Earthquake Relief Workers Sentenced to More Than 18 Yrs

HRANA News Agency – 20 relief workers were sentenced to 18 years and three months in prison totally, in Tabriz Revolutionary Court.

According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), A group of volunteer relief workers who were arrested at an independent relief camp following last summer's earthquake in northwest Azerbaijan have been sentenced to verdicts by Judge Hamlbar, ranging from six months to two years and six months.

Seyed Hussein Ronaghi Maleki: two years, Behrouz Alavi: two years and three months, Hamidreza Mosabebian: two years and six months, Vahed Kholoosi: two years, Bahram Shojai'i: two years, Farid Rohani, Seyed Hassan Ronaghi Maleki, Shayan Vahdati, Masoud Vafa Bakhsh, Houman Taheri, Sepehr Sahebian, Daniyal Hassani, Ali Mohammadi, Morteza Esmailpor, Mohammad Arjmandi Rad, Mohammad Eslamil Salmanpour, Mohammad Amin Salehi, Mohsen Same'i, Milad Panahipour and Amir Ronasi: six months for each.

A deadly earthquake in northwest Iran in August left hundreds dead and thosands homeless prompting volunteer relieft efforts by activists and ordinary citizens around the country.

The detained relief workers were arrested at an independent relief camp in Sarand when government security insisted on taking control of all relief efforts.

The court has found the relief workers guilty of "collaboration in assembly and collusion to commit crimes against national security."

The judiciary had accused the relief workers of "trying to distribute expired food", but the relief workers have stressed there is no evidence that any expired food had been in the camp and they have denied all the charges brought against them.