Azerbaijanis in Iran prepare mass actions

A meeting in Tabriz is going to be held on May 28, Independence Day of Azerbaijan, as a continuation of the actions of protest of Azerbaijanis residing in Iran. According to the information of the action organizers, more that 100,000 people are going to take part in it. This has been reported to the "CN" correspondent at the Baku office of the Movement for National Awakening of South Azerbaijan (MNASA).

They also state that the demands and the resolution of the mass meeting have already been prepared. In particular, Azerbaijanis want the Azeri language to have an equal status with the Persian official language in Iran, they demand that the authorities should grant the right to Azerbaijanis to get primary and higher education in their language, and publishing mass media in Azeri. The demands also include creation of conditions for free use of Azeri by state TV. Additionally, Iranian Azerbaijanis intend to apply to the leadership of Azerbaijan and Turkey for support of their fight for their rights. For reference, during the dispersal of an action of protest of Azerbaijanis in Tabriz on May 22, 18 people died. The disturbances were caused by a caricature published in the government newspaper, featuring a cockroach talking Azeri. Novella Jafarogly, Azeri human rights activist, reports that all international organizations have been informed on the brutality of Iranian law enforcement agencies with regard to the peaceful demonstrators. She maintains that what has happened in Iran with regard to Azerbaijanis is a gross violation of human rights.

In the opinion of the human rights activist, international organizations should not stay indifferent to the fate of millions of Azerbaijanis residing in Iran. For reference, the authorities of Iran have announced today the closure of the newspaper and arrest of its chief editor and the caricaturist.