SCREAM
OF SOUTHERN AZERBAIJANIS
Southern
Azerbaijani university students in Iran published a
statement for the recognition of cultural rights and to put
and end to the pressures that are implemented upon them.
The
statement which was prepared by 29 student associations in
the country, while Iranian officials talk about cultural
rights and these rights take place in 15th and 19th
articles, it is emphasized that these articles are not
implemented. Moreover, in the statement it is stated that
the psychological and physical pressures imposed upon
Southern Azerbaijani University students in the country
continue, Southern Azerbaijani university students and
intellectuals are accused of spreading their mother tongues
and cultures and got arrested, and it is requested from the
government to take the necessary steps.
In Iran,
where only 45 % of the population is of Farsi origin,
southern Azerbaijanis are living their misfortune like all
other ethnic groups. For example there is a restriction on
Turkish language in the universities in eastern Iran and
these classes are completely removed in some universities.
In southern Azerbaijan, names of some Turkish cities are
replaced with Kurdish names to make them forget that they
are Turkish and families of Kurdish origin are settled to
these cities.
UN
Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon submitted a report on human
rights in October to the UN General Assembly stating his
concerns regarding the violation of minority rights in Iran.
Southern
Azerbaijanis want the international organizations to be
sensitive on oppressive policies imposed upon the ethnic
minority in the country as they did on the nuclear issue of
the Iranian Administration.
