Apr 12, 2006

Ahwazi: Marking in Brussels of 2005 Uprising


On Saturday 15 April 2006 Ahwazi communities in Europe will gather in Brussels in front of the European Parliament building to mark the one year anniversary of the Ahwaz uprising in Khuzestan province, Iran, in 2005
On Saturday 15 April 2006 12 noon, Ahwazi communities in Europe will gather in Brussels in front of the European Parliament building to mark the one year anniversary of the Ahwaz uprising in Khuzestan province, Iran, in 2005.

In this relation the Ahwaz Cultural and Political Centre in Denmark (AKCD) has issued a statement. An excerpt is posted below:

“The Iranian regime is unabatedly undermining and violating the political, social and cultural rights of the Ahwazi people, and young Ahwazi demonstrators are brutally suppressed when calling for democracy.

We appeal to Europe and the democratic world community to join us in our demands. We believe that Europe and the Ahwazi people hold common interest in this matter. We, the Ahwazi people, stand united in our demand of the right to self-determination, to be won through democratic means. We gather, firstly, to protest the Iranian regime’s intensified repression, and secondly, to bring to the deteriorated Ahwazi situation to the attention of Europe.

A year after the uprising of the Ahwazi people on 15 April 2005, the Iranian regime has not altered its policy on the Ahwazi. On the contrary, the regime has intensified its use of force and brutality in the region.

We call upon the European Union, the Parliament, the Commission and the Council to oppose the Iranian regime’s policy in the region, and put pressure on the regime to comply with international obligations and standards concerning ethnic, political, social and cultural rights. We will continue our struggle for a democratic Ahwaz through peaceful means and hope for the broad support from Europe’s democratic bodies and political institutions.

We, the Ahwaz people, composed of a variety of ideological and political standpoints, wish to, together with a democratic Europe, protest the actions and policies of the Islamic regime. We demand that all political prisoners in Ahwaz, in particular women and children are released.”

Hundreds of Ahwazi are expected to attend to mark the occasion.
The demonstration is held:
Venue: European Parliament, Brussels
Date: 15 April 2006
Time: 12 noon