Say
(No.): 323/2006
Tarix
(Date) :
19 May 2006
To His
Excellency Kofi Annan, General Secretary of the United Nations
CC
High Commiserate of Human Rights, Geneva
Amnesty International,
The first Secretariat of European Council, Strasburg
Reputable Mass Media on Human Rights
Your
Excellency, Dear Mr. Annan
Re
THE PROBLEM OF
Southern
Azerbaijan, currently administered by the Islamic Republic of Iran, is
undergoing an undue hardship, as reflected in our recent correspondences. In
particular, here we are witnessing a monumental disgrace of our modern era
erected by the mindset of Iranian chauvinism dismissing even the basic right
of education in the mother tongue of the 30 million Southern Azerbaijanis to
the extent that there is not a single classroom teaching in Azerbaijani.
Whilst
our people are bearing the brunt of an all round assault of chauvinism
including hunger, poverty and destitute, now we are witnessing the emergence
of the new tragedy of uranium mining, which is extracted in the Erdebil
(Ardebil) province of Southern Azerbaijan. Although some data of this nature
leaked over the last 5-6 years through the barriers of disinformation in the
severely constrained mass media of Southern Azerbaijan, they were not often
taken seriously.
The
problem of uranium extraction only surfaced on 30 April 2006, when Mr. Ali
Larijani, the General Secretary of the Security Council of the Islamic
Republic of Iran, revealed in an interview that “we have uncovered great
uranium mines in Erdebil.” Following this revelation and within two days,
Mr. Gholam Reza Aghazadeh, the head of the Atomic Energy Foundation of the
Islamic Republic of Iran, issued an statement on 2 May 2006 that “a great
deal of capital has been allocated to uranium extraction particularly in
(Southern) Azerbaijan.” (Translator’s note: Southern within the bracket is
added for the sake of not implicating the Republic of Azerbaijan with these
issues.) Thus, our hazy knowledge of this tragedy was transformed into a fact
and its scale is now becoming evident.
The
above official Iranian statements on the one hand make mockery of the emerging
world opinion against nuclear ambitions of Iran and also undermine the
Southern Azerbaijani people struggling for the restoration of their national
rights through democratic methods. On the other hand, these statements reveal
that a tragic future is awaiting innocent Southern Azerbaijanis.
The
outcome of this new attack is now crystal clear and is seen as a culmination
of a systematic policy of plundering all of our nationhood in the last 100
years, which in turn is a reverberation of a cunning age old illusion of
Persian supremacy. Whilst our people are engaged in their struggle and
determined to resist such acts, others also have a duty of care. If the world
opinion, international law organizations and in particular the United Nations
do not express their solidarity with the nation of Southern Azerbaijan, are
they not appeasing Iranian aggression and should they not be blamed for
consequences of their appeasement?
Dear
General Secretary,
We
take it for granted that you are informed on how Southern Azerbaijanis and our
youths are resisting such aggression. The implication of our resistance is
that our nation endures a constant threat of being arrested, detained and
imprisoned for the sake of demanding justice purely through democratic means.
A glimpse of this normalised status quo was outlined in our 21 page letter on
27 March 2006 (Ref: 315/2006). Further evidences include: more than 20
Southern Azerbaijanis are currently imprisoned; some 1500 persons are
undergoing hardships to meet hefty bails just to secure their freedom albeit
temporarily; numerous individuals have been sacked from their jobs; and
hundreds of students are dismissed from their university courses.
The
bottomline is that there is a striking amplification of iron-fist policies
since the beginning of the presidency term of Mr. Ahmedinejad, who owes his
legitimacy to the dismal 14% of the votes of the electorates. He has generated
a new wave of repression in Southern Azerbaijan, provoking many petitions,
even though this democratic and participatory vocalism is not without perils.
We are duly attaching the translation of one such petition for your
information undersigned by 179 intellectuals – the source document is also
attached. This is the outcry of a nation to be snatched from the jaws of hell.
You are empowered with the honour of speaking up for the world and its
repressed nations. We therefore present relentlessly our strong case for your
attention and hope for your legitimate and long-awaited intervention.
If
inapt rulers of Tehran are allowed to spearhead their grotesque policies in
this pace without opposition from democratic institutions, we shall not be
able to contain the discontent of our uprising people, where our youths are
increasingly becoming irritated.
In
the name of saving lives of innocent people and alleviating their sufferings,
we are requesting all the organisations safeguarding human rights to take a
keen interest in the problem of
Southern Azerbaijan, the culmination of which is the Babek
Assembly. This annual event will take place on Friday 30 June, this year.
We therefore request mass media to send their envoy to witness the event, to
report it and to reflect on repressions that our people are subjected to. This
is an effective way for your contribution and the prevention of a tragedy.
Yours
sincerely
Boyuk
Resuloghlu
Chairperson
For
and on behalf of
The
Committee for Defending the Rights of the World Azerbaijanis
The
Translation of the Petition on
15
May 2005
In
the name of God
Your
Excellency, Dear Dr. Ahmedinejad
Dear
President of the Islamic Republic of Iran,
With
respect, we would like to point out that in the course of a short period that
has passed since your takeover of the presidency, nearly thousand individuals
of (Southern) Azerbaijani citizens have been threatened, summoned for
interrogation and on occasions, they have been detained and imprisoned. These
citizens have an insight into their civil rights and uphold their national
identity but they are subject to repressions by the police, security and even
military forces who generally fail to show a court order or any evidence for
their acts.
We
would like to refer you back to your pre-electioneering speeches promoting the
theme of justice, kindness and eradicating discrimination with the emphasis to
make these as the founding stone of your policies. We therefore kindly request
you to set up an enquiry and to take necessary steps to stop these behaviours,
which are patent violations of the Constitution and a flagrant breach of civil
rights of fellow Turks.
Safeguarding
our identity complies with the verses of the Koran, the Constitution of the
Islamic Republic of Iran and International conventions undersigned by the
state of Iran. Our vanguards are engaged in cultural activities but also raise
their objections against unjust policies of the state, where this is regarded
as the diversity of opinions. Undoubtedly, imposing the above acts against our
identity or diversity of opinions will have the backlash of creating mistrust
against the state, where according to its civil servants are well focused to
defend Islamic values, the Constitution and civil rights.
CC
·
The
Foundation for the Authority of the Great Leader
·
The
Leader of the Islamic Parliament
·
The
Right Honourable head of the Ministry of Justice
·
The
Right Honourable Home Secretary, the Minsters of Intelligence and Justice
·
Governors
of Eastern Azerbaijan, Western Azerbaijan, the provinces of Erdebil, Tehran,
Zenjan, Qum, Kurdistan, Kirmanshah, Gilan, Centre and Hemedan
·
The
Law Centre of
·
The
Islamic Commission for Human Rights
·
Journals
and Newspapers
The
List of Names
1.
Ibrahimi,
Mehdi
2.
Ateshi,
Javad
3.
Ehmedli
(Ehmedlu), Meysem
4.
Azad,
Ekber
5.
Esedli
(Esedlu), Mahmud
6.
Mrs.
Esedi, Jila
7.
Esedi
8.
Esedi,
Ehmed
9.
Esedi
Azer, Yusuf
10.
Ismaili,
Mehemmedrza
11.
Esgerzade
(Esgherzade), Aydin
12.
Esgerniya
(Esgherniya), Emir
13.
Mrs.
Efser, Seide
14.
Aghazade,
Rza
15.
Aghasi,
Davud
16.
Imami,
Behzad
17.
Orman,
Bulud
18.
Uveysi
19.
Iyzedi,
Seid
20.
Ilkhichi,
Rehim
21.
Berqi,
Mehdi
22.
Bahari,
Eziz
23.
Beydili,
Huseyn
24.
Bayat
25.
Beyi
(Beygi), Abbas
26.
Pakdil,
Pejman
27.
Pur
Asiayi, Hemid
28.
Pifun,
Isfendyar
29.
Pili,
Yashar
30.
Tajiri,
Boyuk
31.
Taghizade
32.
Mrs.
Jeferzade, Elnaz
33.
Mrs.
Jelali, Elnaz
34.
Jelilnejad,
Sultaneli
35.
Jemshidi,
Seyid Mustafa
36.
Mrs.
Jahangah, Gulnaz
37.
Javadi,
Firidun
38.
Chelipa,
Seid
39.
Hamidi,
Seid
40.
Heririyan,
Mehdi
41.
Hesenzade,
Ezim
42.
Hesenpur
43.
Heseni,
Behzad
44.
Huseyn
Elizade, Ismayil
45.
Huseyni,
Mejid
46.
Huseyni,
Mustafa
47.
Mrs.
Hekmeti, Semiyye
48.
Khudai
49.
Khisrobeyi,
Rza
50.
Khalkhali,
Araz
51.
Mrs.
Daveri Usgui,
52.
Destmalchi,
Firidun
53.
Deli-daghli,
Efshin
54.
Mrs.
Sima Didar
55.
Zulfuqari,
Seid
56.
Radpur,
Hashim
57.
Rastqu
58.
Rahver,
Mehdi
59.
Rehimi,
Hebib
60.
Rustemi,
Taymaz
61.
Resulzade
62.
Rzai,
Behmen
63.
Rzai,
Eli
64.
Rzai,
Hadi
65.
Rehbermenish,
Emir
66.
Ruhullah
Nejad
67.
Sarabi,
Babek
68.
Seidi,
Ruhullah
69.
Mrs.
Seidi, Mehin
70.
Salami,
Behzad
71.
Selimi,
Mehdi
72.
Semi’i-niya,
Ismayil
73.
Seyidinzade,
Mir Qasim
74.
Shahverdi,
Ruh.
75.
Shahverdi,
Ruhullah
76.
She’bani,
Hemid
77.
Shafaet,
Yunis
78.
Shukri,
Mehemmed
79.
Shukuhizade,
Jahan
80.
Shir
Mehemmedi, Vehid
81.
Mrs.
Sadiqi, Tureyya
82.
Salehi,
Milad
83.
Sehrai,
Hadi
84.
Sediqi,
Mujteba
85.
Seferi
86.
Sedemdli,
Ferzad
87.
Zuheyr-nejad,
Behruz
88.
Adili,
Shahin
89.
Ibadi,
Qasim
90.
Abbasi,
Behnam
91.
Abbasi,
Adil
92.
Abbasi,
Behnam
93.
Abbasiyan,
Ruhullah
94.
Ebdu..pur
Efshin
95.
Ebdullah-pur,
Efshin
96.
Ebdullahi,
Mehdi
97.
Ebdullahi,
Mehdi
98.
Ebdi,
Aydin
99.
Ebdi,
Musa
100.
Ejebi
Fershbaf, Rehim
101.
Izzeti,
Vehid
102.
Esgeri,
Mehemmed
103.
Ettari,
Peyman
104.
Elemshah,
Resul
105.
Eli-yari
Dovlet Abadi, Jabir
106.
Eli-pur,
Mehdi
107.
Eli-pur,
Qafur
108.
Elizade
109.
Elizade
Huseyn
110.
Mrs.
Elizade, Fernaz
111.
Elizade,
Mehdi
112.
Elimehemmedi,
Resul
113.
Elizade,
Nasireddin
114.
Qayibi,
Hadi
115.
Qediri
116.
Qafarzadegan,
Meryem
117.
Fettahi,
Mir Seid
118.
Ferejzade,
Ilham
119.
Fershi,
Elirza
120.
Fershidfer,
Fershid
121.
Fershi,
Elirza
122.
Fezli,
Emir
123.
Qurbani
124.
Qenberi
125.
Qevidel,
Emir
126.
Qiz
Kendi, -
127.
Kazimzade,
Hesen
128.
Kamrani
Neseb, Ismayil
129.
Keremi,
Ekber
130.
Gul-Mehemmedzade,
Meysem
131.
Lutfi
132.
Mehemmedzade,
Eli Esger
133.
Mrs.
Mehemmedkhani, Jila
134.
Mehemmedzade
135.
Mehemmedli
(Mehemmedlu)
136.
Mehemmedi,
Shehram
137.
Mehemmedi
Renjber, Kerim
138.
Mehemmedi
Neseb, Jefer
139.
Mehemmedi,
Sina
140.
Mehemmedi,
Shehram
141.
Mehemmedi,
Mehemmed Hesen
142.
Mehemmedi,
Mehdi
143.
Mahmudi,
Tovhid
144.
Mahmudi,
mehemmed eli
145.
Muxbir
Dovran, Eta-u...
146.
Murtezevi,
Murtuza
147.
Murtezevi,
Murtuz
148.
Mrs.
Mesbuqi, Fernaz
149.
Mesumi,
Elirzameleki, Esger
150.
Meleki,
Esger
151.
Mamaqani,
Aydin
152.
Mrs.
Muhajiri, Jila
153.
Mehdevi
154.
Mehdevi,
kerim
155.
Musevi
Rad, Seyid Eli
156.
Musevi
157.
Mirani,
Nadir
158.
Mirzakhani,
jefer
159.
Nadiri,
Behruz
160.
Nejjari,
Seid
161.
Nejefi,
Mehdi
162.
nejefi,
Feramerz
163.
Mrs.
Nusreti, Shirin
164.
Nesiri
165.
Nemetzade,
rehim
166.
Nemeti
167.
Neimi,
Seid
168.
Neimi,
Abbas
169.
Novruzi,
Sefi-u...
170.
Nuri,
Mehemmed
171.
Nik
Ekhteri
172.
Nikkhah,
Yaqub
173.
Mrs.
Hashimzade, Fatma
174.
Hashimi,
Mensur
175.
Hushyar,
Yusuf
176.
Vezini,
Mustafa
177.
Vetensever,
Sabir
178.
Velizade,
Rza
179.
Yusuf
Rzai, Ilyas
15
May 2005