Alireza Farshi

Alireza Farshi is an Iranian Azerbaijani national cultural activist. He was arrested by Iranian security forces along with other national activists for attending the International Mother Language Day celebrations in Tehran on February 21, 2014. He was later sentenced to 15 years in prison and two years in exile in the city of Bagh-e Malek in Khuzestan province. Amnesty International has declared him a prisoner of conscience because there are no criminal elements in his activity, as well as because of the protection of human rights and the rights of the mother tongue and required his release with other organisations. He is also the founder of the "Kəndimiz" Foundation, which collects and delivers books for children to various regions and villages in Iranian Azerbaijan.