By Alirza Quluncu, Voice of America, May 24, 2018
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| H. Fathipour, A. Qasimi, H. Isimzade, and T. Azeriyun |
“We appealed to many places but received no response. For years, we waited in vain to find out why they really killed our loved ones.” These are the words of Karim Fathipour, the brother of Hossein Fathipour, one of the Azerbaijani Turks killed by Iranian security forces during the protests in May 2006.
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| Karim Fathipour |
The families of Hossein Fathipour (16 years old), Tohid Azariyun (26), Hemmat Isimzadeh (35), and Asgar Ghasemi (39), who were killed by police in Sulduz, filed complaints against the officers who opened fire on their loved ones.
The protests had been triggered on May 12, 2006, by cartoons published in Iran, a state-affiliated newspaper. The cartoons depicted a child speaking to a cockroach in Persian, while the cockroach responded in Turkish. The accompanying text also discussed ways to eliminate cockroaches. This sparked mass uprisings that were brutally suppressed by police and military forces in cities like Sulduz, Tabriz, Urmia, and Khiyav.
Karim Fathipour provided a detailed account of the events in Sulduz during those days:
“The protests in Sulduz initially began at the university. They continued uninterrupted for four days, from May 23 to May 26. Of course, there had been past injustices and disrespect toward Turks, but this time it led to widespread and strong protests. The entire nation participated in these demonstrations.”
According to Fathipour, “Hundreds of people were injured. They used birdshot at close range, which caused many people to lose their eyesight.”
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| Daryush Tabakhi, who lost his eyesight due to pellet shots, passed away six years later from an infection caused by the pellets remaining in his brain. |
He mentioned Dariush Tabaxi, who lost his vision due to birdshot injuries on that day. Tabaxi passed away in May 2012, six years later, from an infection caused by the fragments remaining in his brain.
“We, the families of the four victims, united after our loved ones were killed to bring this issue to light. We filed complaints in court. However, many wounded individuals and even those who lost their lives could not pursue justice because their families were intimidated by the regime's threats. Our judicial system is highly corrupt. When peaceful protests occur, the system tries to label those who were killed, injured, or even participated, accusing them of acting on behalf of foreign powers,” Fathipour stated.
Describing the events of May 25, Fathipour said:
“In response to a call for protests, people gathered in front of the Islamic Guidance and Culture Office. Then, the governor of Naqadeh arrived in a car and, by speaking in Persian, intensified the tensions. The crowd began chanting more forceful slogans and marched toward the governor’s office.”
Fathipour explained that his brother was shot during this march:
“My brother Hossein was at the front of the crowd, leading the march. About 200 meters from the governor’s office, Sepah (Revolutionary Guards), Basij (paramilitary militia), and police forces were stationed. Before the crowd reached them, the armed forces began firing indiscriminately. They even used Colt pistols at close range. The security forces had covered their faces with keffiyehs. My brother was shot there.”
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| Sulduz Cemetery - Graves of H. Fathipour, H. Isimzadeh, and T. Azeriyun |
Now living in exile in Turkey, Karim Fathipour reflected on the four protesters killed that day:
“My brother Hossein Fathipour was 16 years old. He was an athlete and the quietest child in our family. He was the apple of our parents' eye and loved by his friends. Hemmat Isimzadeh ran a shop at the fruit market. He was married and had a daughter. Asgar Ghasemi was married and had three sons. Unfortunately, after his death, his family was displaced. Tohid Azariyun was 26 years old. He was unmarried but engaged.”
In the city of Sulduz, located in the southern part of West Azerbaijan Province and predominantly inhabited by Qarapapaq Turks, Azerbaijani activists organize an annual commemoration ceremony in May for those who died in the protests, calling it the “Martyrs of Sulduz Memorial.”
“After burying our loved ones, we, the four families, came together. We organized a joint memorial service for the 40th day of mourning and issued a collective statement. We then filed a complaint in the military court in Urmia. The head of that court was a relative of Hemmat Isimzadeh’s father-in-law. However, even his influence yielded no results. The security apparatus interfered with the judicial process. We repeatedly insisted that the officers who fired the shots be summoned to court. We appealed to many places and sent letters, but we received no response. We waited for years to understand why they killed our loved ones. How could they kill unarmed people? How is it a crime to love one’s culture and protest against disrespect? Is that considered a crime?” Karim Fathipour asked.
Link to the original interview in Turkish on the Azerbaijani section of Voice of America:
Kərim Fəthipur 2006-cı ildə Sulduzda baş verən qanlı hadisəni şərh edir