Azad Abbasi, a Kurdish language teacher and head of the Nozhin Socio-Cultural Association, has been imprisoned in Qorveh Prison to serve a two-year sentence. 

Abbasi, from Dehgolan, Kurdistan Province, was initially sentenced in absentia by Branch 102 of the Second Criminal Court of Dehgolan to five years for “acting against national security”, two years for “insulting the leadership”, and one year for “propaganda against the state”.

However, on appeal, he was acquitted of the national security charges, although a total sentence of three years was upheld. 

Under Article 134 of Iran’s Islamic Penal Code, which mandates consolidation of sentences, Abbasi will serve a maximum of two years.

In recent years, the activist has been repeatedly summoned and detained by security forces for his civil rights activities. 

His most recent arrest took place on 19 September 2023, when security forces arrested him in Dehgolan and took him to the Ministry of Intelligence detention centre in Sanandaj, Kurdistan Province.

After a few days he was transferred to Sanandaj Central Prison, but was later released on bail pending the outcome of his case.