Voice of America, February 20, 2007
On February 21, as Azerbaijani activists in Iran prepare to take to the streets demanding education in their mother tongue, authorities are arresting them.
According to Said Naeimi from the Azerbaijani Defense Committee, arrests that began in several cities across Iranian Azerbaijan have intensified in recent days.
Naeimi stated that while activists had requested permission to hold demonstrations in honor of Mother Language Day, their requests were denied. However, they remain determined to proceed with the protests.
Demonstrations are expected to take place at 12:00 PM at Tehran University, at 4:00 PM in Tabriz, and at 4:30 PM in the central squares of Urmia and Ardabil. The demands are the same at all locations: the recognition and protection of language rights.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that the most severe waves of arrests have occurred in Urmia and Qom. Alireza Quluncu, the spokesperson for the Committee for the Defense of Azerbaijani Political Prisoners in Turkey, informed Voice of America about the situation. Quluncu also revealed that a disturbing method of torture is being used in Qom, where political prisoners are being forced to drink a sweet substance that induces nausea.
Canadian human rights activist Fakhteh Zamani stated that evidence of the arrests is being collected and will be submitted to international organizations.
An activist from Ardabil, who wished to remain anonymous for security reasons, spoke to Voice of America about the arrest of his fellow activist, Ramin Sadiqi.
According to Alireza Quluncu, the arrests will not prevent the demonstrations from taking place.
Link to the original news in Turkish on the Azerbaijani section of Voice of America:
İran Azərbaycanı: Ana dili günü ərəfəsində həbs dalğası