Voice of America, May 08, 2017
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| The slogans written on the protest placards: "I want my mother tongue!", "Rouhani, Rouhani, where are the promises?", "Promises, lies are forbidden!", "Azerbaijan is awake, far from the liar!" |
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani was greeted with protest chants in Urmia.
During his campaign visit to the West Azerbaijan province, President Hassan Rouhani was met with protest chants in the city of Urmia.
Photos and videos shared on local internet portals and social media show that at the meeting between Rouhani and the people of Urmia at the Qadir Stadium, slogans related to the Turkish language and the Urmia Lake were raised, and placards were displayed.
Protesters, holding signs with slogans such as “Rouhani, Rouhani, where are the promises?” “Turkish language schools,” and “The Urmia Lake hasn't been filled, we still don’t have a school in Turkish,” pointed out that the president had not fulfilled his promises from four years ago regarding the teaching of the Turkish language and the revitalization of Urmia Lake.
Videos shared on social media show large groups chanting the slogans written on the placards. In the videos, slogans like “Azerbaijan is awake, far from the liar” and “The Urmia Lake hasn't been filled, we still don’t have a school in Turkish” can be heard.
Six politicians have registered to run in the presidential elections scheduled for May 19. President Hassan Rouhani will compete in these elections against Ebrahim Raisi, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, Ishaq Jahangiri, Mostafa Mirsalim, and Mostafa Hashemi-Taba.
Hassan Rouhani, supported by moderate-reformist groups, is not the only candidate to face opposition from the people of Urmia. Local newspapers and social media also reflect protests from the people of Urmia against Ebrahim Raisi, the candidate supported by conservatives.
Link to the original text in Turkish on the Azerbaijani section of Voice of America:
“Ruhani! Urmu Gölü dolmadı, türk dilində mədrəsəmiz olmadı.”