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| Mehsa Mehdili |
Mehsa Mehdili states, “After the May 2006 protests, we understood how people in Iran and even around the world perceive the South Azerbaijan National Movement and, in general, the rights of Turks in Iran.”
Speaking to Voice of America, the Turkish activist reflected on the essence of the May 2006 uprising in Iranian Azerbaijan and its impact on the current political stance of forces associated with the national movement.
At the time, Mehdili was a student at Urmia University, which became one of the focal points of the protests.
She emphasized the importance of the uprising beginning in universities:
“The fact that the protests were organized by students, especially under such difficult conditions of repression, is very significant. The organization, the nature of the reactions, and the slogans raised were exemplary. These protests remain a model for today because of their cultural character and because the slogans reflected a mature sense of national consciousness,” she explained.
She added:
“These protests displayed a stance. To exhibit this stance and position, our intellectuals, students, and the people in the streets—our community—came together. Different segments of our people, from various income groups and professions, united. It was a turning point in the history of the national movement.”
According to Mehsa Mehdili, the May uprising served as an experience for understanding the stance of various groups regarding the South Azerbaijan National Movement:
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| Protest at Urmia University - May 16, 2006 |
“After those protests, we came to understand how people in Iran and even internationally perceive the South Azerbaijan National Movement and, in general, the rights of Turks in Iran. We gained significant experience. For instance, how does Iran’s central government and the centralist groups react when we take a stance? We experienced this firsthand. We also understood the positions of various groups in Turkey and the Republic of Azerbaijan toward us.”
She continued:
“Until that day, the national movement was seen as a potential power. Afterward, we witnessed how its power manifested in practice. We learned how this movement can bring about change and what sacrifices it can make. These experiences were invaluable.”
Mehdili noted that the events demonstrated the independence of the national movement from other political forces in Iran:
“[The May uprising] showed both us and the centralist groups that we are an independent movement in Iran, separate from other movements. It also proved how isolated we are. If we align with Tehran-centered movements, we are acknowledged. But if we speak about our rights and identity, if we take a stand against social and political discrimination against Azerbaijan, there is no difference between the government’s stance toward us and that of other groups.”
Mehdili believes that since the May uprising, forces associated with the national movement have become more cautious and perceptive:
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| Daryush Tabbakhi, who lost his eyesight due to rubber bullets during the protests he participated in on May 25, 2006, passed away six years later due to an infection caused by the remaining fragments in his brain. |
“In 2006, so much was sacrificed. Our students were expelled from school. People were fired from their jobs. Many endured imprisonment. It affected the lives of so many of us in one way or another. But we saw that we were left alone. This created a sense of mistrust. On what basis should we trust them now? They continue down the same path. How much they will address this situation depends on those centralist groups,” the former political prisoner concluded.
Link to the original interview in Turkish on the Azerbaijani section of Voice of America:
Məhsa Mehdili: May qiyamı kimin yanımızda və kimin qarşımızda olduğunu bizə göstərdi