunger strike.
On 21 February 2019, Lisani alongside fellow activists initiated a five-day hunger strike protesting the absence of Azerbaijani Turkish language instruction in Iran. During a court session on 10 March, he refused to wear prison attire citing personal dignity and requested that his defense be conducted in Azerbaijani Turkish.
On 13 April 2019, the East Azerbaijan Appeals Court reviewed his appeal against incarceration but barred his attendance. The court ruled that his imprisonment complied with Sharia law and legal statutes.
On 8 July 2019, the Ardabil Revolutionary Court sentenced Lisani to eight years imprisonment for allegedly inciting armed resistance in West Azerbaijan province, establishing an unlawful organization, and anti-regime propaganda; additionally, he received a two-year exile sentence along with his family to Yazd province. He appealed this verdict and during September hearings presented his defense in Azerbaijani Turkish while advocating for transparent judicial proceedings.
Initially acquitted on two charges, these were later reinstated resulting in an extension of his sentence from eight to fifteen years. It is believed that delivering his defense in his native language contributed to the increased penalty. The Supreme Court upheld this ruling in July 2020. Although many prisoners were temporarily released due to COVID-19 concerns, Lisani remained incarcerated and was denied permission to attend his brother’s funeral.
Following the onset of the Second Karabakh War in September 2020, restrictions were imposed on Lisani’s family visits and telephone communications; these prohibitions were reinstated in November. On 20 November, he conducted a five-hour sit-in protest against these limitations at Ardabil prison. Reports attribute these measures to directives from provincial intelligence and judiciary officials. Eventually family visitations resumed but phone call restrictions persisted.
Developments After 2020
On 13 January 2021, cultural activist Yusif Kari, who was in custody, initiated a hunger strike to protest prison abuses and his transfer to quarantine. Abbas Lisani, also detained in Ardabil prison, joined Kari's protest in solidarity. Subsequently, Siyamak Mirzayi from Evin prison along with Ali and Rza Vasiqi from Ardabil prison also took part in the hunger strike. Kari concluded his dry hunger strike on 20 January upon being returned to his original section, which prompted other participants to cease their protests as well.
In May 2021, Abbas Lisani was admitted to hospital due to severe pain in his back and knees after unsuccessful treatment attempts within the prison; however, he was sent back to the facility on the same day. On 12 June, Lisani and four additional prisoners commenced a hunger strike opposing the prison environment and breaches of Iranian legislation that mandates separation between political detainees and other inmates. Yusif Kari supported this initiative, with both activists beginning dry hunger strikes on 13 June. The security personnel reacted by protesting against the strike, leading to the activists being relocated to quarantine and prohibited from making phone calls. Several other activists in Tehran joined the hunger strike, some of whom were interrogated by intelligence agents. Once their demands were fulfilled—specifically, the removal of violent criminals from political prisoner wards—the hunger strikes ended and quarantined inmates were returned to their sections.
On 30 August 2021, Abbas Lisani was granted a medical furlough for four days upon posting bail but was re-incarcerated on 3 September. On 22 September, Ali Reza Farshi announced a three-day hunger strike protesting severe court rulings and restrictions on instruction in the Turkish language; Lisani and others participated in this action.
Lisani, experiencing cardiovascular problems, underwent multiple medical evaluations between October 2021 and January 2022 that confirmed the necessity for lumbar disc surgery. Beginning on 13 February 2022, he was granted a six-month medical furlough during which he underwent two surgical procedures at Velayat Hospital in Tabriz in April and May. Despite medical advice recommending an extension of his furlough, it was not prolonged, and he returned to Ardabil Prison on 27 August 2022.
Following a general amnesty decree issued on 21 February 2023, Abbas Lisani was released from Ardabil Prison but was exiled to Yazd. Defying this exile order, he returned to Ardabil where he received a warm welcome from national activists.
Family Under Pressure
Abbas Lisani was detained again on 31 October 2006. After this event, his wife Rugayya Lisani spoke out in interviews with foreign media regarding his arrest. Subsequently, she faced threats of detention for disclosing information about her husband's imprisonment.
In May 2007, Abbas Lisani's nephew Mehdi Mahmoudpur was also arrested.
On 10 September 2008, agents from Iran’s special services raided an iftar gathering at Sayyad Mohammadiani's residence. Over twenty attendees were detained during this operation, including Rugayya Lisani and their sons Atilla and Ogtay. After several hours of questioning, family members were released.
Following Abbas Lisani’s arrest on 9 September 2011, his nephew Mehdi Mahmoudpur was taken into custody again on 13 September.
In February 2016, Abbas Lisani’s wife and their two sons were summoned by the second department of Ardabil Court without any formal charges but were warned that failure to appear would result in surveillance measures. They refused to respond to inquiries or sign any documents they considered unrelated.
On 8 October 2020, unidentified individuals set fire to a vehicle owned by Abbas Lisani’s family.
In November 2020, Ardabil authorities accused Abbas Lisani’s son Ogtay of "disturbing public opinion" after distributing sweets following the liberation of Shusha. Consequently, he was banned from working at the Ardabil market.
Demonstrations Following His Detention
In January 2007, the Committee for the Defense of the Rights of World Azerbaijanis (CDRWA) submitted an appeal to the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) urging the release of Abbas Lisani.
On 1 February 2007, Amnesty International designated Abbas Lisani as a prisoner of conscience. The US State Department voiced concerns regarding his incarceration and reported instances of physical mistreatment while in custody. It also condemned Iran's prohibition of Azerbaijani language instruction in schools and the targeting of activists championing cultural rights. During February 2007, Swedish parliamentarian Holger Gustafsson along with European Parliament member Karl Schliter called on Iranian authorities to free Lisani, highlighting the harsh detention conditions and pressure exerted on his family. The US State Department’s 2006 human rights report underscored abuses against Azerbaijanis in Iran, including Lisani’s arrest.
In March 2008, a demonstration organized by the Association of Iranian Azerbaijanis took place outside the BBC headquarters in London, demanding Lisani’s liberation. The protest underscored the repression faced by approximately 30 million Azerbaijani Turks in Iran and advocated for Azerbaijani to be recognized as an official language in South Azerbaijan.
On 29 August 2015, during a football match in Ardabil between "Shahrdari" and "Giti Pasand," supporters chanted slogans calling for Lisani’s freedom. Following this, several activists were detained for displaying placards and vocalizing support; they were subsequently sentenced to prison terms and corporal punishment.
The year 2019 saw the publication of Freedom's Struggle, a volume compiling Lisani’s poetry, writings, court testimonies, and interviews from his advocates. That same year, national activists initiated the "Support Abbas Lisani" campaign in response to his hunger strike protesting his detention. Influential figures such as Gubad Ibadoglu (chairman of Azerbaijan Democracy and Welfare Movement), leaders from the Musavat party including Arif Hajili, and Sabir Rustamkhanli (co-chairman of the World Congress of Azerbaijanis) publicly demanded his release while condemning ongoing persecution.
In February 2019, security forces in Iran conducted raids on residences and workplaces linked to campaign supporters. By July 2019, nationalist youth staged demonstrations outside the Iranian Embassy in Baku to advocate for Lisani’s rights along with broader Azerbaijani issues. Musavat Party members attempted a picket at the embassy calling for cessation of military collaboration between Iran and Armenia as well as an end to ethnic discrimination.
In March 2020, a collective of 161 cultural-national activists submitted a petition to Iran’s judiciary chief Ibrahim Raisi urging the release of political detainees amid COVID-19 concerns; Lisani was listed among 28 Azerbaijani prisoners. In June 2020, United for Iran, a US-based human rights organization, launched a petition drive demanding his freedom.
From late 2020 into early 2021, graffiti appeared throughout Ardabil advocating for political prisoners’ liberation while drawing attention to Lisani’s limited visitation rights and health issues amid persistent repression.
In August 2021, UN special rapporteur Javid Rahman presented a report to the General Assembly documenting human rights abuses in Iran with particular focus on Turkish minority activists including Abbas Lisani. The report described Lisani’s June 2021 hunger strike alongside seven other national activists campaigning for minority rights within Iranian Azerbaijan.