Azeri MP condemns Iran violence
An Azerbaijani lawmaker has said influential international
organizations should not remain indifferent to the riots that have
been ongoing in the past days in neighboring Iran, including its
Azerbaijani-populated north, and the deaths reported during the
protests.
Aynur Guliyeva, an independent MP, told reporters it was aggravating that Azerbaijanis living in Iran are marking December 31, the Day of Azerbaijanis’ Solidarity, amid violent protests.
"According to reports, tens of our countrymen, blood brothers have been killed and hundreds cast behind bars."
Thousands of opposition supporters poured on to streets of Tehran and other major cities on Sunday to stage anti-government rallies. 15 protesters were killed and over 300 were arrested during clashes with the police, Iranian officials said. The protests are the latest in the wave of demonstrations that broke out after President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad won the presidential election in June.
Guliyeva stressed the need to provide support to the Azerbaijanis in Iran, whose rights have been violated for many years.
"Why can’t the West and European countries, which have set out human rights as a priority in their set of values, see these people and can’t hear their voices? Why is the world community, which is supporting actions by a handful of Armenian separatists, a policy of occupation and aggression, is turning a blind eye to this plight of Azerbaijani Turks?"
Guliyeva called on the Azerbaijani government and citizens to raise concerns over the injustice.
"Along with the government agencies, political organizations and non-governmental organizations defending human rights should be active on this issue. They should speak out on whatever the government can’t say, because our countrymen are at stake here."
Iran is home to about 30 million Azerbaijanis, or about 40 percent of the country’s population of 70 million, which is predominantly Persian.*
Aynur Guliyeva, an independent MP, told reporters it was aggravating that Azerbaijanis living in Iran are marking December 31, the Day of Azerbaijanis’ Solidarity, amid violent protests.
"According to reports, tens of our countrymen, blood brothers have been killed and hundreds cast behind bars."
Thousands of opposition supporters poured on to streets of Tehran and other major cities on Sunday to stage anti-government rallies. 15 protesters were killed and over 300 were arrested during clashes with the police, Iranian officials said. The protests are the latest in the wave of demonstrations that broke out after President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad won the presidential election in June.
Guliyeva stressed the need to provide support to the Azerbaijanis in Iran, whose rights have been violated for many years.
"Why can’t the West and European countries, which have set out human rights as a priority in their set of values, see these people and can’t hear their voices? Why is the world community, which is supporting actions by a handful of Armenian separatists, a policy of occupation and aggression, is turning a blind eye to this plight of Azerbaijani Turks?"
Guliyeva called on the Azerbaijani government and citizens to raise concerns over the injustice.
"Along with the government agencies, political organizations and non-governmental organizations defending human rights should be active on this issue. They should speak out on whatever the government can’t say, because our countrymen are at stake here."
Iran is home to about 30 million Azerbaijanis, or about 40 percent of the country’s population of 70 million, which is predominantly Persian.*