Radio Farda - January 10, 2017
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| Ali Younesi, the special assistant to the President of Iran for ethnic and religious minorities. |
Ali Younesi, the special assistant to the President of Iran for ethnic and religious minorities, says that the formation of ethnic factions in Parliament does not help solve the problems of ethnic groups.
In an interview with the ISNA news agency, Younesi, referring to the formation of ethnic factions in Parliament, stated: "We must pay attention to the fact that ethnic demands in our country are very minimal, and most of the demands are local and regional. For example, the issues that exist in Ilam, Azerbaijan, and Kurdistan, which people want to solve, are all of a similar nature."
In November 2016, the "Turkish Regions Faction" was formed in Parliament with 100 members, chaired by Masoud Pezeshkian, a reformist representative from Tabriz, Azarshahr, and Eskil.
From the beginning of the formation of this faction, some representatives and experts expressed concern about the ethnicization of Parliament factions, considering such organizations a ground for ethnic conflicts and a "feudal" way of governing the country. However, the representatives who joined this faction, including its chairman Masoud Pezeshkian, say that the demands of the faction are in line with the Constitution.
Now, Ali Younesi, President Rouhani’s special assistant for ethnic and religious minorities, says: "Personally, I believe that by forming national factions and having representatives of ethnic groups in these factions, local and regional demands will be better pursued and their outcomes will be better and more tangible."
The special assistant to Hassan Rouhani continued by saying that "Iranian ethnic groups are not deprived of their natural and citizen rights due to their ethnicity or religion," but rather "deprivations and shortages are more related to local issues and narrow-mindedness."
Younesi acknowledged, however, that in provinces like Kurdistan and Sistan and Baluchestan, there are "sensitivities," and the solution to these problems lies in the participation of local people in the administration and development of these regions.
Following the announcement of the formation of the Turkish Regions Faction, Homayoun Hashemi, a representative from Miyandoab, Shahin Dezh, and Takab, announced on November 22 that Kurdish-speaking representatives also intend to form a faction in Parliament to "achieve rights equal to other languages" and ensure the presence of Kurdish elites in the development of Iran's Kurdish regions.
Opponents of ethnic factions argue that such organizations will lead Iran toward "Iraqization" and "Lebanonization."
Ahmad Moradi, a representative from Bandar Abbas, stated in the Parliament’s open session in November that such factions are incompatible with the Constitution, saying: "The nation, regardless of ethnicity or tribe, enjoys equal rights, and all individuals, men and women, are supported by the law."
In response to the representative from Bandar Abbas, Masoud Pezeshkian stated that this faction "has nothing to do with ethnicism. The representatives of the Turkish regions came together... and absolutely no actions contrary to the law have been taken."
Another opponent of this faction, Mansour Haqiqipur, a former representative from Ardabil and an advisor to Ali Larijani, the Speaker of Parliament, said: "I ask my friends in this faction, what does the term 'Turkish regions' mean? Do they mean Turkish-speaking or Turkish descent? They must clarify this matter. Should there be a Turkish minority in Bushehr, will this faction seek to protect the interests of Turks in Bushehr, which is a Persian-speaking province? Do they intend to support the rights of Turkish people worldwide by forming a faction for Turkish regions in Parliament?"
However, although Ali Younesi, the special assistant to President Rouhani, has expressed discontent with such factions, Mohammad Baqer Nobakht, the government spokesperson, said after the formation of the faction: "What is the problem if Kurds, Baluchs, and other ethnicities have factions in Parliament, just like our Azerbaijani compatriots?"
In the media in Iran, one of the reasons for the shift toward ethnic factions in Parliament is the lack of effective political parties in the country’s political environment.
The link to the original article in Farsi on Radio Farda:
دستیار روحانی: فراکسیونهای قومی کمکی به حل مشکل اقوام نمیکند