Mohammadreza Faghihi, a human rights lawyer and one of defense lawyer for Abbas Lesani, a turkish civil activist, was arrested.
According to the Campaign for the Defense of Political and Civil Prisoners, on Sunday, October 20th, 2019, Mohammadreza Faghihi, the defense lawyer of Abbas Lesani, a Turkish (Azerbaijani) civil activist that is detained in Ardebil Central Prison, was arrested and taken to an unknown location.
An informed source told the Campaign: “The lawyer was arrested after appearing before Ardebil prosecutor’s office that he was summoned by judge “Nonahal” the city prosecutor deputy.
The reason for the arrest and charge of Mr. Faghihi has not yet been identified, and Ardabil’s judicial authorities have told his friends who have been seeking his release, “There is no decision yet on his release” and declined to comment further.
Campaign sources said: “This Arebilian lawyer and Tehran’s resident had previously been threatened by Ardebil judicial authorities with” in case of not dropping Mr. Lesani’s case, severe consequences will be waiting you.”
The lawyer has been trying to send Mr. Lesani’s case to the Supreme Court. He also met with Mr. Lesani in Ardebil Prison this morning, October 20th, 2019.
Seyyed Mohammadreza Faghihi, a member of the Board of Trustees, secretary of the Legal Committee, and a member of the board of directors of the First Association for the Defense of Prisoners’ Rights in Iran, headed by Emadeldin Baghi, has been in charge of the dozens of political and religious prisoners’ cases in Iran in recent years.
Abbas Lesani, a prominent political activist imprisoned in Ward 7of Ardebil Prison had previously been sentenced to 8 years imprisonment and exile in a preliminary court trial. The Ardebil First Branch of appeal court, chaired by judge Naser Atbati, increased the sentences to 15 years imprisonment and 2 years exile in city of Yazd.