Hamid Melikoglu, Voice of America, February 8, 2025
 |
| "Tractor" fans have previously protested against racist chants being shouted in the stadium, but the issue has still not been resolved. |
The Human Rights Commission of the East Azerbaijan Bar Association has issued a statement condemning the racist chants heard during the match between "Tractor" and "Persepolis." The commission denounced such slogans and demanded strict measures against those responsible for these actions.
The statement was published on the Instagram page of the East Azerbaijan Bar Association and the Vokalapress website.
The document begins with a poem by Azerbaijani poet Bulud Qarachorlu, emphasizing the equality of nations and highlighting the importance of fighting against racism and ethnic discrimination. It states that “racism, ethnic discrimination, and any form of insult against ethnic groups and different cultures not only contradict fundamental human rights but also violate the international and domestic laws that the Islamic Republic of Iran has committed to upholding.”
 |
| Tractor fans have protested against racism in the stadium. |
Recalling that similar incidents have occurred in previous sports events, the commission criticized the lack of effective legal and cultural measures. It pointed out that “racism is deeply rooted in society” and stressed the need for "changes in current approaches to cultural and educational policies at the highest decision-making levels" to resolve this issue.
The statement references Articles 19 and 20 of the Iranian Constitution, the Penal Code, and international documents on preventing racial discrimination, criticizing the failure to properly implement these laws.
The commission further stated that "the unfair distribution of wealth and resources practically enables some ethnic groups to dominate others and facilitates the expansion of racial discrimination."
At the end of the statement, the Human Rights Commission of the East Azerbaijan Bar Association called on the relevant authorities, including Iran’s judiciary, the Ministry of Sports, the Iranian Football Federation, and the Football League Organization, to take concrete legal action. It listed five key demands:
- Punishing the "Persepolis" club and its officials for failing to prevent racist chants by their fans.
- Identifying and sanctioning the guilty fans.
- Requiring "Persepolis" to make binding commitments to prevent such incidents in the future.
- Taking measures against those responsible for organizing the match.
- Ending discriminatory policies in Iran’s state television and promoting a culture of respect for ethnic groups.
During an Iran Pro League match held in January at Tehran’s Azadi Stadium between "Tractor" and "Persepolis," the home team’s fans chanted racist slogans against Turks, sparking widespread anger among the country’s Turkish community.
After the match, "Tractor" released a statement and its executive director declared that if domestic authorities fail to take appropriate action, the club will escalate the issue to FIFA.
Despite nearly two weeks passing since the incident, Iran’s football authorities have yet to address the controversy or respond to "Tractor’s" complaint.
Link to the original text in Turkish on the Azerbaijani section of Voice of America:
Şərqi Azərbaycanda vəkillər "Traktor" oyununda səsləndirilən irqçi şüarları pisləyiblər