Akbar Pashayi: How Murtaza Muradpur’s Family and Social Media Turned a Hunger Strike into a Movement

 Alirza Quluncu, Voice of America, December 28, 2016

Akbar Pashayi

“Murtaza Muradpur’s hunger strike, which lasted for more than two months, spread across Azerbaijan and became widely known among Turks. It demonstrated that there was resistance and that people were willing to put their lives on the line in the fight against oppression,” said Akbar Pashayi, evaluating the public reaction to political prisoner Murtaza Muradpur’s prolonged hunger strike.

Akbar Pashayi: Protesters Asserted Their Turkish Identity

Alirza Quluncu, Voice of America, August 6, 2016

Akbar Pashayi

In an interview with Voice of America from Tehran, activist Akbar Pashayi commented on the recent protests in Iranian Azerbaijan and other cities where Turks live, explaining the essence of the protests, the slogans raised by the demonstrators, and the demands made. He also assessed the stance of the Tarhe No newspaper, which has published offensive expressions against Turks and women.

Akbar Pashayi: People from All Social Classes Joined the May Protests in Azerbaijan

Alirza Quluncu, Voice of America, May 23, 2014

Akbar Pashayi, Urmia, West Azerbaijan - May 2006

Akbar Pashayi, a national activist from South Azerbaijan who participated in the mass protests of May 2006, spoke with Voice of America about how the "national uprising" began and analyzed the political climate that led to the May uprising. A graduate of Urmia University, he specifically discussed the protests that took place in his university and the city of Urmia.

Akbar Pashayi Reports on Arrests During International Mother Language Day

Alirza Quluncu, Voice of America, February 21, 2014

Akbar Pashayi spoke to Voice of America regarding the wave of arrests that took place in South Azerbaijan around International Mother Language Day. The activist, based in Southern Azerbaijan, reported that over 100 activists were detained during a ceremony held on February 20 in the city of Ahar.