Iranian Minorities’ Human Right Organisation (IMHRO)

Ref.IMHRO.14

03/ 06/ 2008

Iranian government had increased pressure on ethnic Turks. Recent crack down happened on eve of second years on protest of Turks against discrimination. In recent weeks security forces heavily spread around and inside the cities.

Reportedly many cultural and human right activists, including students had arrested. Still not clear where they kept, but reported fear of torture and ill treatment.

Akbar Lakestani

Akbar Lassani who was Member of council of Shout city, sentenced to three years prison as he speak out about condition of Turks.

Mohammad Reza Mokhtari

A music teacher from city of Myaneh had arrested for his cultural activity. Last year governmental Islamic licence office had close down his music shop as he used Turkish name, instead of Persian name for his shop. They also rejected his right to be a candidate for parliamentary election.

Akbar Hussein Zadeh and Masha Allah and Amin Razmi

Arrested in city of Tabriz, along more than 100 others by security forces. Still not clear where they are.

Reza Washahi researcher for IMHRO said: it is unacceptable that in this day and age up to 30 Million people could not educate in their mother tongue and for little protest, young men and women ending in dark cell of Iranian intelligence interrogation. IMHRO fully supporting civil movement of Turks in Iran.

Back Ground

Turks in Iran which numbered up to 30 million are facing discrimination in many aspects of their life. Turks in Iran can not educate in their mother tongue. In 1925 their area had annexed by Iran.

Sunni Minorities among them also under pressure and discriminate. For example Sunni framers are not receiving government subsidising and loans.

In recent years Iranian government after discovering oil in this area, started to change the demography by moving non Turks to this area. In Soldoz or Nagahdeh city government had opened fire on protesting crowd and kills dozen of people, including 17 years old Hussein Fathi Poor.

In recent years civil movement speeded up and many activist including student had arrested. In Turkish area free media is banned and local Turkish paper had not allowed publishing.

Action

Please write to the Iranian one of the suggested addresses below and express your concern about recent arrest of Turkish activist in Iran and ask for immediate release of all Turkish prisoners of conscience. Please remind Iranian government that as state party to the international covenant on civil and political rights, which states in article one” All peoples have the right of self-determination. By virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development.”, Therefore they should recognise the right Of Turkish people and other minorities in Iran.

Secretary General United Nations
The Honourable Ban Ki-moon
United Nations Headquarters
Room S-3800New York,
NY 10017
USA

Supreme leader of Iran
Sayyed Ali Khamenei
E-mail via web site
http://www.leader.ir/

Head of the Judiciary
Ayatollah Mahmud Hashemi Shahroudi
Howzeh Riyasat-e Qoveh Qazaiyeh / Office of the Head of the Judiciary
Pasteur St., Vali Asr Ave.,
South of Serah-e Jomhouri,
Tehran 1316814737, Islamic Republic of Iran

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Ms Louise Arbour
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
Palais des Nations
CH-1211 Geneva 10,
Switzerland

Iranian president
Mahmud Ahmadinejad
E-mail via web site
http://www.president.ir/en/

European parliament Human Rights committee
Ms Hélène FLAUTRE
Bureau d'Hélène Flautre
au Parlement européen
8G130, rue WierzB-1049,
B-1049 Bruxelles,
Belgique