Ahwazi: Protestors in UK Call for Action
Ahwazi Arabs demonstrated outside the British Prime Minister’s residence on Downing Street last week, marking the second anniversary of the peaceful Ahwazi uprising against the Iranian regime.
Below is an article published by British Ahwazi Friendship Society:
On Friday (20 April) Ahwazi Arabs demonstrated outside the British Prime Minister's residence in
Dear Prime Minister,
We write to you as representatives of a number of UK-based Ahwazi Arab organisations to appeal for greater international recognition and action on the plight of the Ahwazi Arabs.
This week marks the second anniversary of the Ahwazi Arab intifada or uprising against the Iranian regime and also the 83rd anniversary of ending the Arabian rule in Al-Ahwaz. The uprising was peaceful, but at least 130 Ahwazi demonstrators were killed by security forces, including pregnant women and children. Thousands participated in the uprising, which occurred throughout Al-Ahwaz or Arabistan, the local names for the Arab-populated region
According to the letter leaked from the presidential office that sparked the April 2005 uprising, the regime's goal is to reduce Arabs from a majority in their own homeland to less than a third of the population. While the Iranian regime has denied it is conducting ethnic cleansing, UN Special Rapporteur for Adequate Housing Miloon Kothari has spoken of how land is confiscated from indigenous Ahwazi Arabs and given over to developments to house non-Arab Iranians brought into the area. Following a visit to the regime in July 2005, "Land confiscation and 'confiscation style' purchase of lands by the government seem to disproportionately impact on the land and property of some religious and ethnic minorities."
Ahwazis suffer a disproportionate level of unemployment, poverty, health problems and educational underachievement due to ethnic persecution and discrimination. Added to this is the campaign of executions of those who dare to challenge the regime's persecution of Ahwazi Arabs.
We call on the British government to state its condemnation of the persecution of Ahwazi Arabs and actively support Ahwazis' right to freedom of speech and self-determination. We also appeal to the government to prioritise Ahwazi Arab rights in its relations with
Ahwazi Community in the
Ahwazi Arab People's Democratic Popular Front
Ahwazi Women's Centre
British Ahwazi Friendship Society
Ahwazi Human Rights Organisation
Democratic Solidarity Party of Al-Ahwaz
National United Movement of Al-Ahwaz (Arabistan)