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Sixteen Azerbaijani writers arrested in Tehran
(AKI) - Sixteen intellectuals from Azerbaijan were arrested in the Iranian capital, Tehran, on Wednesday night as they met to celebrate Ramadan at the end of the day. Among them were journalists, poets and writers, including Ali Reza Sarrafi, editor of the weekly Dilmaj, which was withdrawn from publication after a court order several months ago. After their arrest, all members of the group were transferred to Evin prison. In Brussels on Wednesday, 100 Iranian Azerbaijanis protested outside the European Commission against the arrest, detention and heavy sentences given to members of ethnic minorities in Iran and calling for intervention by public institutions. "The arrests last night in Tehran send a direct warning to European institutions, in order to convince them non to intervene in defending the rights of ethnic minorities in the Islamic republic," said a spokesman for Iranian Azerbaijanis in exile. Posted by: Fred 2008-09-12 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=249779 |