AZERBAIJAN.— Hadi Hamidi Shafiq’s wedding was to take place in Tabriz with political and social activists from all over Azerbaijan attending the event.
On July 20, 2011, Tabriz Intelligence Agency summoned the wedding banquet hall director and interrogated him about the scheduled event.
The following day, Tabriz Intelligence Agency contacted the bride and the groom’s families by phone, summoning them for questioning and threatening to arrest all the guests who attempted to attend the wedding.
Intelligence agents from Tehran and Urmia offices have also spoken with many of the activists invited to the wedding and warned them not to attend the ceremony.
The intelligence agents contacted Hadi Hamidi Shafiq, reportedly forbidding him from continuing with his wedding plans. The agents told Shafiq that if he attempted to hold the wedding the wedding ceremony would be immediately closed down and all the guests without any exception would be detained.
Most recently, Hadi Hamidi Shafiq was sentenced to six months in prison and 60 lashes on charges of propaganda against the regime. In May 2006, Hadi Hamidi Shafiq was arrested for attending demonstrations and spent nearly 17 months behind bars.
Hadi Hamidi Shafiq has been arrested by Tabriz Intelligence Agency, his whereabouts are still unknown.
July 26, 2011
Azerbaijan, Middle East