Alirza Quluncu, Voice of America, May 17, 2013
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| Samad Pourmusavi |
In an interview with Voice of America on May 9, the "South Azerbaijan Student Day," and the student movement in Iranian Azerbaijan, former student activist Samad Pourmusavi discussed the student protests that emerged in Tabriz in the 1990s, the roots of these protests, the Iranian government's attempts to control the student movement, the transition of the national movement into a political phase, and the characteristics of the student movements.
Currently residing in Toronto, Canada, Pourmusavi is involved in arts activities, such as playing the kopuz (a traditional Turkish stringed instrument) and teaching Azerbaijani dance. He was an active participant in the student movements during his years at Tabriz University. For his political activism, he was imprisoned and tortured. During that time, Pourmusavi also co-published a Turkish literature magazine named Bayquş at the university alongside South Azerbaijani poet Laleh Javanshir. He states that the students who participated in the 1995 protests shouted anti-racist slogans, adding, "That’s why those protests were so important. It brought to light racism that had been hidden and unrecognized for years in Iran."
According to Pourmusavi, a graduate of Tabriz University’s architecture department, the national movement emerged as an independent political entity after the 1990s: "After the collapse of the Azerbaijan National Government in 1945-46, there was a long period of silence in the South. Later, the publication of Varlıq magazine and poetry and music nights organized by some groups in the cities changed the atmosphere a bit... But now, the situation we are witnessing is something else. I think since the 1990s, the national movement has emerged as an independent political entity. The movement has its own main lines and political direction. It is no longer just an issue for intellectuals but is also the demand of the nation, especially the educated youth."
He emphasized that the independence of the Republic of Azerbaijan played a significant role in the beginning of this new wave.
According to the former student activist, the Iranian government has used several methods to control the student movement or suppress it, such as infiltrating student organizations with their own agents or inciting violence during street protests.
Pourmusavi also shared his thoughts with Voice of America on how the student movement today has managed to sustain itself and maintain its influence in society.
"I think students must first recognize their own rights. They must understand both the laws of the country they live in and the globally recognized student rights, and on this basis, they should also defend their political prisoners," he stated.
According to him, student organizations should also stay informed about the government's policies, events happening in the country, and the activities of student groups in other countries with similar demands, and use those experiences.
"The South Azerbaijani student movement should never forget humanity. Student movements around the world are known for their purity, bravery, leadership, and ingenuity. It must preserve these values and never lose hope," Pourmusavi concluded.
Link to the original interview in Turkish on the Azerbaijani section of Voice of America:
Səməd Purmusəvi: Milli hərəkat müstəqil siyasi varlığa çevrilib