Said Matinpour
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Said Matinpour | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 22 September 1976 |
| Occupations | Journalist, activist |
| Known for | Political prisoner, human rights defender |
Said Matinpour (born September 22, 1976 in Zanjan) is an Iranian national cultural activist, journalist and former political prisoner.
In 2009, he was sentenced to eight years in prison by the Tehran Revolutionary Court. During his imprisonment, Amnesty International, Reporters Without Borders and the Committee for the Protection of Journalists called journalist Said Matinpour a prisoner of conscience and demanded his unconditional release.
He was released on August 26, 2015.
Life and activities
Said Matinpour was born on September 22, 1976, in Zanjan. He graduated from Tehran University's Faculty of Philosophy.[1] He worked in editorial offices of weekly magazines Omid-e Zanjan, Peyk-e Azer, Moj-e Bidari, Bahar-e Zanjan and Dilmaj printed both in Azerbaijan and Persian languages[2] in Iran from 2005 to 2011.[3][4][5] Yarpag newspaper covered the work of associations engaged in the teaching and promotion of Azerbaijani culture and the Azerbaijani Turkic language and published the works of local writers and poets.[6]
Arrest
In 2003, after the Babek Castle Congress, he was arrested by Tabriz police and detained for two days. In 2004, after the Babek Castle Congress, he was detained by the police for one day in Ahar city. In 2006, he was arrested for a period of time by Ettelaat forces of Zanjan after the actions related to the National Uprising Day. On February 21, 2007, he was arrested along with his brother Alirza Matinpour after actions related to Mother Language Day.[7] About 10 days later, [8] Saied Matinpour, Telnaz Nemati, Alirza Matinpour and other activists were released on bail.[9]
On May 25, 2007, he was kidnapped from his home without showing any documents and was detained in Zanjan Ettelaat office for 20 days. Later, he was taken to Evin prison in Tehran.[10][11] After being detained here for more than 1 month, he was sent back to Zanjan prison.[8] No information was given to his relatives about where he was kept from May 25 to July 3.[12] He was only allowed to contact his wife on July 3 .[13] Detained for 278 days in solitary confinement of Ettelaat prison in Zanjan.[14][15] Here he was constantly tortured and interrogated. On August 27, 2007, his brother Alirza Matinpour was also arrested to put pressure on Said Matinpour.[16][17] Matinpour. On January 28, 2008, he was released on $500,000 bail. It was possible to collect the necessary money after donations and foreclosure of the documents of 3 houses.[18]
In 2009, Said Matinpour was sentenced to 8 years in prison by Judge Salavati[19] at Department 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court.[20][21] Matinpour was not provided with a lawyer when he was arraigned and was given only three minutes to defend himself.[22] Although an appeal was filed against the court's decision [23] it was not granted and Said Matinpour was accused of communicating with foreigners as well as conducting propaganda against the state structure of the Islamic Republic of Iran.[24][25] On July 11, 2009, he was taken to Evin prison to serve his sentence.[18]
In 2009, health problems arose. Because he was severely tortured during his arrest, and because he had some diseases before his arrest, his condition quickly deteriorated in prison.[26] In addition, he suffered from headaches, backaches and dizziness because 30 people were kept in a place where only 10 people could stay. Although he applied for medical help many times, they did not consider his application.[27]
On April 17, 2014, 31 political prisoners, including Azerbaijani prisoners Said Matinpour, Asadullah Asadi, Ismayil Barzigari,[28] who were serving a sentence in section 350 of the Evin prison, were beaten by Iranian security officers[29][30][31] Said Matinpour was later transferred to solitary confinement.[32] He started a hunger strike to protest against this. His wife Atiya Tahiri also started a hunger strike to support Said Matinpour.[33][34] As a protest against the violence against political prisoners, 66 prisoners started a hunger strike. They demanded an end to the violence, an apology from the prison administration, and the return of the convicts who were transferred to the 240th building of the prison and solitary cells after being beaten.[35] Later, Azerbaijan]]i national activists Yürush Mehralibeyli, Behnam Sheikhi, Mahmud Fazli, Shahrukh Zamani, Aresh Mohammadi, Ismayil Barzgari Asadullah Asadi started a hunger strike in protest against the growing oppression and suffering against themselves and their families in Iranian prisons. After that, in support of the starving southern prisoners, national activists started a campaign called "Salam to Hunger".[36] In support of this campaign, from Iranian Azerbaijan, dozens of national activists from the Republic of Azerbaijan, Turkey, Europe and North America held a 3-day hunger strike.
On July 28, 2014, he was released for three days to visit his family.[37] While in Zanjan, his condition worsened.[38] After being taken to the hospital, his leave was extended for a few days. On August 4, he returned to Evin prison located in Tehran.[39]
On August 26, 2015, he was released a few months early in accordance with Article 134 of the constitution[40] after serving 7 years and 2 months of his 8-year sentence.[41][5][42]
