The report will be presented to the Third Committee and debated on 24 Oct. Sixty-seventh session Item 70 (c) of the provisional agenda* Promotion and protection of human rights: human rights situations and reports of special rapporteurs and representatives Situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran** Note by the Secretary-General The Secretary-General has the honour to transmit to the members of the General Assembly the report on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran submitted by the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights, Ahmed Shaheed, in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 16/9. The Special Rapporteur presented his first interim report to the General Assembly during its sixty-sixth session, and submitted his first report to the Human Rights Council during its nineteenth session. The Human Rights Council extended the mandate of the Special Rapporteur during that session. The present report does not cover all potential violations of human rights in the country, but provides an overview of the prevailing human rights situation, with a focus on systemic issues that pose obstacles to the ability of the Islamic Republic of Iran to comply with its international obligations. ** The present report was submitted after the deadline as a result of consultations with the Member State. U.N.: Azerbaijanis face arrest, discrimination in Iran 67. A number of interviews and communications from non-governmental organizations report that Government policies and actions hinder the educational, economic, social and cultural development of Azeris. They assert that the native language of Azerbaijani [Turkish] is not represented in available media, including newspapers; that a number of Azeri educational and literary journals, like the monthly journal Dilmaj, have been closed since 2007; and that Azerbaijani language websites are prohibited. Likewise, Azerbaijanis are reportedly prohibited from teaching in their mother tongue in primary and secondary schools, resulting in one of the highest illiteracy rates among an ethnic group in the country. They also report that artists are prohibited from organizing or participating in cultural activities and that Azerbaijani businesses cannot operate under Azerbaijani or Turkish names. 68. Reports received also suggested the arrest and/or harassment of individuals that attend cultural and political events at locations such as Babek Castle in the town of Kalayber. Reports maintained that demands for language rights are continuously refused and viewed as "unpatriotic", and that individuals that openly criticize Government policies often face punitive measures such as arrest, detention, prosecution and harsh sentences for crimes against national security and the regime. 69. The Special Reporter continues to draw attention to the effects of development policies on communities surrounding Lake Urmia, which is located between the East Azerbaijan and West Azerbaijan regions of the Islamic Republic of Iran. It has been reported that the redirection of water from the lake is predominantly responsible for a rapid fall in water levels, resulting in the loss of more than half the lake's water.51 It is feared that, in addition to increased pressure on agriculture, dwindling supply will result in devastating environmental consequences that will have lasting effects on the densely populated region surrounding the lake. 51 United Nations Environment Programme, "The drying of Iran's Lake Urmia and its environmental consequences", February 2012. Full Report Here : http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A%2F67%2F369
Amplifying the voices of South Azerbaijani Turks and challenging power imbalances in Iran.
UN: Turks face ethnic discrimination in Iran (South Azerbaijan)
The report will be presented to the Third Committee and debated on 24 Oct. Sixty-seventh session Item 70 (c) of the provisional agenda* Promotion and protection of human rights: human rights situations and reports of special rapporteurs and representatives Situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran** Note by the Secretary-General The Secretary-General has the honour to transmit to the members of the General Assembly the report on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran submitted by the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights, Ahmed Shaheed, in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 16/9. The Special Rapporteur presented his first interim report to the General Assembly during its sixty-sixth session, and submitted his first report to the Human Rights Council during its nineteenth session. The Human Rights Council extended the mandate of the Special Rapporteur during that session. The present report does not cover all potential violations of human rights in the country, but provides an overview of the prevailing human rights situation, with a focus on systemic issues that pose obstacles to the ability of the Islamic Republic of Iran to comply with its international obligations. ** The present report was submitted after the deadline as a result of consultations with the Member State. U.N.: Azerbaijanis face arrest, discrimination in Iran 67. A number of interviews and communications from non-governmental organizations report that Government policies and actions hinder the educational, economic, social and cultural development of Azeris. They assert that the native language of Azerbaijani [Turkish] is not represented in available media, including newspapers; that a number of Azeri educational and literary journals, like the monthly journal Dilmaj, have been closed since 2007; and that Azerbaijani language websites are prohibited. Likewise, Azerbaijanis are reportedly prohibited from teaching in their mother tongue in primary and secondary schools, resulting in one of the highest illiteracy rates among an ethnic group in the country. They also report that artists are prohibited from organizing or participating in cultural activities and that Azerbaijani businesses cannot operate under Azerbaijani or Turkish names. 68. Reports received also suggested the arrest and/or harassment of individuals that attend cultural and political events at locations such as Babek Castle in the town of Kalayber. Reports maintained that demands for language rights are continuously refused and viewed as "unpatriotic", and that individuals that openly criticize Government policies often face punitive measures such as arrest, detention, prosecution and harsh sentences for crimes against national security and the regime. 69. The Special Reporter continues to draw attention to the effects of development policies on communities surrounding Lake Urmia, which is located between the East Azerbaijan and West Azerbaijan regions of the Islamic Republic of Iran. It has been reported that the redirection of water from the lake is predominantly responsible for a rapid fall in water levels, resulting in the loss of more than half the lake's water.51 It is feared that, in addition to increased pressure on agriculture, dwindling supply will result in devastating environmental consequences that will have lasting effects on the densely populated region surrounding the lake. 51 United Nations Environment Programme, "The drying of Iran's Lake Urmia and its environmental consequences", February 2012. Full Report Here : http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A%2F67%2F369