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| Iranian Protest in Berlin's Freedom Square |
On October 22, tens of thousands of Iranians living abroad gathered in Berlin, Germany, to show solidarity with the ongoing uprising of the Iranian people against the Islamic Republic regime.
Citizens and political activists from Iranian Azerbaijan also participated in this rally, joining the protest with slogans in Turkish.
Duman Radmehr, an Azerbaijani activist participating in the rally, told Voice of America that the participation of Iranians of Azerbaijani origin in the Berlin rally marked a turning point compared to previous demonstrations.
He added, "In this meeting, the unity of Iranians of Azerbaijani origin with their flags openly declared their existence and their demands."
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| Duman Radmehr |
Duman Radmehr, originally from Meshginshahr (Khiyav) in the Ardabil province and now residing in Sweden, emphasized that the Berlin rally was more civil compared to previous protests. He noted that apart from a few minor confrontations, there was no major clash or conflict between people with different political views and ideologies.
He praised the event for being organized in a respectful and civil manner and expressed his belief that Iranians could coexist peacefully, respecting each other's diverse demands and political views.
Radmehr also mentioned that the gathering of Iranians of Azerbaijani origin was easier this time than in the past. In his opinion, this demonstrated that Iranians of Azerbaijani descent could unite from various political and ideological backgrounds during crucial times.
The participation of Iranians of Azerbaijani origin with their distinctive flags in the rally, alongside other ethnic groups from Iran, has caught the attention of social media and news websites focused on Iranian Azerbaijan.
Radmehr reflected on the significance of this participation, saying, "This was the first time that we participated in a rally about all of Iran with the 'South Azerbaijan flag' or the flag of the Azerbaijani national movement. This was a success in terms of raising our demands and showcasing our presence."
Simin Sabri, a women's rights defender who also participated in the Berlin rally, shared her observations with Voice of America. She pointed out that the presence of flags representing non-Persian ethnic groups, including the Azerbaijani flag, and the use of Turkish slogans during the rally drew attention. These elements were among the highlights of the rally.
This political activist also addressed the issue of the weak coordination among Azerbaijani activists abroad and their counterparts from other non-Persian ethnic groups. She emphasized the importance of being prepared for future rallies with better coordination among political activists of various non-Persian ethnicities.
Mahmud Bilgin, another Azerbaijani activist who participated in the Berlin rally, also valued the strong participation of Iranians of Azerbaijani descent, raising "South Azerbaijan flags." He described this as a "novelty" and stated, "I believe this new initiative left an impact both abroad and within Iran. Because it was the first time that flags were raised during an Iranian rally in Berlin's Freedom Square, and this marked a turning point in the political struggle of Iranians of Azerbaijani origin abroad."
Mahmud Bilgin also touched upon the weaknesses of political organizations among Iranians of Azerbaijani descent, particularly in terms of cultural affairs and communication with younger generations.
Link to the original interview in Turkish on the Azerbaijani section of Voice of America:
Berlin mitinqində İran azərbaycanlıları öz bayraqları ilə iştirak edib