ARABS IN
IRAN ARE UNDER OPPRESSION
In Iran,
the inhabitants of Arab origin living in Khouzestan
Province, are forced on various grounds to emigrate from the
area.
It is
stated that the policy of Iranian Administration, initiated
in 2000s, coercing to emigrate in order to reorganize the
demographic structure in Khouzestan Province, and settling
in these areas ethnic elements, who are loyal to the regime,
first and foremost the Bakhtiyaris, is maintained. In the
meantime, it is noted that in Khouzestan Province, in the
settlements and rural areas where people of Arab origin are
concentrated, nationalization takes place on grounds such as
introduction of free zone, opening plants and improvising
military facilities. Moreover, it is also known that many
Arabs emigrated as a result of arrests and executions.
Also among
the information obtained is that people of Arab origin
living in Khouzestan Province are planning to carry out a
cultural memorial activity on the anniversary of the
communal events, which occurred on 15-25 April 2005 and as a
result of which 160 people died, 400 got wounded and 1.500
were arrested. However, assessing that the activity, which
will be carried out in Hamidiye Town of Ahvaz, might turn
out to be a public demonstration, the Iranian security
forces are found out to detain approximately 150 Arabs,
among which there are also poets and authors, on grounds
that they have been prepared to carry out a protest
demonstration without permission. It is found out that the
people of Arab origin who live in Ahvaz area and constitute
% 5 of Iran’s total population, by dispersing a communiqué
and performing various activities such as meeting, etc, by
means of some organizations, attempted to call the people of
Arabian origin to unite and struggle against the Iranian
government.
While it
was considered as the most important reason, which incites
Arabs against Iranian regime, is that Arabs were forced to
maintain their lives under very hard economic circumstances
although Khouzestan area has the richest oil reserves in
Iran, experts draw attention to the point that in the policy
of ethnic structuring with respect to people of Arab origin
gained acceleration in 2005, when former president Muhammad
Khatami was in power.
