Beaten ethnic Azerbaijani dissident undergoes surgery, condition moderate

Ethnic Azerbaijani dissident and activist Ahmad Obali and his son Deniz have undergone surgery and their condition is assessed as moderate.

The statement came from the head of the Society of Azerbaijanis of Britain, Farida Panahova, Report informs.

According to her, the health condition of the activist's son from South Azerbaijan is worse.

"I regularly contact Obali's wife Nahida khanim [mode of address]. Both underwent surgery well, but time will tell. They both can't feel their arms and legs. Doctors don't allow Ahmad to talk, you can't even enter their room," she said.

Panahova stated that the pre-planned attack was intended to kill Ahmad Obali and his son.

"Nahida khanim has experienced a strong psychological shock. She fears for the safety of her husband, son and herself. We hope that the US police will respond to the incident at the legal level," Panahova added.

On the morning of May 21, unknown persons in the state of California brutally beat the founder and head of South Azerbaijan Television (Günaz.TV), a national activist living in exile in the USA, Ahmad Obali and his son.

Multiple analysts believe Iran is behind the heinous attack because Obali is known for his outspoken criticism of Tehran's regime, including its discrimination against ethnic Azerbaijani residents of the country.

Obali's Gunaz TV channel has been on the air since 2014. The satellite TV channel, based in Chicago, focuses on human rights violations in Iran. The social and political well-being of Azerbaijani-origin residents of the Islamic Republic has been a major focus of the channel.