ISNA - Sunday, November 6, 2016
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| Masoud Pezeshkian, former Minister of Health, representative of Tabriz, Azerbaijan in the Parliament, and Deputy Speaker of the Parliament. |
The Deputy Speaker of the Iranian Parliament defended the formation of the Turkish-speaking regions faction in the parliament, stating that some are attempting to eliminate an entire ethnic group.
Masoud Pezeshkian, speaking at the ISNA booth at the 22nd Press Exhibition, commented on the reactions to the formation of the Turkish-speaking regions faction in parliament: "This faction has not yet undertaken any specific activities, and unfortunately, some are trying to create certain perceptions in society. Our goal is for Turkish-speaking representatives to come together so we can pursue our duties within the framework of the law."
He continued, "Any community formed within the framework of the law and moving in the direction of legal supervision can be considered an opportunity. However, if it fails to adhere to legal frameworks, any community, regardless of its name, will be seen as a threat."
In response to the question of whether the formation of the Turkish-speaking regions faction would lead to division between ethnic groups, he said: "Logically, this should not happen. The formation of this faction is just the first step, and we need to hold meetings and interact with each other. Our main goal is to bring the country strength and dignity. Our country is made up of various ethnic groups, and everyone must work hand in hand to achieve sustainable development."
He added, "God says in the Quran that He has created you in different tribes. These tribes and ethnicities exist for the purpose of understanding one another, and indeed, the dignity of human beings lies in their piety."
The Deputy Speaker of the Iranian Parliament reminded everyone that there has always been a problem where, unfortunately, ethnic groups have been mocked, which has caused division and ethnic grudges. "Sometimes, some even work to deny an ethnic group’s existence," he said.
Pezeshkian concluded by stating, "We defend the law, and the government must allow everyone to operate within the legal framework. No one has the right to act against the law, but we should not create negative perceptions about people or give anyone the opportunity to turn legal opportunities into threats."
The link to the original article in Farsi on ISNA:
دفاع تمام قد پزشکیان از تشکیل فراکسیون مناطق ترکنشین