Gozal Najafi, an Azerbaijani Turk civil activist from Azarshahr (Tufarqan), remains in limbo 22 days after her arrest. Her family has so far received no clear information about where she is being held, the charges brought against her, or her state of health.
According to information received by the Azerbaijan People's Human Rights Organisation in Iran (AHRAZ), Gozal Najafi, 50, is active on civil rights, mother-tongue education and environmental demands. She was arrested by state forces in Azarshahr on Sunday 23 August 2026 (1 Shahrivar 1405) and, after about a week in custody in the town, was transferred to Tabriz. No precise information about her condition or place of detention has been available since the transfer.
Continued detention without a clear statement of the reasons, the place of custody or the legal status of the case, together with restricted access to family and a lawyer, raises serious concerns about respect for the detainee's rights and the principles of a fair trial. The responsible authorities must disclose Gozal Najafi's situation and whereabouts and guarantee her legal rights, including access to a lawyer and the ability to contact her family.
