"Today, many regions of the country have risen in protest against the oppression and corruption dominating the government and the ruling structure of the country, rejecting the false reform alternatives proposed by the regime," stated a declaration published on Southern websites in the name of the Association of Libertarian Turk Intellectuals.
The declaration expressed a desire for the demands voiced during the widespread protests in Iran to encompass all segments of society. This sentiment has been highlighted in recent days by Turkish activists and nearly all groups representing Iranian Azerbaijan.
While people in several regions of Iranian Azerbaijan, as well as in some other cities with a predominantly Turkish population, have taken to the streets, no demonstrations have occurred in Tabriz, a city known as the "cradle of revolutions" in Iran.
Although the protests in these regions have been weaker compared to those in other parts of Iran, officials reported that dozens of individuals were detained in cities such as Urmia, Ardabil, Zanjan, Khoy, Abhar, Khorramdarreh, Maragheh, Qazvin, Takistan, and Hamadan, where the majority of the population is Turkish.
Unofficial sources claim that 90 individuals were detained in Tabriz to prevent protests.
Most Iranian Azerbaijani organizations operating in exile have called on the people of the South and Turks living in other regions to join the ongoing protests in the country.
Even groups that have announced they will not participate in the demonstrations generally affirm that the main slogans and demands voiced in these protests are legitimate.
However, both the groups and individuals calling on people to join the protests and those offering moral support share a common concern: that the problems of Azerbaijan and the demands of Turks might be overshadowed.
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| The image of a woman removing her headscarf in protest against Iran's mandatory hijab law has become the symbolic image of the demonstrations. |
They expressed that slogans like "We are of the Aryan race, not Arab lovers," chanted in cities such as Mashhad, have caused unease among non-Persian communities.
On December 31, seven organizations and political groups affiliated with the Azerbaijani National Movement operating in Europe, North America, and Turkey issued a joint declaration inviting people to join the protests.
The joint declaration called on the "Turkish nation to demonstrate against the dictatorial system in Iran" to defend their national rights, emphasizing the importance of Tabriz taking to the streets.
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| Protests in Zanjan |
Posters prepared by these organizations were also shared on Amad News, a Telegram channel that plays a key role in directing protests and has over one million members. However, shortly after, the administrators of the social media platform removed the posters and apologized to the "Iranian nation" for sharing materials "prepared by Azerbaijani separatists."
The declaration issued in the name of the Association of Libertarian Turk Intellectuals emphasized that no single community's demands should take absolute precedence in these protests:
"We firmly state that, in this environment of protest, no community's demands should be given absolute priority, and the desires of all segments must be voiced without delay. Political components should avoid any actions or rhetoric that harm the spirit of resistance and struggle in accordance with democratic traditions and immediately abandon exclusionary positions. This voice should be the voice of the oppressed and marginalized segments. It is essential to pursue these just struggles on the foundations of freedom and democracy while avoiding requests inconsistent with the historical democratic struggles in this geography and refraining from violence."
In an interview with Voice of America, Turkish activist Efsane Sevigin emphasized that Azerbaijan could not remain a mere observer if the widespread protests in Iran continued.
"I believe this movement is just the beginning. It may pause at times but will revive and continue. The movement against the Shah's regime also progressed in this manner. We do not know where these current protests will lead. If things continue as they are, Azerbaijan or other regions inhabited by Turks definitely cannot remain mere observers," Sevigin stated.
Link to the original report in Turkish on the Azerbaijani section of Voice of America:
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