Keivandokht Ghahari – Deutsche Welle Persian – 17 April 2011
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| Yousef Azizi Benitorof |
Despite media censorship, reports of crackdowns on Arab civil activists in Ahvaz and several other cities have surfaced. What has been happening in southern Iran over the past few days? Yousef Azizi Benitorof, a writer and journalist, answers our questions.
The "Human Rights Activists News Agency" and several other online news outlets have reported on recent protests and violence, including the deaths of several Arab citizens in Khuzestan Province. These sources also note that these reports have yet to be verified due to the lack of documentation.
Additionally, there has been criticism that many media outlets have remained silent about recent events in Ahvaz and other cities. Deutsche Welle interviewed Yousef Azizi Benitorof, an Iranian Arab citizen and member of the Iranian Writers’ Association.
Deutsche Welle: Mr. Azizi Bani-Torof, there are reports that, although not entirely precise, collectively indicate unrest in southern Iran, where Arab citizens reside. There is even talk of several individuals being killed by Iranian security forces in these areas. What information do you have about the events that have occurred?
Yousef Azizi Benitorof: These disturbances began on Thursday night, April 14, and continued until last night. About one or two months ago, young Arab Ahvazis—I use the term "Ahvazi" instead of "Khuzestani"—called on social media for the commemoration of the sixth anniversary of the 15 April 2005 uprising by Arab people.
As you know, that uprising was a response to the Iranian government's plans to alter the demographic composition of the province to the detriment of Arabs, during which about 15 people were killed. The call for the commemoration was met positively by young people, but the authorities and security forces began arresting a large number of social, political, and cultural activists about two or three weeks ago. The Ahwaz Human Rights Organization reported that 97 people had been detained before the protests. However, based on my information, the number of those arrested in the three to four weeks leading up to the protests was about 150.
This was the prelude to the events. Later, protests and demonstrations took place in certain neighborhoods of Ahvaz, such as Seyahiyeh, Alavi District, and Kut Abdullah, as well as in Sheyban and other areas. However, the security forces, who had effectively turned Ahvaz and its surrounding cities into a large military camp over the past two weeks, did not allow these peaceful protests to proceed and responded with gunfire. It is said that about 15 people have been killed so far, five of whom we know by name.
In addition to Ahvaz, protests also occurred in Hamidiyeh, 30 kilometers west of Ahvaz, on Friday night at 9:30 PM. Again, Basij forces and security personnel confronted the protesters with gunfire, killing two young demonstrators and detaining dozens more.
The security forces and police treat the Arab people as though they were an occupying force, entering homes and arbitrarily arresting individuals.
The latest news I have indicates that last night in the Alavi District, angry Arab residents set fire to Police Station No. 23 in the Alavi District, and heavy gunfire was heard from the area.
Deutsche Welle: News of these events has been slow and difficult to emerge. The sources providing these reports are not typically ones that official media outlets can confidently reference. How do you view the media situation regarding regions like Khuzestan, Ahvaz, and the events involving Arab citizens in this area?
Yousef Azizi Benitorof: There are two aspects to this. First, the Islamic Republic of Iran itself has sealed off all news outlets in the province and region of Ahvaz, preventing information from leaking out. Second, news agencies active in Tehran, such as Reuters, AFP, or United Press, refrain from publishing news due to fear of the regime and the sensitivities surrounding this province. Alternatively, they might not want to, as there are certain racist biases among news agency officials in Tehran toward Arabs, which I have personally witnessed.
Six years ago, during Khatami's presidency, I contacted the head of AFP in Tehran and informed them about the Arab people's massacre at that time. He outright told me: "I won’t publish Arab news. I dislike Arabs." I reminded him that these are his fellow citizens who are being killed and urged him to act professionally and impartially. Nonetheless, it was to no avail.
During Khatami's era, news coverage was somewhat broader. But now, both the Persian-language media, whether pro-regime or opposition, maintain a conspiracy of silence, while the regime itself suppresses information. The region has been turned into a closed military camp, preventing news from spreading. Meanwhile, all Arab media outlets, including Al Jazeera, Al Arabiya, Al Sharqiya, Al Mustaqilla, Al Ikhbariya, and others, as well as newspapers in Kuwait, Qatar, Egypt, and elsewhere, have covered the recent three-to-four-day protests in Ahvaz and its surrounding cities.
I am perplexed by Persian-language media’s reluctance to cover these events, either because they don’t want to or because the regime prevents them. In any case, I hope your media outlet and others will ensure that these reports reach the public.
Deutsche Welle: Please briefly explain the purpose of these demonstrations and the protesters' demands.
Yousef Azizi Benitorof: The people only wanted to commemorate what they call the martyrs who were killed by Iranian security and intelligence forces on April 15, 2005. They wanted to protest against national oppression, racial discrimination by the Islamic Republic toward its 5–6 million Arab citizens, and against political, cultural, and economic discrimination.
The Arab people of the Ahvaz region live on a sea of oil but endure abject poverty. According to reporters from the Islamic Republic, including ISNA and Mehr news agencies, the living conditions of Arab people in this province are worse than those in Africa.
Politically, Arabs have had no autonomous governance since the era of Sheikh Khazal, about 80–90 years ago. From the Pahlavi era onward, their autonomy was revoked, and the Islamic Republic has neither recognized nor granted them any cultural, political, or social rights. Instead, it has continued the same repressive policies of the Pahlavi period. For more than 80 years, the province, now called Khuzestan, has not had an Arab governor, despite the Arab majority population. Arabs hold perhaps less than 5% of managerial positions in local government, with 95% being outsiders appointed by Tehran.
Culturally, Arab people are deprived of education in their mother tongue, Arabic, even in primary school, which is a violation of the Islamic Republic’s constitution. Like other Iranian nationalities—Kurds, Turks, and Baluchis—Arabs are denied education in their native language. They cannot have newspapers in Arabic or even bilingual Arabic-Persian publications. They face daily insults and degradation in the media, including television, radio, and newspapers, whether pro- or anti-regime. Their dignity and honor are ignored.
All this creates a smoldering discontent. Developments in Arab countries inspire the people, who rise against this racial apartheid. The issue boils down to the systemic inequality and denial of citizenship rights for Arab people, who are now aware of their rights. Seeing their fellow Arabs in Egypt, Tunisia, Syria, and Yemen rise, they, too, rebel against the non-Arab rulers who disregard their dignity, striving for a better cultural, political, economic, and social life for themselves and their children.
Edited by: Davood Khodabakhsh
The link to the original article in Farsi on Deutsche Welle Persian:
«شهروندان عرب ایران علیه نابرابری است که میشورند»