News related to Ahwazi

Feb 21, 2024

UNPO and Turkish Women's Center Collaborate in Celebrating International Mother Language Day through Multilingual Conference

Cologne, Germany - February 17, 2024 On February 17th, the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO) joined forces with the Turkish Women Center to mark International Mother Language Day with a vibrant celebration in Cologne, Germany. The event took the form of a dynamic multilingual conference titled "Multilingualism: Challenges and Opportunities," featuring representatives and experts...

Jun 14, 2023

UNPO Participates in the conference "Woman,...

Speakers included prominent human rights activists, feminists, authors, labour rights activists, academics and political party leaders from Eastern Kurdistan (Iran) . Representatives from minorities such...

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May 15, 2023

Six Ahwazi Arab Political Prisoners Sentenced...

  Ali Mojdam, Mohammad Reza Moghadam, Moin Khanfari, Habib Daris, Adnan Ghobishavi, and Salem Mousavi are currently in Sheiban prison in Ahwaz-(Khuzestan). According to Mizan, The charges against...

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Apr 28, 2023

UNPO Participates in EP Conference : Women, Life,...

The panel gathered leading voices and experts on women and minority issues in Iran. The speakers included, Mr. Taimoor Aliassi, the president of (KMMK-G), Shima Silavi, Project Manager at UNPO, Mrs. Koestan...

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Feb 15, 2023

Kurdish language teacher Zara Mohammadi released...

In May 2019, she was arrested in her home city of Sanandaj, in Kurdistan province, by the Iranian secret services and transferred to an intelligence-run prison on charges of endangering national security:...

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Sep 29, 2022

International Accountability For Iran: Iran...

The death of Mahsa (Jina) Amini has sparked a protest movement across Iran On 13 September 2022, Mahsa (Jina) Amini, a Kurdish Iranian was arrested by Iran’s Morality Police for “violating...

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Aug 23, 2022

Iran: UNPO welcomes the UN Special Rapporteur...

The report highlights the disproportionate number of executions of members of minority communities, in particular the Baluch and Kurds, as well as the excessive use of force and arbitrary detentions affecting...

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Jun 15, 2022

UNPO Presents Submission To UN Special Rapporteur...

Between 40 and 50% of the Iranian population belong to ethnolinguistic minorities that differs from the dominant Farsi (Persian)-speakers. This makes Iran a mosaic of languages, cultures and political...

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May 12, 2022

UNPO welcomes the UN Special Rapporteurs's...

The Special Rapporteurs who signed the Joint Allegation Letter addressed to the Iranian Government include the following : Working Group on Arbitrary Detention Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary...

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May 11, 2022

Minority Rights in Iran : UNPO Co-organizes Conference...

Iran is a deeply diverse country with different ethnic minorities, religions and languages. Its richness lies in its diversity, much like the European Union. However, the democratic deficit there withholds...

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Mar 07, 2022

UNPO Joins Action Against Zara Mohammadi Arrest...

Ms Mohammadi, 29, is the director of the Nojin Cultural Association, an organisation whose work includes teaching Kurdish, and has been charged of “establishing a committee and group that is against...

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Feb 18, 2022

European Parliament Passes Resolution Backing...

The resolution was passed resoundingly in the European Parliament following the efforts of MEPs Fabio Massimo Castaldo, Ignazio Corrao and Ilhan Kyuchuk. In a speech to the European Parliament plenary...

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Jan 12, 2022

Ahwazi refugee Abdolkhezer Dorghi with his seven...

Mr. Doraghi is a well-known political activist and an opponent of the Iranian regime. He is a former political prisoner, jailed in 2005 for his participation in the April 15, 2005, the Ahwazi-Arab uprising...

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Dec 13, 2021

Grassroots Petition Sounds Alarm Over Imminent...

The 2019 protests in Khuzestan Province, Iran, also known as Al-Ahwaz or Arabistan, began due to an increase in fuel prices country-wide. During these protests, the police and security services were deployed...

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Jun 30, 2021

UNPO Calls on European Union to Protect Ahmad...

In September 2019, the European Parliament issued a resolution calling for the release of all EU citizens by Iran.2 Since that time, it has become abundantly clear that Iran has no compunction about murdering...

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Feb 06, 2021

UNPO joins global call for urgent action on arbitrarily...

URGENT INTERNATIONAL ACTION NEEDED TO SECURE RELEASE OF KURDISH ACITVISTS AND OTHERS ARTBITRARILY DETAINED IN IRAN February 3, 2021 – We, the undersigned 36 civil society and human rights organizations,...

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Sep 08, 2020

Iran: Persecution of Journalists on the Rise

Below is an article published by RFERL Reporters Without Borders (RSF) is urging the UN Human Rights Council to take measures to defend Iranian journalists and citizen-journalists who are being "censored,...

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Aug 07, 2020

Iranian Regime's Brutal Persecution of Minorities...

Consistently violating the international law, Iran oppresses and disciminates against non-Persian nations, including Kurds, Baluchs, Ahwazi Arabs, Azerbaijani Turks, and Turkmen, curtailing their access...

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Jul 20, 2020

Iran: Protests Facing "Swift and Brutal ...

Below is an article by Breitbart News Iranian security forces rushed to suppress a new wave of demonstrations across Iran on Thursday and Friday. The regime is clearly nervous about a possible repeat...

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Jun 01, 2020

Iran: No Country for Minorities

Below is an article published by Open Democracy The visibility of Iran’s geopolitical rivalry with the United States through the Trump administration’s continuation of economic warfare against...

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Apr 09, 2020

Coronavirus: 35 prisoners Killed in Al Ahwaz

Below is an article by Amnesty International Around 36 prisoners in Iran are feared to have been killed by security forces after the use of lethal force to control protests over COVID-19 safety fears,...

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Dec 15, 2019

Ahwazi: Iran arrests 1,000 children

Below is an article published by AHRO   Iranian authorities have arrested about 1,000 children between the ages of nine and 17 in the southwestern province of Khuzestan following the November anti-government...

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Aug 07, 2019

Ahwazi: Iran Executes Ahwazi Arab men 'Tortured...

The article below was published by Iran Human Rights Monitor:   Iranian authorities executed two Ahwazi Arab members, on Sunday [August 4, 2019], in the Fajr prison in the southwestern city of Dezful,...

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May 28, 2019

Iran: Water Mismanagement Negatively Affects Ethnic...

For the past two months [April/May 2019], floods have destroyed hundreds of towns and villages in Iran, severely affecting local communities. As a result, many people from these local communities have...

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May 13, 2019

Ahwazi Arabs: Two Prisoners At Risk of Execut...

The article below was published by the Iran Human Rights Monitor: Amnesty International has warned against the imminent execution of two members of Iran’s Ahwazi Arab minority convicted of “enmity...

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Apr 26, 2019

Ahwazi Arabs: 11 Flood Relief Volunteers Arrested...

  The article below was published by the Center for Human Rights in Iran:   Agents of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ (IRGC) Intelligence Organization arrested at least 11 Arab-Iranian...

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Apr 17, 2019

Ahwazi: Dissent Mounts in Flood-hit Regions

The article below was published by Critical Threats The regime’s inability to deal with massive destruction caused by the recent flooding in Iran and the regime’s limitations in providing...

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Mar 25, 2019

Ahwazi: Political Activist Mohammad Hattab Calls...

  The article below was published by Asharq Al-Awsat   Ahwazi political activist Mohammad Hattab called on international human rights organizations to intervene urgently to help out his jailed...

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Mar 18, 2019

European Parliament Adopts Resolution on Human...

With this resolution, the Parliament is calling the Iranian government to take solid action against the systematic arrest, persecution, imprisonment and torture of human rights defenders. One of the highlights...

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Feb 26, 2019

Workers of Iran victim of EU-Tehran collusio...

Only a few days later, workers of the Iran National Steel Industrial Group (INSIG) in Ahwaz (only an hour away from Haft-Tappeh) went on strikes and engaged in public protests which lasted 40 days with...

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Feb 08, 2019

Iran: Amnesty International Calls 2018 “Year...

Article from Fair Observer In a recent summary of human rights abuses in the Islamic Republic of Iran, Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa research and advocacy director, Philip...

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Feb 01, 2019

Ahwazi: Man-Made Floods Lead Families to Flee...

The article below was published by Ahwaz Human Rights Organisation (AHRO):   Families from Rofayyeh, a city in Ahwaz, have had to flee thier homes after the man made flood following the opening...

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Feb 01, 2019

Iran: In Face of U.S. Sanctions Against Iran,...

The article below was published by Politico:   The EU's effort to thwart U.S. President Donald Trump's Iran sanctions is open for business. France, Germany and the U.K. — the European guarantors...

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Jan 16, 2019

Iran: Challenges and Optimism in Uniting Against...

This article was published by Al-Arabiya English: As expected, the Iranian intelligence minister, Mahmoud Alavi, warned on 25 December, 2018, that efforts and consultations are intensifying among the...

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Jan 14, 2019

Iran: New EU Sanctions After Revelations of Attacks...

The article below was published by the EUobserver: Iran ordered four terrorist attacks in Europe in recent times, the EU has said, while imposing new sanctions. Its agents plotted to bomb an Iranian...

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Jan 09, 2019

Ahwaz: International Workers League from Bolivia,...

This press release was published by the Ahwaz Human Rights Organisation: The Union of steelworkers at Arcelor Mittal (La Gota) of Villa Constitution Argentina expanded their international call for support...

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Jan 08, 2019

Ahwaz: Iran “Too Optimistic” About Side-stepping...

This article was published by Al Arabiya English: ‘We will proudly bypass the sanctions’ – Oh really? How? That’s what Iranian President Rouhani said on November 6, one day after...

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Dec 18, 2018

New Sanctions Put the Future of Iran’s Economy...

The article below was published by Al Arabiya: [“We will proudly bypass the sanctions”]. That’s what Iranian President Rouhani said on November 6 [2018], one day after President Trump’s...

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Dec 18, 2018

Ahwaz : Iran Arrests 28 Strikers from Ahwaz Steel...

The following is the list of workers currently detained: 1- Meysam Ali Ghanavati 2- Isa Mar’ee 3- Amin Alvani 4- Morteza Akbarian 5- Taregh Khalafi 6- Masoud Afri 7- Jafar Sobhani 8-Mostafa Ebeyat...

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Dec 04, 2018

Ahwazi: Workers’ Protests Continue Against Deteriorating...

The article below was published by Al Arabiya English Workers at Iran’s Ahwaz steel factory protested on Sunday for the 17th day in a row in Ahwazi streets and in front of governmental departments,...

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Nov 29, 2018

Iran: National Pressure for Regime Change Has...

The article below was published by Iran News Update: Ethnic minorities play huge role in current calls for regime changeAs the international pressure on the Iranian regime mounts, so is the domestic pressure....

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Nov 12, 2018

Ahwazi Arabs: Lack of Transparency Raises Fear...

The article below was published by the Ahwaz Human Rights Organisation (AHRO) Despite the denial of the governor of Khuzestan and a member of the National Security Commission of the execution of 22 Ahwazi...

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Nov 05, 2018

Ahwazi: Widespread Detention of Ahwazi Arabs in...

The report below was sent by the IRAN Human Rights Monitor: The Iranian authorities have waged a sweeping crackdown against the Ahwazi Arab ethnic minority, arresting hundreds of people in Khuzestan...

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Oct 12, 2018

Ahwazi Arabs: Development Projects, Minorities,...

The article below was published by Al Arabiya: In the years following the 1979 revolution, there was a major shift in the economy, and Iran witnessed a gradual and extensive presence of the Revolutionary...

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Oct 01, 2018

Op-Ed: A Fox Guarding the Henhouse: The Case of...

In fact, beyond outrage at the misuse of public money, Iranians have taken to the streets to protest against the judiciary’s lack of action when tackling corruptions cases. Behind all speculations...

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Sep 26, 2018

Ahwazi & Iranian Kurdistan: Cross National...

The article below was published by the Egypt Independent:   A deadly attack on an Iranian military parade may strengthen hard-liners in the country and send already heightened tensions across the...

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Sep 26, 2018

Iran: Minorities Campaign for Right to Education...

According to Hamid Hajbabaie, the minister of education, in 2012 70% of students who started their education in Iran did not have Farsi (Persian) as their mother tongue. Instead of accepting the fact that...

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Sep 07, 2018

Op-Ed: The Dystopian reality of Iran

Being born in 2001 I never experienced life before the Islamic Revolution of 1979 however, from what I have heard from my parents who experienced life before and after the revolution and going through...

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Sep 04, 2018

Iran: Commission Rushes Parliament for Last Minute...

The special measure for Iran, which is worth 18 million euros, was introduced by Linda McAvan. The budget is split between 8 million for trade-related technical assistance, 8 million for environmental...

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Aug 30, 2018

UNPO Commemorates International Day of the Victims...

The United Nations has repeatedly expressed concern over enforced disappearances, not only by attempting to draw attention to the issue at large, but also by issuing resolutions to hold those who commit...

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Jul 25, 2018

Ahwaz: Silence as a Cover for Repression

This article was published by ahwazhumanrights.org: The Ahwaz Human Rights Organization (Ahro) opposed the deliberate omission of a phrase related to the suppression of the Ahwazi Arabs when the US Secretary...

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Jul 24, 2018

Ahwazi: Pompeo Underlines Ethno-Religious Diversity...

The transcript of US Secretary Pompeo’s statement below was published by the US Department of State: (…) I recognize the Iranian diaspora is diverse. There are many faith backgrounds and...

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Jul 18, 2018

Mandeans: 18 July marks New Year’s Celebration...

A picture gallery and explanations in Farsi were published by Deutsche Welle: صدها تن از پیروان یحیی...

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Jul 09, 2018

Ahwazi: Khuzestan Peaceful Protests over Safe...

The report below was published by Amnesty International: Iranian authorities must carry out an impartial and thorough investigation into reports that security forces used unnecessary and excessive force,...

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Jul 04, 2018

Ahwazi: Iranian Government Responds with Violence...

The article below was published by the Middle East Monitor: Iranian government forces used tear gas and live ammunition against Ahwazi protesters in the city of Muhammarah on Saturday [30 June 2018]....

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Jul 03, 2018

Ahwazi: Discontent over Mismanagement of Water...

  The article below was published by Reuters: Iran called for calm on Sunday after protests in a southern city over water shortages turned violent overnight with reports of police shooting at demonstrators...

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Jun 27, 2018

Ahwazi: Issues With Water Supply Could Lead to...

  This article was originally published by Al Alarabiya English:   In the past two weeks [second half of June 2018], south-western cities of Iran – historically known as Arabistan (Khuzestan...

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May 01, 2018

Ahwazi: Women Rally to Demand Release of Pris...

  The article below was published by the NCRI Women’s Committee: A group of families of the men and women arrested in recent protests in Ahwaz, SW Iran, gathered outside the city’s court...

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Apr 25, 2018

Iran: Hidden Costs of European Investments in...

During these protests, a majority of experts on Iran stated that it was a unique moment. What distinguished these protests from previous ones was that they were set in motion without a particular leadership,...

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Apr 25, 2018

UNPO Members Bring Testimony to Journalism Festival...

The speech of Mr Abdirahman Mahdi is enclosed to this article. Watch the full intervention here. On 14 April 2018, the Italian radio “Radio Radicale“ organised a panel entitled...

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Apr 18, 2018

Ahwazi: Long-Term Protests Threaten Governmental...

This article was originally published by The Washington Post.   When we hear about Iran, it’s in the context of its battles with the West. But the country also faces deep internal strife,...

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Apr 12, 2018

Ahwazi: Poet Tortured In New Crackdown On Protestors...

Article below from ahwazihumanrights.org Near family member of an Ahwazi Arab poet has informed AHRO that “Abdul-al Duraqi" who was arrested during recent Ahwaz protests, that he was transferred...

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Apr 05, 2018

Ahwazi Arabs: Several Die in Arson Attack On Café...

  This article has been originally published in Al Arabiya English:   A popular cafe in Iran’s Ahwaz region was burnt down on the 3rd of April 2018, coinciding with the 7th night of...

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Apr 03, 2018

Ahwazi: Demands for Detainees’ Release after...

  This article has been published by Ahwaz Human Rights Organisation:   Ahwaz Human Rights Organization condemns the arrest of Ahwazi Arabs who have been peacefully demonstrating against...

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Mar 29, 2018

Ahwazi Arabs: Protest after Broadcasting Corporation...

This article has been published by Al Arabiya: Thousands of Arab citizens gathered in the southwest Iranian city of Ahwaz to protest against Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) corporation after...

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Mar 20, 2018

Ahwazi Arabs: Iranian Opposition Coalition in...

This article has been published by Al Arabiya This week, on the anniversary of the passing of Ahwazi leader Mansour Silawi al-Ahwazi, the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organisation (UNPO) together...

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Feb 20, 2018

Ahwazi: Iranian Security Forces Detain Family...

The following article was published by Ahwaz Human Rights Organisation During the week of the 12th February, Iranian security forces have captured 10 members of Ahwazi Arab family, including wife and...

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Feb 08, 2018

Ahwazi: Two Journalists Summoned to Court for...

The article below was published by Ahwaz Human Rights Organisation Ahwaz court summoned journalists Na'im Hamidi and Sayed Nishan al-Abushkha following their criticism of the weak performance of the...

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Jan 26, 2018

The ‘Carrot & Stick’ Policy: Iran’s...

For a long time now, the ‘carrot and stick’ policy has been Iran’s principal way to deal with the demands of the Iranian population: on one hand promises of minor reforms, but on the...

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Jan 24, 2018

Business and Human Rights – The Curse of “Destructive...

Indeed, the positive contributions that the development of infrastructure has on a nation’s prosperity are in most cases undeniable. At the same time, the unethical and destructive consequences of...

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Jan 12, 2018

Iranian Minorities and Oppositions Discuss the...

The conference was held in two panels and opened by MEP Martina Michels (GUE/NGL). In her speech, Ms Michels criticised the European position toward Iran and was especially critical of the German position...

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Jan 10, 2018

Ahwazi Arabs: Over 280 People Arrested During...

The article below was published by The Ahwaz Human Rights Organization: The Ahwaz Human Rights Organization has sent a list of 277 Arab citizens of Ahwaz, Lor and Bakhtiyans who were arrested during the...

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Jan 05, 2018

What is Happening in Iran?

Starting in Mashhad last Thursday [28 December 2017], low income workers took to the streets in response to hyperinflation that saw the price of staple foods, such as eggs and poultry, increase by 50%....

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Jan 03, 2018

Freedom of Expression Should Be Guaranteed to...

UNPO is monitoring with attention the ongoing events in Iran as it counts among its members four ethnic communities living in Iran: the Ahwazi Arabs, the Southern Azerbaijanis, the Baloch, and the Kurds....

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Dec 19, 2017

Ahwazi: Protests Calling for UN Intervention Against...

The article below was published by the Ahwaz Human Rights Organisation: The Ahwaz Human Rights Organization (AHRO) received pictures of the demonstrations that broke out in Alawi neighborhood in the...

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Dec 13, 2017

Ahwazi: Seizure of Farm Lands Destabilises the...

This article was published by Al-Arabiya: Thousands of Arab citizens demonstrated, on Friday [8 December 2017], in the streets of the city of Ahwaz, the centre of the Arabistan province, protesting against...

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Dec 07, 2017

Ahwazi: Villagers Arrested for Protesting Seizure...

  The article below was published by Ahwaz Human Rights Organisation: Ahwazi women farmers arrested for resisting the confiscation of their farmlands in “Jalizi” village in Elam. Click...

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Dec 04, 2017

Forum on Minority Issues Side-Event: Paving the...

The event began with opening remarks by UNPO Programme Officer Julie Duval. Underlining UNPO’s continuous support for minorities worldwide and more particularly for their youth, she stressed that...

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Nov 22, 2017

Ahwazi: Ignorance of Deteriorating Environmental...

The article below was published by Al Arabiya English: Over recent days, Iran has been rocked by massive protests in its southwestern Arab-majority Khuzestan province as power stations have...

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Nov 20, 2017

UNPO Announces Launch of Council of Iranian Democrats...

The following final resolution was unanimously approved by all the participants: Whereas the current turmoil, and political, economic and social crisis that has been imposed on Iran over the past four...

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Nov 09, 2017

Ahwazi: UNPO and AHRO Roundly Condemn Assassination...

The article below was published by Ahwaz Human Rights Organization The Ahwaz Human Rights Organization (AHRO) strongly condemns the assassination of Ahwazi-Arab political activist, Mr. Ahmad Mola Neisi,...

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Nov 08, 2017

Ahwazi: Students Shamed for Speaking Arabic in...

The article below was published by Al Arabiya: “Inclusive and quality education for all” is one of the goals of UN Education 2030 Agenda, which cannot be achieved unless all learners...

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Nov 06, 2017

Ahwazi: Village Reclaims Ancestral Land

  The article below was published by Ahwaz News: [National Iranian Oil Company] NIOC has confiscated lands of the villagers of Thadaeen in Ahwaz region. This village is located in north east of...

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Oct 31, 2017

Ahwaz: Demonstration calls for Action against...

Below is an article by The Siasat Daily: BERLIN: On the occasion of the 92nd anniversary of the Iranian occupation of Ahwaz (20th of April 1925), Europe’s Ahwazi community held a massive protest...

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Sep 28, 2017

Ahwazi: Inadequate Investment in Education Leaves...

Below is an article published by AHRO On 23th Sep was the first day of academic year in Iran and according to residents and eye witnesses majority of schools in “Gheizanieh” district are not...

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Sep 22, 2017

UNPO Side-Event to the 36th Session of the UNHRC:...

The conference was opened and moderated by Mr Fernando Burgés, UNPO Programme Manager, who underlined common misconceptions that some politicians and the Western media have on Iran, most notably,...

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Sep 20, 2017

HRC SIDE-EVENT: ENFORCED DISAPPEARANCES IN IRAN...

Despite his campaign promises, President Hassan Rohani has not fulfilled Iran´s obligations to respect human rights. On the contrary, under his government the ongoing marginalisation of ethnic minorities...

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Sep 15, 2017

HRC36 Side-Event: Freedom of Religion or Belief...

UNPO Programme Director Mr Tommaso Nodari delivered opening remarks briefly introducing the cases of the Nations and Peoples represented during the event. While freedom of religion or belief is one of...

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Sep 14, 2017

HRC Side-Event: Freedom of Religion or Belief...

  Thursday, 14 September 2017, 11:00 to 12:30 Palais des Nations, Room XV, Geneva, Switzerland Side-event to the 36th Session of the UNHRC   In May 2017, the United States Commission on...

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Sep 14, 2017

HRC36 Side-Event: Freedom of Religion or Belief...

UNPO Programme Director Mr Tommaso Nodari delivered opening remarks briefly introducing the cases of the Nations and Peoples represented during the event. While freedom of religion or belief is one of...

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Sep 04, 2017

Ahwazi Arabs: Abduction of Yousef Silavi in Iran...

  The article below was published by Al Arabiya: Yousef Silavi, a 58 year-old retired Ahwazi Arab, and a father of two, is one of the victims of enforced disappearance in Iran. He was abducted from...

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Aug 24, 2017

Ahwazi Arabs: Iranian Oil Deal with China Ignores...

Below is an article published by Ahwaz News: Resource grabbing in Ahwaz will be the central theme of the 16th Iran-China Joint Economic Commission meeting, which starts today in Beijing. Oil is central...

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Jul 14, 2017

Ahwazi: Tehran’s Security Forces Use Disproportionate...

The article below published by NCRI According to reports, Iranian police forces in the city of Ahvaz (southwestern Iran) have arrested members of a family because of so called lack of "official" land...

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Jul 04, 2017

Ahwazi: Tehran’s Oil and Agriculture Industry...

The article below published by Middle East Eye   To Ahwazis, the discovery of oil and other resources has been no less than a scourge that has resulted in the occupation and environmental degradation...

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Jun 28, 2017

UNPO’s XIII General Assembly Adopts Resolution...

Ahwazi-Arabs: Land Confiscation and Ethnic Cleansing Considering that Iranian society is dominated by only one of the national constituencies, the Persian national group, while the non-dominant, non-Persian...

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Jun 07, 2017

Ahwazi: Daughters of Political Prisoner Yousef...

  The article below was published by Al Arabiya:   Following a tweet from the account of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei announcing that, on the occasion of the month of Ramadan,...

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Jun 02, 2017

Ahwazi: Cultural Activists are Handed Prison ...

  Below is a press release by the Ahwaz Human Rights Foundation:  According to reports received by Ahwaz Human rights organization (AHRO); judge Poormohammadi of branch 4 of Islamic Iranian...

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May 23, 2017

Hudson Institute Conference Highlights Urgency...

  After welcoming the event’s speakers and participants, the conference’s host, Eric B. Brown, opened the event by pointing out that Iran is an ethno-religious mosaic which includes...

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May 16, 2017

UNPO and Hudson Institute Co-Organise Conference...

Iran is an ethno-religious mosaic that includes Persian Shia in addition to a diversity of minority groups such as Azerbaijani Turks, Ahwazi, Baloch, and Kurds. Many non-Persians have felt politically...

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May 09, 2017

BPP’s Nasser Boladai’s Outlook on the 2017...

  Find below an article published by Nasser Boladai (UNPO, BPP): Iran’s political system discriminates against its citizen based on a variety of criteria, such as gender, religious affiliation,...

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Apr 18, 2017

Ahwazi: Diaspora Remembers April Uprising on 12th...

  The article below was published by Ahwaz News: Dozens of Ahwazis in London commemorated 12th anniversary of April uprising which took place in 15 April 2005. Following a leaked document from Khatami’s...

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Mar 10, 2017

Iran: Swiss Parliament Conference Raises Awareness...

  The article below was published by the Ahwaz Human Rights Organisation: Wednesday 8th of March (2017), Human rights organisations and political parties representing nationalities in Iran held...

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Mar 01, 2017

Ahwazi, Iranian Kurdistan & West Balochistan:...

Below is an article published by the Ahwaz Human Rights Organisation: The Middle East Forum for Development co-organised a panel event on 27th of February together with the All-Party Parliamentary Human...

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Feb 27, 2017

Ahwazi: Harvard Academic Condemns Socio-Economic...

Below is an article published by AHRO: People in the city of Ahvaz — the capital of Khuzestan, which is one of Iran’s wealthiest provinces when it comes to oil and natural gas — have...

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Feb 22, 2017

Ahwazi: Protesters Demonstrate Against Poor Management...

Below is an article published by The New York Times: Days of protests over dust storms, power failures and government mismanagement in one of Iran’s most oil-rich cities subsided on Sunday...

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Feb 10, 2017

Ahwazi: UNDP Representative Visits Falahieh (Shadegan)...

Below is an article published by AHRO: Gary Lewis the UNDP Resident Representative in the Islamic Republic of Iran visited Ahvaz in the occasion of World Wetlands Day which is celebrated on 2 February...

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Jan 19, 2017

HRW World Report 2017 Reminds Global Community...

According to the World Report’s emphasis, the most egregious human rights violations against indigenous populations in 2016 can be seen in the crackdowns on Oromo in Ethiopia, the lingering human...

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Dec 15, 2016

UNPO Organises Meeting with European Parliament...

Ms Mona Silavi from the Democratic Solidarity Party of al-Ahwaz (DSPA) reported about the suffering of the Arabs in Ahwaz, in the South West of Iran. Even though their region provides more than 90% of...

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Dec 12, 2016

Ahwazi: Environmental Activist and Journalist...

Below an article published by AHRO: During the demonstration against diversion of Karoon river, Iranian security forces arrested two activists in Muhammerah, the journalist Rahil Mosavi and environmental...

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Dec 10, 2016

Democracy and Rule of Law Are Human Rights

  On international Human Rights Day, UNPO reiterates its commitment to the promotion of democracy, rule of law, and human rights everywhere. The first United Nations Forum on Human Rights, Democracy...

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Dec 07, 2016

Conference on Environmental Degradation in Ahwaz...

  Below is a press release published by the Democratic Solidarity Party of Al-Ahwaz: Iran will cease to be a country within a generation unless the environmental crisis in Ahwaz is tackled, a meeting...

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Nov 30, 2016

Ahwazi: Activist Photographer Hakim Marwani A...

The following article was published by Ahwaz Human Rights: Iranian intelligence arrested the 22 year-old Hakim Marwani ,a photographer and cultural activist on social media .His photos and videos portrayed...

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Nov 29, 2016

UNPO Side-event to UN Minority Forum Highlights...

  In his opening remarks, Marino Busdachin, General Secretary of UNPO, shed a light on the fact that since the independence of East Timor, the UN has failed to advance the fulfilment of the right...

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Nov 29, 2016

Ahwazi and Southern Azerbaijan: Iranian Delegation...

The videos of both interventions can be found below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAN2s0S1DwI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdP9kEH3USQ

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Nov 28, 2016

Ahwazi: Activists Arrested and Unlawfully Detained...

  The article below is courtesy of CounterCurrents: Large numbers of Ahwazi activists have reportedly been arrested in the latest coordinated series of raids on homes by Iranian regime intelligence...

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Nov 28, 2016

Ahwazi: Activists Arrested and Unlawfully Detained...

The article below is courtesy of CounterCurrents: Large numbers of Ahwazi activists have reportedly been arrested in the latest coordinated series of raids on homes by Iranian regime intelligence agents...

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Nov 18, 2016

Ahwazi: Student Brutally Beaten for Selling F...

Below is an article published by Countercurrents.org: A young Ahwazi Arab student was critically injured on Friday [11 November 2016] when he was brutally assaulted by Iranian regime municipal officers...

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Nov 03, 2016

Ahwazi: Iranian Companies’ Oil Storage Practices...

The article below was published by Ahwaz Human Rights Organization (AHRO) Ahwaz Human Rights Organization(AHRO) reports an environmental catastrophe following the published photos Showing the release...

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Oct 31, 2016

Ahwazi: Iranian Forces Shoot 3 Year Old and Arrest...

Below is an article published by AHRO Sources told Al Arabiya that security forces opened fire on the car on because the child’s father did not comply with orders to stop.  Iranian security...

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Oct 26, 2016

Ahwazi: Thousands of Children Excluded from School...

  The article below was published in Ahwaz News:   Up to 40,000 Ahwazi Arab elementary school students in Omidiyeh (Ghunetria), 100km southeast of Ahwaz City, have been excluded from school...

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Sep 23, 2016

Ahwazi: Street Vendors Protest Removal of Sta...

  The following article was published by NCRI Iran News:   NCRI - Street vendors in south western city of Ahwaz staged a gathering in front of the governorate to protest against removal...

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Sep 16, 2016

Ahwazi: At Side-Event to the HRC, Dr Karim Abdian...

  Below Dr. Abdian’s speech at the 33rd session of the Human Rights Council Side event on the rights to self-determination under UN and international law.   Thursday, 15 September...

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Aug 31, 2016

Ahwazi: AHRO Urges for Investigation Into Enforced...

  Below is an article published by AHRO: Seven years after his disappearance in 2009 Iranian authorities have not yet clarified the whereabouts of Yousef Silavi, one of 522 registered victims...

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Aug 30, 2016

UNPO Commemorates International Day of the Victims...

On this year’s International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, UNPO would like to draw particular attention to the case of the Arab Ahwazi in Iran, notably the fate of Mr Yousef Silavi,...

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Aug 30, 2016

UNPO Commemorates International Day of the Victims...

On this year’s International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, UNPO would like to draw particular attention to the case of the Arab Ahwazi in Iran, notably the fate of Mr Yousef Silavi,...

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Aug 19, 2016

Ahwazi: Three Members of Community Executed in...

The article below is published by the Ahwaz News Three Ahwazi Arabs were executed in secret today following convictions for threatening national security, according to the Ahwaz Human Rights Organization...

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Aug 05, 2016

Ahwazi: UK Human Rights Report Fails to Mention...

  Below is an article published by the Ahwaz News: The UK Foreign Office's latest human rights report on Iran has removed all mention of ethnic rights in a move of blatant appeasement...

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Jul 29, 2016

Ahwazi: Leading Activist’s Daughter Makes Television...

  The article below is published by Ahwaz News: Silavi's daughter Mona discussed the case of her father's disappearance in 2009 in the political show hosted by journalist Hasan Mo'avez. Mona Silavi,...

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Jul 27, 2016

Iran: Number of Executions of Opposition Activists...

  Below is an article published by ARA News:  The Iranian regime has executed dozens of opposition activists across the country by hanging them to death in public squares, local sources reported...

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Jul 13, 2016

Ahwazi: Impact of Gotvand Dam Still Felt by Local...

  Below is an article published by Ahwaz News The Gotvand dam is the biggest dam on the Karoun river and was commissioned during the Ahmadinejad administration. It was built near the Gachsaran salt...

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Jul 07, 2016

Ahwazi: Underground Aquifers Polluted By Sugar...

  Photo courtesy of Ahwaz News. Below is an article published by Ahwaz News:   Waste water from sugar processing factories is polluting underground aquifers, claimed Abdullah Sameri, Mohammerah...

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Jul 04, 2016

Ahwazi: MP Denounces Discrimination Faced by Community...

  Below is an article published by Ahwaz News Sugarcane projects are a disaster for indigenous Ahwazi Arabs, the member of parliament for Falahieh (Shadegan) Majid Naseri said this week in an attack...

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Jun 27, 2016

Situation of Iran’s Minorities Raised at 6th...

  Photo courtesy of Abolition Now:  Below is the speech of Ms Monireh Shirani: Ethnic minorities have long suffered discrimination as they have been viewed with suspicion and considered outsiders...

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Jun 27, 2016

Discrimination of Minorities in Iran Worse Since...

  Photo courtesy of Ahwaz News. Below is an article published by Ahwaz News: Ethnic rights in Iran gained a high level congressional audience this week as Ahwazi Arab lobbyist Dr Karim Abdian led...

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Jun 17, 2016

Ahwaz: Symposium Looks at How to Achieve Pluralism...

  Below is a press release published by Ibn Khaldun Center & AHRO:  Iran is home to some of the most diverse ethnic and religious groups worldwide. Over centuries, these communities have...

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Jun 09, 2016

AHRO and Ibn Khaldun Center Organise Symposium...

Other speakers include: -      Keynote Address by Mehrangiz Kar, Prominent Iranian lawyer, human rights activist and author of Crossing the Red Line -     ...

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Jun 09, 2016

Ahwaz: Iranian Interior Minister Recognises Social...

Photo courtesy of Ahwaz News.  Below is an article published by Ahwaz News: Ahwaz has this week been singled out by Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli as one of three cities in Iran facing...

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Jun 07, 2016

Ahwazi: Political Prisoner Fahima Ismaili Beaten...

Below is an article published by Ahwazna.net   According to human rights activists, Ahwazi Arab political prisoner Fahima Ismaili Badawi has been tortured and knocked unconscious in Yasouj central...

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Jun 01, 2016

Ahwaz: Lack of Drinking Water Leads to Health...

  Below is an article published by Countercurrents: Villagers in rural Ahwaz, already deprived of basic services by the Iranian regime, warn that conditions are worsening as the regime fails to...

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Apr 26, 2016

Iranian Clampdown Sees Youths Detained

  Below is an article published by the National Council for Resistance of Iran: NCRI - According to reports received from Iran, the clerical regime has resorted to widespread arrests in Ahwaz and...

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Apr 22, 2016

Ahwazi: Teacher Punishes Children for Speaking...

  Below is an article published by Counter-currents: A Persian Iranian teacher reportedly punished two Ahwazi Arab primary school pupils for speaking with each other in their Arabic mother tongue...

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Feb 16, 2016

Ahwazi: Iran Carrying Out Wave of Executions

  Below is an article published by Countercurrents: The human rights situation has been worsening quickly in Iran. More than 2,000 people have been hung during Hassan Rouhani’s tenure as President...

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Dec 02, 2015

Ahwazi: Testimony of a Tortured Activist

Below is an article from The Telegraph: The rush to a nuclear deal with Iran has left human rights issues sidelined. Few people in the West seem to care. They just want to ensure that Tehran does not...

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Oct 21, 2015

Ahwazi: Human Rights Specialist Condemns Iran’s...

When I was President of the European Parliament’s Delegation for Relations with Iraq I was informed that the Foreign Affairs Committee had invited the Iranian Foreign Minister to come to Brussels...

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Sep 30, 2015

Ahwazi: Secretary General Advocates for Protection...

  Below is an article published by Ahwaz Human Rights:   Ban Ki-moon the Secretary General of the United Nation, denounced the continuous suppression and persecution of Arab minority by Tehran...

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Sep 29, 2015

Beyond the Nuclear Deal: Side-Event at UN Discusses...

Mr Nasser Boladai, UNPO President, opened the conference with an overview of the differing opinions that surround the Iranian nuclear deal.  While some groups consider the agreement to be a positive...

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Sep 28, 2015

Ahwazi: Yousef Silavi’s Case Raised in UN Human...

On Thursday 24 September 2015, a representative of the Südwind Human Rights organization and the Ahwaz Human Rights Organization (AHRO) brought up Yousef Silavi case in the United Nations Human Rights...

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Sep 18, 2015

Ahwazi: 19-Year-Old to Be Executed

  The Iranian Resistance calls for urgent action to save the life of Ali Sudani, a 19-year-old member of Iran's Arab community, who is scheduled to face execution on Thursday, September 17 in public....

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Aug 10, 2015

Ahwazi: Passing of Renown Political Figure Causes...

Below is a statement published by AHRO On Thursday 5th of August 2015 and with much pain and anguish AHRO received the news of the passing of Mr. Adnan Salman,the secretary general of Democratic Solidarity...

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Aug 06, 2015

Ahwazi: Human Rights Campaigner Labelled British...

  An Iranian news channel has made claims that British LGBT and human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell is affiliated with spy agency MI6 and Arab terrorist organisations. Tatchell was detained by...

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Aug 04, 2015

Ahwazi: Shocking Discrimination in ‘Entertainment’...

  Below is an article by Alarabiya   An Iranian website that specializes in electronic games has released a game named “Beat Up and Insult the Arab” and made the game available...

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Jul 20, 2015

Joint Public Statement on the 21st Anniversary...

The Islamic Republic of Iran is now under periodic review by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, which will decide on the country’s implementation of the treaty in its 71st session, in January...

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Jul 15, 2015

New Chapter with Iran: An Opportunity to Bring...

The sensitive nature of the nuclear negotiations with Iran has for years served as a reason – if not excuse – for Western governments and the European Union not to get too involved in anything...

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May 12, 2015

Ahwazi: Interview with Civil Rights Activist Who...

  Below is an article published by Ahwaz Human Rights Organisation: Victims and Witnesses// My Interrogator Said: Neither Imam Ali, Nor Khalif Omar, Not Even God is Here, Your Life is In My Hands An...

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Apr 29, 2015

Ahwazi: Alarming Number of Arrests of Arabs in...

  Below is an article published by Human Right Watch Iran’s intelligence and security forces have rounded up and detained scores of Ahwazi Arabs, including several children, in what appears...

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Apr 24, 2015

Ahwazi: Iranian Authorities Detain Teen

Below is an article published by the Ahwaz Human Rights Organization: Sajad Boozar, 17, was arrested following the football match of Foolad Ahwaz (Khuzestan) against Saudi Al-Hilal in 17 March 2015. He...

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Apr 17, 2015

Ahwazi: Self-Immolation and Wave of Protests against...

  Below is an article published by Counter Currents Yesterday was the tenth anniversary of the glorious Intifada 15 April of 2005 that was a turning point in the history of the struggle of the...

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Apr 07, 2015

Ahwazi: Protests against Oppressive Regime

  Below is an article published by NCRI: Residents of the Iranian city of Ahvaz expressed their rage and loathing against the suppressive and discriminatory policies of the clerical regime in the...

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Apr 01, 2015

Ahwazi: Prominent Businessman Calls for Action...

  Below is an article published by Al Arabiya Whenever the Arab world is discussed, forgotten are the five million Arabs struggling to survive under the Persian yoke in an Arab region bordering...

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Mar 30, 2015

Ahwazi: Arabistan should become Independent from...

  Below is an article published by Arab Times:    Whenever the Arab World is discussed, forgotten are the five million Arabs struggling to survive under the Persian yoke in an Arab region...

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Mar 23, 2015

Ahwazi: Football Match Results in Arrest of Arab...

  Below is an article published by Ahwaz Human Rights Organisation:   The Iranian security forces clashed with the Ahwazi Arab fans following the football match of Saudi Al-hilal against Foolad...

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Mar 19, 2015

Ahwazi: Human Rights Violations in Al-Ahwaz P...

Below is an article published by Countercurrents.org:   Two distinguished Ahwazi former prisoners named “Ramadan Nasseri” and “Mohammed Hattab Zaheri Sari” in their interviews...

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Mar 02, 2015

Ahwazi: Crackdown on Arab Minority Identity in...

  Below is an article published by the Middle East Eye: The plight of Iran's Arab Ahwazi minority and their recent protests in the country's oil-rich southwest region, is being underreported...

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Feb 27, 2015

UNPO Alternative Report to CRC Highlights the...

The Alternative Report aims to examine the compliance with and implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child by the Iranian Government, focusing especially on children of the Ahwazi Arab,...

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Dec 15, 2014

Ahwazi: AHRO Calls for the Release of Activist...

Below is an article published by AHRO; Ahwaz Human Rights Organization (AHRO) was informed that Ahwazi activist "Ali Younes Aqeel", alias "Ahmad Adel", has been abducted in Damascus in the period between...

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Dec 11, 2014

Ahwazi: Increasing Protests against Systemic Discrimination...

Below is an article published by TheTower: Iran’s Arab minority has recently begun to intensify its protests against government discrimination, The Tower has learned from Iranian opposition media...

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Nov 17, 2014

Ahwazi: Bodies of Two Activists Found after Secret...

  Below is an article published by the Ahwaz Human Rights Organization (AHRO):   The bodies of Hashem Shaabami and Hadi Rashedi, two cultural activists, have been discovered by local residents...

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Nov 12, 2014

Ahwazi: Iranian Government Monitoring Social Networks...

Below is an article published by Payvand Iran News:   This is a field report about the indifference of internet users to the Islamic republic regime’s spying efforts in cyber space as it tries...

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Jul 29, 2014

Ahwazi: Representatives Meet US Officials

Below is a story published by The Ahwaz Human Rights Organization. The representatives of non-Persian ethnicities and religious minorities in Iran met with the United States officials to discuss their...

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Jul 03, 2014

Iranian Minorities Delegation Informs US Congress...

On the picture (from left to right): Mr. Nasser Boladai, Congressman Steve Chabot, and Mr. Loghman H. Ahmedi. Despite having a rich cultural diversity, the Islamic Republic of Iran prioritizes Shi’a...

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Jun 25, 2014

Ahwazi: Rouhani’s Senior Adviser Encourages...

Land confiscation and resettling of Persians to minority regions are, and always have been, part of the Iranian government’s oppressive policies towards the country’s Arab minority, but never...

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May 22, 2014

Ahwazi: UN Experts Urge Iran to Cancel Two Executions...

Below is an article published by UN News Center: UN human rights experts today [22 May 2014] appealed to Iranian authorities to halt the scheduled execution of two members of Iran’s Ahwazi Arab...

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Apr 25, 2014

Ahwazi: Arrests By Iranian Police During April...

Below is an article published by Ahwaz Human Rights Organization The authorities carried out many arrests against the Ahwazi activists on the 9th anniversary of the April uprising in various regions of...

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Apr 22, 2014

Ahwazi: Persecution Increases Under Rouhani

Below is an article from the Huffington Post: April 15 marks the ninth anniversary of one of the most bloody yet poorly known uprisings in the Middle East. The peaceful Ahwazi intifada against forced...

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Apr 10, 2014

Ahwazi: Poet Attacked By Iranian Agents In The...

Below is an article published by the Gatestone Institute According to a report by Karim Dahimi, that was widely circulated in Farsi, on March 6, 2014, an Ahwazi Arab-Iranian poet and human rights...

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Mar 21, 2014

Ahwazi: Recent Executions Condemned At UN Human...

Below is an article published by: Ahwaz Human Rights Organization  Yesterday, 17th of March [2014], on the occasion of the 25th Session of the UN Human Rights Council, representatives of Ahwaz Human...

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Mar 19, 2014

UNPO’s UPR Reports Denounce Human Rights Situation...

Photo by Izahorsky On the occasion of the 20th Session of the United Nations Universal Periodic Review, UNPO has submitted two reports denouncing the human rights situation in the Republic of Iraq and...

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Feb 11, 2014

Ahwazi: Human Rights Activist and Poet Executed...

Below is an article published by Al Jazeera: An Arab-Iranian poet and human rights activist, Hashem Shaabani, has been executed for being an "enemy of God" and threatening national security, according...

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Dec 12, 2013

Ahwazi: Two More Political Prisoners Face Dea...

Below is an article published by Ahwaz News Agency: Two Ahwazi Arab political prisoners are facing death as the administration of President Hassan Rouhani continues its mass execution campaign, which...

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Dec 05, 2013

Ahwazi: Four Ahwazi Arabs Executed

Below is an article by the Ahwaz News Agency: http://www.ahwaziarabs.info/2013/12/four-ahwazi-arabs-executed-after.html   Four Ahwazi Arabs were hanged this week [4 December 2013] following weeks...

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Dec 03, 2013

Ahwazi: Iran’s Human Rights Issues Need Att...

Below is a statement by the IHR:  Human rights should now be the focus of international dialogue with Iran following the break-through on nuclear talks in Geneva, says the Norway-based Iran Human...

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Nov 29, 2013

UNPO Members Attend Sixth Session Of The Forum...

More than 20 representatives of nine Members (Uyghurs, Sindh, Khmer Krom, Ahwazi, Assyria, Chin, Chittagong Hill Tracts, Tibet and Ogaden) attended the sixth Session of the Forum on Minority Issues held...

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Nov 25, 2013

Ahwazi: Environmental And Health Crisis

Below is a press release published by the Ahwaz News Agency:  Thousands more residents of Ahwaz City required urgent medical treatment this week in an ongoing environmental disaster that experts...

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Nov 12, 2013

Ahwazi: Protesters Stand Their Ground To Save...

Below is an article published by AhwaziNewsAgency: Eighty Ahwaz residents defied a police dispersal order and on Friday (8 November) held a fifth protest in succession to Save the Karoun River. In recent...

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Nov 06, 2013

Ahwazi: Four Activists Fear Imminent Execution...

  Below is an article published by Ahwaz Studies Center:   To :    - The UN Human Rights Council  - The UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran Dr Ahmad Shahid - The...

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Oct 23, 2013

Ahwazi: Iran’s Dam Project Cause For Protes...

Below is an article published by Ahwaz News Agency: The drying of the River Karoun is becoming a rallying point for Ahwazi Arabs, who have accused the Iranian regime of presiding over an ecological disaster...

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Sep 25, 2013

UNPO General Secretary Speaks At European Parliament...

In cooperation with the Delegation for Relations with Iran, the Sub-committe on Foreign Affairs at the European Parliament held an exchange of views on the situation in Iran on Thursday, 26 September 2013,...

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Sep 18, 2013

Exploring the Path of Federalism in the Middle...

Wednesday 2 October 2013 14:00 – 16:00  Room ASP 5E3 European Parliament, Brussels   18 September 2013, Brussels - The office of Mr. Tunne Kelam MEP (EPP) and the Unrepresented Nations...

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Sep 12, 2013

Ahwazi : Two Political Prisoners Tortured By Iranian...

Below is an article published by Ahwaz News Agency: Hadi Rashedi and Hashem Shabani had their death sentences upheld earlier this year [2013] following convictions for "enmity with God", a charge used...

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Aug 13, 2013

UNPO Present During Indigenous Day Demonstration...

On Friday August 9th a demonstration was held on the Dam square in Amsterdam to raise awareness about the abuse of indigenous people all over the world. Several indigenous people were present at this demonstration...

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Jul 30, 2013

Ahwazi: Four Men Sentenced To Death

Below is an article published by payvand.com Iran’s judiciary should stop the executions of four members of Iran’s Ahwazi Arab minority because of grave violations of due process, Amnesty...

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Jun 12, 2013

Successful UNHCR Side Event Sheds Light on the...

  Geneva, 11 June 2013 - The Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO) and the Nonviolent Radical Party held a Side Event on Tuesday, June 11th, in the Palais des Nations in Geneva entitled...

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May 27, 2013

UNPO General Secretary Condemns False Allegations...

The Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO) has become aware of false allegations made recently against one of its Members, the Democratic Solidarity Party of Al-Ahwaz (DSPA). The...

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May 16, 2013

Ahwazi: British MP Denounces Discrimination Against...

Below is an article published by Ahwaz News Agency: The event launching the Ahwaz Human Rights Report 2013, published by the Ahwazi Arab Solidarity Network, gathered Ahwazi activists to speak out against...

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May 07, 2013

Iranian Minorities: What Future After Ahmadin...

On behalf of the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO) and the Nonviolent Radical Party, you are cordially invited to attend the parallel event ''Iranian minorities: what future after Ahmadinejad?''...

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Apr 15, 2013

Commemorating the Ahwazi Intifada - 19 April 2013...

In April 2005, the Ahwazi led an uprising against the Iranian government, calling for an end to the human rights violations and ethnic cleansing they are victims of. Today, the Ahwazi continue their struggle,...

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Apr 11, 2013

Ahwazi: Testimony Of Minorities’ Plight In ...

Below is an article published by Deutsche Welle: Minorities in Iran face stepped-up efforts to silence and stamp them out - including mass arrests and executions. An Ahwazi Arab activist seeking appeals...

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Apr 08, 2013

Ahwazi: More Ahwazi Arabs Are Being Arrested

Below is an article published by Ahwaz News Agency: The number of arrests of Ahwazi Arabs continues to climb amid a crackdown on dissent ahead of the eighth anniversary of the 2005 Ahwazi intifada. Teacher...

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Apr 04, 2013

Ahwazi: Dozens Of Refugees On Hunger Strike In...

Below is an article published by Ahwaz News Agency: Among the refugees are Ahwazi Arab law graduate Hussein Sanjari (26) and his sister Fatima Sanjari, who have been kept in the camp for more than six...

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Apr 03, 2013

Ahwazi: Iranian Imam Criticises Government’s...

Below is an article from Ahwaz News Agency:       A prominent Friday prayer leader in Alkhafajeyeh (Susangerd) launched a wide-ranging attack on the Iranian government's failure...

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Mar 28, 2013

Ahwazi: Five Death Row Prisoners On Hunger St...

Below is an article published by The Guardian: The men, Mohammad Ali Amouri, 34, teachers Hashem Sha'bani Amouri, 32, and Hadi Rashidi, 38, and two brothers Sayed Jaber Alboshoka, 27, and Sayed Mokhtar...

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Mar 26, 2013

Ahwazi: River Diversion Dries Up Land

Below is an article published by European Ahwazi Human Rights Organization: In 2011, the World Health Organization declared that Ahwaz City, the capital of the Khuzestan governorate, was the most polluted...

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Mar 14, 2013

Ahwazi: Illiteracy Due To Widespread Discrimination...

Below is an article published by Ahwazi News Agency Ahwazi Arabs are often semi-literate in their native language, but struggle with learning Iran's official language Farsi which is foreign to them, Ahwazi...

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Mar 12, 2013

Ahwazi: UNHRC Condemns Iranian Delegate For Attacking...

Below is an article published by the Ahwaz News Agency: In his presentation, Shaheed drew attention to five Ahwazi Arab cultural activists currently facing execution, stating that they were tortured and...

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Mar 08, 2013

Ahwazi: Ahwaz City Named Most Polluted On Ear...

Below is an article published by  Ahwaz News Agency: The choking orange smog that routinely descends on Ahwaz City is familiar to its inhabitants whose quality of life and longevity are under attack...

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Feb 22, 2013

Ahwazi: Mass Arrests Of "Thieves" Ahead...

Below is an article published by Ahwazi News Agency   More than 550 "thieves" have been arrested in the Arab border town of Al-Mohammarah (Farsi: Khorramshahr) since the beginning of this year,...

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Feb 18, 2013

Ahwazi: Political Prisoner Executed In Karoon...

Below is an article published by Ahwazi News Agency   The Iranian regime executed an Ahwazi Arab on 14 February, four years after he was sentenced to death by a revolutionary court, according to...

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Feb 12, 2013

Ahwazi: Iranian Regime Hiding Bodies In Unmarked...

Below is an article published by Ahwaz News Agency: The mass grave of four Ahwazi Arabs executed last year has been identified by an ethnic Bakhtiari resident of Baghmalek city, according to local sources. The...

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Feb 11, 2013

Ahwazi: Government Starts Anti-Arab Campaign

Below is an article published by Ahwaz News Agency:   Iranian police and the intelligence service have begun a campaign of arrests of Arab activists across Al-Ahwaz following a conference at...

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Feb 06, 2013

Ahwazi: Country’s Highest Poverty Rate For Arab...

Below is an article published by Ahwaz News Agency: Khuzestan is the richest region in Iran and the source of its oil, but the indigenous Arab people suffer the country's highest poverty rate. Why are...

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Feb 01, 2013

Ahwazi: Mothers Banned From Appealing Against...

Below is an article published by Ahwaz News Agency:  The mothers of five Ahwazi Arab political prisoners facing execution were banned from meeting Ayatollah Mohammad Ali Mosavi Jazayeri, the provincial...

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Jan 30, 2013

Ahwazi: UN Human Rights Experts Urge Iran To Halt...

Below is an article published by the Daily times Nigeria: United Nations Human Rights experts have urged Iran to halt the execution of five activists of the Ahwazi Arab minority sentenced to death on...

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Jan 28, 2013

Ahwazi: UN Experts Speak Out Against Executio...

Below is an article published by The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights:   A group of United Nations independent experts on Iran, peaceful assembly and of association, extrajudicial...

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Jan 25, 2013

Ahwazi: Human Rights Groups Urge End To Political...

Below is an article published by Human Rights Watch:   Iran’s judiciary should quash death sentences against five members of Iran’s Ahwazi Arab minority and immediately cancel their...

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Jan 21, 2013

Ahwazi: Imminent Execution Of Ahwazi Activist...

Below is an article published by Ahwaz News Agency:   Five Ahwazi Arab cultural activists who recently had their death sentences confirmed by the Iranian Supreme Court were transferred to an unknown...

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Jan 17, 2013

Ahwaz: Political Refugee Returned To Face Death...

Below is an article published by Ahwaz News Agency:   The Iraqi authorities colluded with the Iranian regime in the illegal refoulement of UNHCR-mandated Ahwazi Arab refugee Mohammad Ali Amouri,...

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Dec 12, 2012

Ahwazi: Landmines Continue To Kill

Below is an article published by Ahwaz News Agency:     Anti-personnel mines are claiming lives of Ahwazi Arabs, according to recent reports. Mine explosions were reported in Sahel Maysan,...

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Dec 06, 2012

Strong Presence Of UNPO Representatives At Fifth...

More than thirty representatives of twelve UNPO Members (Afrikaner, Ahwazi, Assyria, Crimean Tatars, East Turkestan, Haratin, Hmong, Iranian Kurdistan, Iraqi Kurdistan, Khmer Krom, Ogaden, and West Balochistan)...

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Nov 30, 2012

Ahwazi: Minority Groups Criticise Iran At UN

  Below is an article published by Al Arabiya News:   Iranian minority groups slammed the Iranian authorities for persecuting non-Persian ethnicities, particularly Arabs, Kurds, and Baluchis...

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Nov 19, 2012

Ahwazi: Arbitrary Arrests Continue

Below is an article published by Ahwaz News Agency:   The Iranian regime has used a recent militant attack on a pipeline to widen arrests of Ahwazi Arabs with at least a few arrested this...

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Nov 15, 2012

Ahwazi: Frequent Extrajudicial Killings

Below is an article published by the Ahwaz News Agency: Ahwazi Arab political activist Jamil Sowaidi became the eighth Ahwazi Arab political prisoner to die under interrogation so far this year. Revolutionary...

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Nov 07, 2012

Ahwazi: Mass Arrests During Eid

Below is an article published by Ahwaz News Agency:   The Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha was once a time for Ahwazi Arabs to celebrate their unique culture, but is now associated with the Iranian...

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Nov 05, 2012

Ahwazi: Protests Over Months Of Unpaid Wages

Below is an article published by Ahwaz News Agency:   Workers from the Ahwaz Sugar Refinery this week staged protests over months of unpaid wages as an unemployment crisis grips the region. Employees...

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Oct 31, 2012

Ahwazi: Testimony At Hague Tribunal

Below is an article published by Ahwaz News Agency:     Ahwazi Arab refugee Jalil Sharhani spoke of the massacre of 40 members of his family at a Hague tribunal on Iran's mass killings of...

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Oct 29, 2012

Ahwazi: Iranian Government To Demolish Hamidiya...

Below is an article published by Ahwaz News Agency:   The palace of a revered Arab sheikh is being demolished on the orders of the Iranian government as it continues its campaign of ethnic...

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Oct 08, 2012

UNPO General Secretary Briefs Delegation for Relations...

Also present in the human rights briefing were representatives of Amnesty International, the Human Rights Democracy Network, the Christian Solidarity Network, the International Rehabilitation Council for...

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Oct 05, 2012

Ahwazi: An Executed Father, A Tortured Son

Below is an article published by Ahwaz News Agency: The teenage son of an executed Ahwazi dissident is facing torture in prison for converting from Shi'ism to Sunnism. Tareq Salami (16), the son of Ghasem...

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Oct 04, 2012

Ahwazi: Four Political Prisoners Facing Execu...

Below is an article published by Ahwaz News Agency: Four more Ahwazi Arab political prisoners are facing execution following verdicts handed down by secretive revolutionary courts this week with three...

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Sep 25, 2012

Ahwazi: Protests At Iranian Embassy In O`Mall...

Below is an article published by ACT News: Samir Yassin was arrested by the Iranian government when he was 21 years old and sentenced to death for his political beliefs. During his 11-year incarceration,...

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Sep 21, 2012

Ahwazi: Iran’s Minorities Address French Parliament...

Below is an article published by Ahwaz News Agency: Life after the Iranian regime was the topic of debate at an Iranian federalist conference at the French parliament in the month of September 2012. The...

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Sep 12, 2012

Ahwazi: Cultural Activist In Critical Conditi...

Below is an article published by the Ahwaz News Agency: Industrial engineer and Ahwazi Arab cultural activist Ghazi Haidari is in a critical condition after being tortured at an interrogation centre in...

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Sep 10, 2012

Ahwazi: Discrimination Drives Up Unemployment

Below is an article published by the Ahwaz News Agency: Unemployment is an acute problem in Arab-majority Khuzestan province due to refusal to employ local people in industry, said Majlis member of Abadan...

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Sep 05, 2012

Ahwazi: Bad Conditions And Overcrowding Of Pr...

Below is an article published by the Ahwaz News Agency:   The over-crowding problem in Khuzestan's jails has been thrown into the spotlight again after the head of the province's prison organisation...

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Aug 30, 2012

Ahwazi: British Foreign Secretary Condemns Ab...

Below is an article published by the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office: Foreign Secretary William Hague has condemned Iran's widespread abuse of its citizens' human rights as a "disgrace" and a "shameful...

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Aug 17, 2012

Ahwazi: Prisoners Face Risk of Torture

Below is an article published by Ahwaz News Agency: Five Ahwazi Arab political prisoners recently sentenced to death are in imminent danger of execution, but severe use of torture could lead to the death...

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Aug 09, 2012

Ahwazi: Arrests Only Backdrop to Wider Concer...

Below is an article published by Ahwaz News Agency: The Iranian authorities have continued their campaign of detentions in Al-Ahwaz amid a crackdown that has seen the arrest of dozens of indigenous Arabs...

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Jul 31, 2012

Ahwazi: Prisoners To Face Ban On Reading

Below is an article published by Ahwaz News Agency: Prison authorities have banned access to books, booklets, pamphlets and anything else in the written word in Karoon Prison in Ahwaz. The confiscation...

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Jul 20, 2012

Ahwazi: More Unfounded Death Sentences

Below is an article published by The Guardian: Iran has stepped up its crackdown against its Arab minority with mass arrests of activists and death sentences passed in closed-door courts. At least...

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Jul 19, 2012

Ahwazi: Video of Executed Prisoners Released

Below is an article published by France 24: A few hours before their execution, four Iranian prisoners managed to release a video in which they condemned the marginalisation of the Ahwazis, an Arab minority...

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Jun 19, 2012

Ahwazi: Three Brothers Executed by Authoritie...

Below is an article published by Al Arabiya: Iran executed on Monday [18 June 2012] three brothers from the Ahwazi Arab community who were detained in April 2011 and were later sentenced to death for...

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Jun 15, 2012

European Parliament Urgency Resolution Reiterates...

Brussels, 14 June 2012 – During the plenary session in Strasbourg on 14 June 2012, Members of the European Parliament discussed the situation of ethnic minorities in Iran in the latest declaration...

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Jun 13, 2012

Ahwazi: Five Prisoners Sentenced to Death

Below is an article published by Al Arabiya: Amnesty International urged the Iranian authorities on Monday [11 June 2012] to immediately overturn the death sentences against five members of Iran’s...

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Jun 12, 2012

Ahwazi: Prisoners Face Execution

Below is an article published by Netherlands Aid: According to reports from Iran 8 prisoners are at imminent danger of execution in Iran. Iran Human Rights asks for the immediate reaction of the international...

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Jun 07, 2012

CNFI Representatives in Brussels Advocate for...

  Brussels, 6 June 2012 Two days of meetings in Brussels on 4-5 June 2012 have enabled representatives of the Congress of Nationalities for a Federal Iran (CNFI) to raise the issue of...

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May 29, 2012

Ahwazi: EU Called to Act Amidst Rights Violat...

Below is an article published by European Ahwazi Human Rights Organisation: British MEP, Marina Yannakoudakis, has tabled a parliamentary question to The EU´s High Representative for Foreign...

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May 21, 2012

Ahwazi: Six Members Currently Under Torture Risk...

Below is an article published by Amnesty International: Six members of Iran’s Ahwazi Arab minority are due to go on trial in Iran on 20 May. The men were detained without charge for almost a year...

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May 17, 2012

Ahwazi: Six Members Currently Under Torture Risk...

Below is an article published by Amnesty International: Six members of Iran’s Ahwazi Arab minority are due to go on trial in Iran on 20 May. The men were detained without charge for almost a year...

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May 08, 2012

Ahwazi: Translated Testimony of Ali Sawari before...

Below is an article published by ahwazsolidarity.org Ahwazi Arab political prisoner Muhammad Ali Sawari, a 38 year old teacher, was executed by the Iranian regime for "War with God" in 2007. He confessed...

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Apr 24, 2012

UNPO Report Outlines Threats to Indigenous Peoples’...

UNPO has submitted an Alternative Report to the UN Committee on Cultural, Economic, and Social Rights (CESCR) ahead of Iran’s review at the 49th Session in May 2012.  This report to the Treaty...

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Mar 19, 2012

UNPO Co-Hosts "Minority Rights In Iran"...

  Wednesday, 14 March 2012   Together with Minority Rights Group International, UNPO hosted an event on Wednesday, 14 March 2012 at the 19th Session of the UN Human Rights Council titled...

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Mar 13, 2012

All Eyes On Iran During UN Human Rights Counc...

Photo: Ahmed Shaheed, Special Rapporteur on Iran addresses during the 19th Session Human Rights Council. 12 March 2012. Photo by Jean-Marc Ferré - UN Information Service - Geneva Geneva,...

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Mar 07, 2012

Ahwazi: Five Detainees To Be Executed ‘Within...

Below is an article published by Al Arabiya: Iranian authorities informed the families of five detainees from the Arab-dominated Ahwaz province that their sons will be hanged in public “within days”...

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Feb 14, 2012

Ahwazi: Fears For Government Crackdown On Commemorative...

Below is an article published by Amnesty International:   The Iranian authorities must allow peaceful rallies to mark the first anniversary of protests in Tehran and other cities that left at least...

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Feb 07, 2012

Ahwazi: 19-Year Old Tortured To Death

Below is a press release published by the Iranian Minorities’ Human Rights Organisation: Sources in Ahwaz reported that that Mr. Naser Albushoka (Darafshan) 19 years old Ahwazi Arab, died under...

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Jan 23, 2012

Ahwazi: Iranian Authorities Arrest Famous Act...

Below is an article published by Al Arabia News:   Iranian authorities have arrested prominent Arab singer, Ghalib Manabi, and his brother, Hassan, from the Arab-majority city of Ahwaz, the capital...

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Dec 08, 2011

Ahwazi: Detentions Continue

Below is a report by Ahwaz Human Rights Organization: Khalafabad or Ramshir is a small town located almost in the middle of a triangle that is made of Ahwaz, Omidiyeh and Mahshahr cities.  The town’s...

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Dec 07, 2011

Ahwazi: Standing In Solidarity with Syrian De...

Below is an article published by Al Arabiya News: Syrian demonstrators have been seen waving the Ahwaz flag in protest of the support given to Bashar al-Assad’s regime by the Iranian authorities...

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Dec 05, 2011

UNPO Representatives Prominent At UN Forum On...

  Photo: UNPO and Minority Rights Group participants pose for a photograph at the close of the first day of the UN Forum on Minority Issues Close to thirty representatives of nine UNPO Member...

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Nov 07, 2011

Ahwazi: UN Human Rights Body Concerned Over Executions...

Below is an article published by UN The United Nations committee tasked with reviewing compliance with international human rights treaties today voiced concern over Iran’s record on upholding the...

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Sep 29, 2011

UNPO UN Report Outlines Civil And Political Rights...

UNPO has submitted an Alternative Report to the UN Human Rights Committee ahead of Iran’s review under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) at the 103rd Session in October...

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Sep 09, 2011

Ahwazi: Three Men Executed For Alleged Sodomy

Below is an article published on San Diego Gay and Lesbian News. The Prosecutor General Office of Khuzestan Province, Iran announced in a press conference that three people were hanged at Karoun prison...

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Sep 06, 2011

Ahwazi: Waiting Game for Refugees

Below is an article published by Al-Arabiya News: The case of Ahwazi refugees fleeing Iran and currently awaiting rescue at the Syrian borders constitutes another chapter in the ongoing saga of the persecution...

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Aug 15, 2011

Southern Azerbaijan: An Open Letter to the United...

Below is an article published by the Huffington Post.   To: Dr. Ahmed Shaheed United Nations Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Iran  Allow me to begin with my best wishes for a great...

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Aug 10, 2011

Ahwaz: New Mayor Sacks Ahwaz Arab Workers

Below is an article published by Ahwaz Arab Solidarity Network: Ahwazi City Council has axed around 400 Ahwazi Arab workers on the orders of the city's new mayor, Mansour Katanbaf. The decision to sack...

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Jul 20, 2011

Ahwazi: Iranian Regime Has Killed Thousands of...

Below is a statement released by the Al-Sharq Al-Awsat Ahwaz Liberation Organization official Khaled Al-Khazraji told the London daily Al-Sharq Al-Awsat that the residents of the Ahwaz region in southwestern...

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Jun 03, 2011

UNPO Members Active At UN Permanent Forum On Indigenous...

  UNPO Members were well represented at this year’s United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII). The Ahwazi Arabs, Chittagong Hill Tracts, Cordillera, Crimean Tatars, Degar...

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May 24, 2011

Ahwazi: Arbitrary Arrests, Torture And Executions...

  Below is an article published by Amnesty International: Some of those arrested have even been executed, after apparently unfair trials, including at least one minor.  Amnesty International...

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May 19, 2011

UNPO Members Speak Out At Event On Resource E...

17 May 2011 The extraction of global resources has grown more or less steadily over the past 25 years. The expanding population, expected to reach 9 billion by 2050, places increasing demands on food,...

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Apr 20, 2011

Ahwazi: Amnesty Urges Investigation Into Regime...

Below is an article published by Amnesty International:  The Iranian authorities must investigate clashes between security forces and protesters from the Ahwazi Arab minority that reportedly left...

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Apr 19, 2011

Ahwazi: Arab-Iranian Activist Talks About Ahwaz...

  Below is an article published by: Al Arabiya News. Despite the strict media blackout imposed on Arab-Iranians since the start of the protests on April 15, also called Day of Fury, AlArabiya.net...

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Apr 18, 2011

Ahwazi: Peaceful Demonstrators Fired Upon by Revolutionary...

Below is an article published by Al Arabiya News: At least one person was killed and dozens were injured in a second day of clashes between Iranian security forces and Arab residents of Ahwaz, a city...

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Apr 15, 2011

Ahwazi: Peaceful Protest Against Discriminati...

Below is an article published by Al Arabiya News: Arab-Iranian activists announced online that they would start agitating under the name “Ahwazi Day of Fury” to protest the discriminatory...

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Mar 08, 2011

Ahwazi: Arabs Rise, Tehran Trembles

  Below is an article published by: The New York Times.In "Garden of the Brave in War," his classic memoir of life on a  pomegranate farm in 1960s Iran, the American writer Terence O'Donnell...

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Feb 10, 2011

Ahwazi: More Action Needed to Free Long-Term ...

Below is an article published by Radio Netherlands Worldwide: Dutch-Iranian Abdullah al Mansouri has been in prison in Iran for over five years. His family has had no contact with him since mid-September...

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Jan 17, 2011

Ahwazi: Iraq’s Expulsion of Refugees Unlawf...

Below is an article published by Canada News: Amnesty International has urged the Iraqi authorities to prevent the forcible return to Iran of several members of the Ahwazi Arab minority amid fears that...

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Nov 29, 2010

Ahwazi: Profits From Transit Traffic?

Below is an article published by The Trend   The volume of transit traffic through the territory of Iran grew by 45 percent in the seven months of this year [2010] and amounted to 5.741 million...

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Oct 28, 2010

Hearing on Tehran’s Ethno-Cultural Discrimination...

Political representatives of three different ethnic minority groups, Mr Nasser Boladai (Balochistan People’s Party), Ms Sedigheh Adalati (Federal Democratic Movement of Azerbaijan) and Mr Miro Aliyar...

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Sep 09, 2010

Ahwazi: Arab Iranians Suffer Cultural Margina...

  Below is an article published by Al Arabiya:   Several movie theaters in the predominantly-Arab Ahwaz city in Iran have been shut down as audiences preferred staying at home and watching...

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Aug 31, 2010

Iran: U.N. Urges Iran To Tackle Racism

Below is an article published by Reuters: GENEVA (Reuters) - Iran should do more to protect its ethnic minorities such as Arabs, Kurds and Baloch, a United Nations human rights body said on Friday. The...

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Jun 25, 2010

Ahwazi: Federalism in Iran

 The Following is an article published by MedyaNews.com According to many, this gathering was first of its kind where people belonging to all nation groups in Iran were represented at the conference.Persians,...

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May 06, 2010

Ahwazi: Iranian Government Bans Sunnis from Praying...

  Below is an article published by Sunni News:  The Iranian government issued a decision banning Sunni Muslims from praying at state universities and military camps. This decision comes...

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Mar 15, 2010

Ahwazi: The Living Conditions of Iran’s Arab...

  Below is an article published by MEDYA News: The Islamic Republic of Iran portrays its self as the champion of Arab rights in all of the above-mentioned countries, but the Arab population of...

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Feb 24, 2010

Periphery Voices from Iran

Iran’s population is a mosaic of ethnicities, but the non-Persian groups are largely located in the peripheries. Unfortunately, their geographical location in the margins is matched by cultural,...

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Nov 16, 2009

UNPO Iranian Members Recommend Steps to Effective...

  The session was based on the theme of “Minorities and Effective Political Participation” and representatives utilised the platform to identify obstacles to their involvement in political...

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Oct 29, 2009

Ahwazi: Rejecting Tehran’s Claims of Sectar...

Below is an article published by the British Ahwazi Friendship Society:Ignorance of the Ahwazi Arabs has encouraged some journalists, governments as well international human rights organizations to portray...

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Oct 23, 2009

Ahwazi: 7 Men at Risk of Execution

  Below is an article published by The Iranian Minority Human Rights Organisation: Twenty-five year old Ali Saedi, Walid Naisi, aged 23, Majid Fardipour (name in Arabic: Majid Mahawi), aged 26,...

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Oct 07, 2009

Ahwazi: Seven Ahwazi Arabs Facing Execution

  Below is an article published by British Ahwazi Friendship Society: Seven Ahwazi Arab opposition activists have been sentenced to death in secret trials in Iran's Revolutionary Court in...

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Sep 21, 2009

Ahwazi: Concern Over Mass Arrest of Arab Civi...

  Below is an article published by British Ahwazi Friendship Society:  There are mounting concerns over the fates of a number of Ahwazi Arabs arrested by the Iranian security forces and...

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Aug 26, 2009

Ahwaz: Iranian Security Service Arrest 80 Year...

 Below is an article published by Iranian Minorities Human Right Organisation: Saied Jasim Alboshoka, 80 year old Ahwazi Arab, and  his nephew Nasser Alboshoka, 57 years old were both arrested...

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Jul 07, 2009

Iran: State Attempts To Discredit Opposition

   Below is an article published by the Iranian Minorities Human Rights Organisation: The streets of Tehran have gone quiet for the first time in more than 10 days. Instead of gathering...

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Jul 06, 2009

Ahwaz: Torture Victim Speaks Out About Iranian...

   Below is an article published by the British-Ahwazi Friendship Society: (warning: graphic images after link)An Ahwazi Arab asylum seeker living in the UK since April [2009] has come forward...

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Jun 25, 2009

Ahwaz: Ahwazi Kicked Out of Iranian Football ...

   Below is an article published by Current News:Ahwazi Arab Hossein Ka'abi was one of four footballers expelled from the Iranian national side today [23 June 2009] after staging an...

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Apr 08, 2009

Speech, Nasser Mobaraki

 For a PDF version of this speech, please click here.   Ladies and Gentlemen: First of all I would like to thank UNPO and in particular Maggie for providing us with such a platform and opportunity...

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Apr 08, 2009

Speech, Hossein Ladjevardi (Persian)

Mr. Ladjevardi's speech is in Persian. Please click here to read it.

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Apr 08, 2009

Speech, Golmorad Moradi (English and Persian)

For a PDF copy of the speech in English,please click here. For a PDF copy of the speech in Persian, please click here.   Ladies and Gentlemen, It is an honour for me to be here for this Conference...

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Apr 08, 2009

Letter, Ahwazi Arab People Democratic Popular...

    For a copy of the letter in PDF format, please click here.   Ladies and Gentlemen who are assembled here for supporting the rights of all peoples of the world in gaining freedom...

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Mar 25, 2009

Iran Conference Press Release, March 24 2009

European Parliament to Host Meeting of Leading Iranian Dissidents   Brussels, 24 March 2009   Leading Iranian opposition figures will be meeting in Brussels, Belgium for a two-day conference...

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Feb 25, 2009

Ahwazi: Dutch-Iranian rights activist impriso...

  Below is an article published by: Expatica The Maastricht human rights activist Faleh Abdullah al-Mansouri has been given a 30-year prison sentence in Iran. The Dutch Ambassador in Teheran received...

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Feb 11, 2009

Ahwaz: Mixed Views on Racial Tension

 Below is an article published by: Al Jazeera Amnesty International has urged Iran to improve its human rights record as the country celebrates the 30th anniversary of the Islamic revolution.Amnesty...

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Jan 12, 2009

Ahwazi: Concern Mounts Over Arab Refugees

  Below is an article published by the British Ahwazi Friendship Society: Amnesty International and Arab human rights groups have voiced concern about plans to illegally deport Ahwazi Arab refugees...

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Dec 12, 2008

Ahwazi: Iran Health Minister Refuses Water

  Below is an article published by the British Ahwazi Friendship Society :Iran's Minister of Health refused a glass of Ahwazi water, claiming it to be unfit for human consumption.Ministry...

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Dec 01, 2008

Ahwazi: Prisoner Punished For Prayer Protest

  Below is an article published by the British Ahwazi Friendship Society:Jailed Ahwazi Arab journalist Hassan Fallahiya has been punished by prison authorities for refusing to participate in...

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Sep 13, 2008

Ahwaz: Tehran targets journalists

Below is an article published by the Guardian  The escalating persecution of journalists in Iran is symptomatic of the regime's fundamental weakness, despite its macho posturing and tyrannical...

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Aug 25, 2008

Ahwazi: Five Year Prison Sentence for Writer ...

Below is an article published by Iranian Minorities’ Human Rights Organisation (IMHRO):The Iranian government has sentenced Ahwazi writer and journalist Mr Yusef Azizi Bani Turfi to 5 years in prison....

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Aug 18, 2008

Ahwazi: Urgent Action Needed To Release Writer...

Below is an article published by the Ahwazi Human Rights Organization:The subdivision 15 of the Islamic revolutionary court in Tehran has passed a 5-year prison sentence against the Ahwazi writer and journalist...

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May 03, 2008

Ahwazi: Iran Uses Tactics Worthy of Khrushche...

Below is an article published by British Ahwazi Friendship Association: Iran's representatives at the seventh session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) launched...

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Apr 18, 2008

Ahwazi: London To Hear Of Iranian Injustices

Below is a statement of solidarity from UNPO which will be read at the event: The Hague, 20 April 2008 - On behalf of the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO), the General Secretary...

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Apr 16, 2008

Ahwazi: Regime Charges Women’s Rights Campaigners...

Below is an article written by Farangis Najibullah and published by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty: Noted Iranian rights activist Parvin Ardalan has been interrogated at the security branch of a...

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Apr 12, 2008

Ahwaz: Call for Protest

Below is an article published by Ahwaz Human Rights News: Ahwazi Arabs are staging a demonstration and a day of meetings in the East End of London on 20 April [2008]. The day of activism will...

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Mar 31, 2008

Ahwazi: Iran Continues Persecution

Below is an article written by Daniel Brett published by the British Ahwazi Friendship Society: Residing mainly in the south-west of Iran, the Ahwazi Arabs are one of the Middle East's most disadvantaged...

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Mar 15, 2008

Ahwazi: Respected Leader Dies

Ahwazis mourn a respected leader and activist for the Ahwazi people, Mansour Silawi al-Ahwazi, who died in London following a stroke. Below is an article published by the British Ahwazi Friendship Society:  One...

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Mar 10, 2008

Iran: Where Are Women’s Rights in the Repub...

Escorted from an Air France jet on the Tehran apron, the case of award winner Parvin Ardalan shows the lack of rights for women in Iran today. Below is an article written by Fredrik Dahl, edited by Caroline...

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Mar 06, 2008

Ahwazi: Iran Guilty of Land Confiscations

Ahwazi Arabs are being displaced from prime agricultural land as the spread of government farms twists Iran’s demography. Below is an article published by the Iranian Minorities’ Human Right...

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Feb 19, 2008

Iran: When Will Minority Languages Be Free?

Iranian schools continue to force minority students to learn Farsi despite the harmful impact it has on culture and students’ performance. Below is an article published by Iranian Minorities’...

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Feb 16, 2008

Iran: Iranian Executions Hit New Record

The number of executions in Iran has increased dramatically from 200 executions in 2006 to about 300 last year, with already 30 having been carried out in January 2008, according to Amnesty International.   Below...

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Feb 13, 2008

Ahwazi: No to Nuclear Power Plant

Ahwazi condemn Iran’s nuclear plans in Khuzestan, warning of a potential Chernobyl-like environmental disaster and possible military use. Below is a press release from The British Ahwazi Friendship...

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Feb 11, 2008

Iran: Rapid Action Needed to Free Detainee

Jelil Ghanilou continues to languish in an Iranian prison after his peaceful calls for greater representation of Azerbaijanis in Iran. Below is an appeal published by the Iranian Minorities’ Human...

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Feb 09, 2008

Ahwazi: German MEP Condemns Iran

A German member of the European Parliament has voiced his group's opposition to the Iranian government's execution of Ahwazi Arab activist Zamel Bawi. Below is an article published by Al Ahwaz News: A...

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Feb 07, 2008

Iran: Iranian Arab Arrested by Syrian Author...

The detainee risks being handed over to the Iranian government on suspicion of having links with an opposition group in the Iranian province of Ahwaz. Below is an article published by Associated Press: Syrian...

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Feb 02, 2008

Ahwazi: Parliament Condemns Executions

In a damning vote, European parliamentarians condemned Iran’s execution of an Ahwazi-Arab and called on Iran to respect the rights of others in detention. Below is an article published by the...

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Feb 01, 2008

Ahwazi: Detainees Remain on Death Row

Ahwaz Human Rights Organization is appealing for international action to save the lives of three Ahwazi-Arab detainees after the execution of a fellow detainee today. Below is an appeal by Ahwaz Human...

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Jan 28, 2008

Iran: Film to Show Horrors of Evin Prison

Mehrnoushe Solouki’s film, ‘The Evil and the Good’ documents her detention and life inside one of Iran’s most notorious prisons. Below is an article written by Toumaj Tahbaz and...

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Jan 22, 2008

Ahwazi: Authorities Detain Memorial Crowds

Iranian security forces have attacked a mosque in a crackdown on Ahwazis commemorating the death of Mehdi Heydari. Below is an article published by Voice of America: Iranian security forces reportedly...

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Jan 14, 2008

Ahwazi: Appeal Fails to Stop Executions

Despite appeals for clemency, four Ahwazi activists were executed in secret by the Iranian authorities, with further executions widely expected. Below is an appeal published by the Ahwaz Human Rights...

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Jan 10, 2008

Ahwazi: EC Urges Fair Trial

The European Commission has recently stated that it urges Iran to live up to its international obligations in granting Dutch human rights activist Abdullah al-Mansouri a fair and open trial. Mr. al-Mansouri...

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Jan 09, 2008

Ahwazi Continue to Face Human Rights Abuses

Amidst continuing human rights violations against the Ahwazi Arabs of Iran, an appeal has been made to the UNHCR calling on the UN body to condemn recent Iranian actions.  The Ahwazi Human Rights...

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Jan 03, 2008

Ahwazi: Appeal To High Commissioner

Ahwazi Arab appealed to the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms. Louise Arbour, over the continued torture of Arab prisoners in Iran and the repression Ahwazi Arab face are facing. Below is an excerpt...

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Dec 17, 2007

Iran: Students Denounce Totalitarian Regime

Students have protested again in Tehran against a crackdown on political and human rights activists, leading the way in growing dissent and opposition to the current regime. Below is an article published...

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Dec 05, 2007

Iran: No Security for Ordinary Citizen?

The death of a medicine student has brought attention within Iran society on the lack of personal freedom in the country and on governmental tightening of control over its population behaviors. Below...

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Nov 29, 2007

Iran: Ebadi Founds Peace Movement

As tensions are building up over Iran’s nuclear activities, Nobel Peace Price, Shirin Ebadi, founds a peace movement to decrease political and military tensions with Western countries.  Below...

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Nov 22, 2007

Iran: French Iranian Filmmaker in Trial

As Iran is continuing its targeting on human rights activist, a French Iranian filmmaker went on trial for her documentary on the Iran-Iraq war.  Below is an article published by Associated Press: A...

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Nov 05, 2007

Iran: US Aid Harming Democratisation?

Questions are being raised as to whether US funding for pro-democracy groups in Iran is discrediting these organisations and putting them in the crosshairs of the Iranian regime. Below is an article published...

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Oct 30, 2007

Ahwazi: Human Rights Activist Sentenced

The Dutch government and human rights organizations, including UNPO, appeal to Iran as a human right activist, Abdullah al-Mansouri, a Dutch citizen, has been sentenced to death by Iranian authorities,...

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Oct 30, 2007

UNPO Appeals For Immediate Action

The Hague, 30 October 2007- UNPO is deeply concerned about the fate Mr. Faleh Abdullah Al-Mansouri, a Dutch human rights activist of Ahwazi decent. The family of Mr. Al-Mansouri has been informed by a...

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Oct 24, 2007

Ahwazi: Tales of Forced Displacement

Daniel Brett, Director of the British Ahwazi Friendship Society, explains the current situation of Ahwazis in Iran, highlighting the ‘demographic restructuring’ of the region. Below are...

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Oct 22, 2007

Ahwazi: Raising Awareness in Denmark

The Ahwazi human rights movement expanded its network by founding the Danish Ahwazi Friendship Society, which, along with the British Ahwazi Friendship Society, is affiliated with UNPO through the Democratic...

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Oct 19, 2007

Ahwazi: Prison For Those Who Speak Out

An Iranian man who has been campaigning against the imprisonment and executions of Ahwazi Arabs has himself been arrested and thrown in jail. Below is an article published by the British Ahwazi Friendship...

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Sep 25, 2007

Ahwazi: Four More Face Execution

The Ahwazi Human Rights Organisation (AHRO) has issues an appeal to the High Commissioner for Human Rights to take action against Iran, as the regime there prepares to add to its long list of human rights...

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Sep 17, 2007

Ahwazi: Appeal Against Executions

The Ahwaz Human Rights Organization (AHRO) has issued an appeal for the international community to condemn the recent execution of three Ahwazi Arabs and to apply pressure on Tehran to halt further executions. Below...

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Sep 13, 2007

Ahwazi: Three Men Executed Without Fair Tria...

As soon as the UN Commissioner for Human Rights stepped out of Iran’s front door, the authorities again resumed the executions of Ahwazi Arabs who were sentenced to death in a mockery of a trial. Below...

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Sep 10, 2007

Iran: Focus Should Be on Human Rights

A prominent Iranian Journalist has spoken out against what he sees as UN ineffectiveness and a preoccupation with the nuclear issue, at the cost of human rights in Iran. Below are extracts from an interview...

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Sep 04, 2007

Ahwazi: Pollution Endangering Livelihood

Tehran sends in investigators as pollution from the petrochemical industry reaches critical levels. But is this too little too late for the Ahwazi community? Below is an article published by The British...

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Sep 04, 2007

UNPO Appeals for Inquiry into Human Rights Infringements...

The Hague, 04 September 2007 – In light of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Ms. Louise Arbour’s upcoming visit to Iran, UNPO expresses its deep concerns for the continued...

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Aug 30, 2007

Ahwazi: Urgent Request for Inquiry by Arbour

Faced with continued extrajudicial executions the Ahwaz Human Rights Organization has issued an appeal to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to immediately investigate. Below are extracts from...

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Aug 27, 2007

Iran: Journalist Tell of Restrictions

Despite celebrations of their own designated ‘day’, journalists in Iran work under increasingly difficult conditions. As a result, the profession is in danger of collapsing. Below is an article...

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Aug 20, 2007

Iran: Public Executions on the Rise

A series of hangings, including that of at least three political activists, appear designed to warn of the continued dangers of dissidence in Iran.    Below is an article published by Robert...

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Aug 06, 2007

Iran: EU Condemns Crackdown on Minorities

The Presidency of the European Union has condemned the sentencing of two Kurdish journalists to death in Iran and denounced the growing repression of minorities. Below is an article published by Al Ahwaz...

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Jun 14, 2007

Ahwazi: Fear of Repercussions of Deportation

Ahwaz novelist and playwright Farid Morshidi is facing possible deportation by Sweden back to Iran. Several organisations have expressed grave concern at his fate upon return to Iran and have issued...

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Jun 06, 2007

Ahwazi: Still Unheard

As the economic, social, and political situation facing Ahwazi Arabs in Iran remains worrying, their demands to the Iranian government continue to fall on deaf ears. Below are extracts from an article...

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May 29, 2007

Ahwazi: British Foreign Minister’s Support

In a letter addressed to the British Ahwazi Friendship Society, British Foreign Minister Kim Howells pledged to express his concerns about minority rights to the Iranian authorities. Below are extracts...

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May 25, 2007

Ahwazi: Journalists Intimidated

Tehran-based Ahwazi journalists have been denounced for an alleged anti-Iranian bias. This is the latest in a series of threats and arrests to journalist attempting to shed light on the situation of Ahwazi...

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May 08, 2007

Ahwazi: Refugees in Precarious Situation in ...

As ties between Damascus and Tehran strengthen, Ahwazi refugees find themselves in a precarious situation in Syria. Below is an article written by Rania Abouzeid and published by the Christian Science...

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Apr 25, 2007

Ahwaz: Iran’s Dividing Wall

Below is an extract from an article that was published by Al-Ahwaz news. The US and Israel have faced international condemnation for the construction of separation walls in the West Bank and Baghdad,...

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Apr 23, 2007

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...

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Apr 17, 2007

Iran: Female Journalists Face Arrest

Below is an article published by Radio Free Europe: A prominent international media rights group says Iran has launched a crackdown on women journalists. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) says two journalists...

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Apr 17, 2007

Ahwazi: 5 Refugees Released

Below is an article published by British Ahwazi Friendship Society: An international campaign by Ahwazi and international human rights organisations has succeeded in freeing five Ahwazi Arab refugees...

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Apr 16, 2007

Ahwazi: Anniversary Sparks Mass Arrests

Below is an excerpt from an article published by British Ahwazi Friendship Society: The Iranian regime has arrested at least 100 Ahwazi Arabs ahead of protests marking the second anniversary of the Ahwazi...

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Apr 05, 2007

Ahwazi: Refugees Face Possible Persecution

Below is an article published by Reuters AlertNet: Syrian authorities should immediately release six Iranian refugees of Arab ethnicity, or disclose a credible legal basis for detaining them, Human Rights...

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Mar 16, 2007

Ahwazi: Death Prompts UN Appeal

Below is an appeal issued by the Ahwaz Human Rights Organization to Prof. Philip Alston, UN Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions, on 12 March 2007: “Dear Prof. Alston, On...

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Mar 15, 2007

Ahwazi: Mercury Pollution Scare

Below is an article published by British Ahwazi Friendship Society: The Bandar Imam petrochemical complex is causing environmental devastation, according to two of Iran's leading ecologists. Research...

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Mar 12, 2007

Ahwazi: Refugees Arrested In Syria

Below are excerpts from an article published by British Ahwazi Friendship Society: The Syrian Baathist regime has once again defied international law and arrested six young Ahwazi Arab UNHCR-registered...

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Feb 27, 2007

Iran: Report Indicates Minority Persecution

Below is an article published by Amnesty International: Amnesty International is greatly concerned by continuing violations of the rights of members of Iran’s ethnic minorities, including Iranian...

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Feb 19, 2007

Ahwazi: Prisoner Granted Reprieve

Below is an article published by British Ahwazi Friendship Society: The Iranian regime has announced that it made an eleventh hour decision to grant an Ahwazi prisoner a reprieve from execution in a bizarre...

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Feb 15, 2007

UNPO Appeals to Halt Further Executions of Ahwazi...

The Hague, 15 February 2007 – The UNPO remains deeply concerned about the continued persecution of the Ahwazi Arab population by Iranian authorities. At its latest meeting of the UNPO Presidency,...

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Feb 15, 2007

Ahwazi: Outcry Against Executions

Below is an article published by Human Rights Watch: The Iranian Judiciary should immediately halt all executions of people who have been sentenced to death in secret following unfair trials that do not...

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Feb 14, 2007

Ahwazi: Executions Condemned

At the latest meeting of the UNPO Presidency, held at the European Parliament in Brussels from 1 to 3 February 2007, concern was raised at distressing reports of the execution of peaceful activists...

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Feb 14, 2007

Ahwazi: Executions Persist Despite Condemnati...

Below is an article published by British Ahwazi Friendship Society: The Iranian regime executed three Ahwazi Arabs this morning at a prison in Ahwaz. The killing of Ghasem Salami (Salamat), 41 years...

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Jan 25, 2007

Ahwazi: Executions Follow Unfair Trials

Below is an excerpt from an article published by Amnesty International: Amnesty International deplores the executions earlier today of four Iranian Arab men and fears for the lives of other prisoners...

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Jan 16, 2007

Ahwazi: Public Hangings Continue

Below is an article published by Adnkronos International; Tehran - A young man only identified as Abbas on Monday was hanged in the stadium of Nour, in the northern Iranian Mazanderan region. It is...

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Jan 11, 2007

UN Joins Appeal for Halt to Execution of Ahwazi...

Following urgent appeals from UNPO and other international organisations, a number of the UN’s Special Rapporteurs have added their voices to call for an immediate halt to the execution of 7 Ahwazi...

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Jan 11, 2007

Ahwazi: Question Asked of European Council

Following an extensive campaigned by UNPO and other international organisation, the European Parliament passed in November 2006 a strongly worded condemnation of Iran’s treatment of religious and...

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Jan 10, 2007

Ahwazi: Ahmedinejad Fails to Deliver on Indigenous...

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's four-day visit to Khuzestan last week was billed as a chance to listen to the province’s largely Arab population. Instead, it turned out to be a long lecture on foreign...

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Jan 10, 2007

UNPO Appeals for Halt to Execution of 7 Ahwazi...

The Hague, 10 January 2007 – UNPO remains deeply concerned about the fate of 7 Ahwazi Arab activists recently sentenced to death by Iranian Courts. On Monday 8 January 2007 the families of seven...

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Jan 09, 2007

Ahwazi: Iranian Regime to Execute 7 More Ahwazi-Arabs-...

Below is an abstract of an appeal released on January 8 2007, by the Ahwaz Human Rights Organization on the threat of execution of seven Ahwazi-Arabs by the Iranian regime: Again, in a blatant defiance...

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Jan 02, 2007

Ahwazi: Ahmadinejad to Visit Ahwaz

Below is an article published by the British Ahwazi Friendship Society on 02 January 2007:    President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is planning to visit Ahwaz on Tuesday, the day after three Ahwazi...

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Dec 27, 2006

Ahwazi: UNHCR “Extremely Concerned for Refugees...

UNPO and partner organisations have repeatedly expressed alarm over the disappearance of several Ahwazi individuals, some deported from Syria to Iran, and has campaigned at the EU, UN and appealed to authorities...

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Dec 22, 2006

Ahwaz: Iran Names Three Executed Ahwazis

The Iranian regime has named the three men it executed on Tuesday. They are: Ali Matouri Zadeh, Malek Bani Tamim and Alireza Asakre. The regime has prevented relatives of the men from burying them in accordance...

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Dec 21, 2006

Ahwazi: Iran Begins Mass Execution, Defying World...

Below is an article published by the British Ahwazi Friendship Society: The Iranian regime has defied the UN General Assembly, the European Parliament and Iranian and international human rights organisations...

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Dec 20, 2006

Ahwazi: Election Results Show Anti-Ahmadinejad...

Below is an article published by Radio Free Europe: Rafsanjani's victory in the Assembly of Experts -- the powerful body that oversees the work of Iran's supreme leader -- is regarded as a setback...

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Dec 18, 2006

Ahwazi: Mass Boycott of the Elections Staged

Below is an article published by the British Ahwazi Friendship Society: Ahwazi Arabs have staged a mass boycott of the elections to the Ahwaz municipal council and the Assembly of Experts amid accusations...

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Dec 13, 2006

Ahwazi: Fear after News of Deportation and Death...

DAMASCUS, 11 December (IRIN) - Ethnic Arab (Ahwazi) refugees from Iran now living in Damascus have expressed fear as news emerged that Syria has deported three more Ahwazi activists to Iran, where they...

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Dec 12, 2006

Ahwazi: Iranian Students Disrupt Ahmadinejad

Below is an article published by the International Herald Tribune: TEHRAN, Iran: Iranian students staged a rare protest against President Mahmamoud Ahmadinejad on Monday, calling him a "dictator"...

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Dec 08, 2006

Ahwazi: Intelligence Committee Chairman Condemns...

Below is an article by the British Ahwazi Friendship Society: The Chair of the British Parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee, Paul Murphy, has signed a parliamentary Early Day Motion (EDM)...

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Dec 07, 2006

Ahwazi: Address delivered to “Democracy Promotion:...

Statement by Dr. Karim Abdian of the Ahwaz Human Rights Organization to Conference on “Democracy Promotion: The European Way” European Parliament, Brussels 6 – 7 December 2006   I...

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Dec 05, 2006

Ahwazi: Syria Returns Refugees to Iran, AI S...

On November 30, Amnesty International issued the following statement on “Iran/Syria: Further information on Forcible return/Fear of torture and ill-treatment/ Possible Death Sentence.” IRAN/SYRIA...

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Dec 04, 2006

Ahwazi: Fears of Environmental Disaster from...

Below is an article published by the British Ahwazi Friendship Society The opening of Iran's first private petrochemical unit in Mahshahr (Mashour), on the Gulf coast of Ahwaz (Khuzestan) has sparked...

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Dec 01, 2006

Ahwazi: Repression of Journalists more Subtle,...

The following is a statement by Reporters Without Borders on November 28 on suppression of journalists in Iran: November 28 - Since ultraconservative President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad came to power in June...

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Nov 30, 2006

Ahwazi: British MPs Condemn Trials

Below is an article published by the British Ahwazi Friendship Society: Thirty-three British MPs, from Labour, Conservative, Liberal Democrat, Plaid Cymru (Party of Wales) and Northern Ireland's Social...

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Nov 28, 2006

Ahwazi: Iran Majlis Speaker Misrepresents Arabs...

Below is an article published on the British Ahwazi Friendship Society Website: Iranian Parliament Speaker Gholam Ali Haddad Adel has made a major gaffe in his accusation that the "enemies of Islam"...

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Nov 24, 2006

Ahwazi: Syria Sends Arab Refugees to Death

The Syrian Human Rights Committee (SHRC) has denounced the deportation of another group of Ahwazi citizens living in Syria to Iran in a press released issued this week. Human rights organisations and...

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Nov 23, 2006

Ahwazi: UN GA Criticizes Iran's Discrimination...

Below is an article published by the British Ahwazi Friendship Society:   The UN General Assembly overwhelmingly voted in favor of a resolution proposed by the Canadian government which criticized...

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Nov 20, 2006

Ahwazi: Iran Imposes Blackout on Ahwazi Webs...

Below is an article published by the British Ahwazi Friendship Society: The Iranian regime has imposed a complete block on all Ahwazi websites ahead of its planned execution of Arab activists. Nasser...

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Nov 17, 2006

Ahwazi: European Parliament Adopts Resolution

The European Parliament adopted last night an extensive resolution, supported by MEP Marco Pannella, MEP Marco Cappato and the Liberal group (ALDE), on the present situation in Iran, with a particular...

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Nov 16, 2006

UNPO Continues Appeal to Stop Executions of Ahwazi...

The Hague, 16 November 2006 - UNPO remains deeply concerned about the fate of the 10 ethnic Ahwazi-Arab activists recently sentenced to death by Iranian Courts, as well as an eleventh activist also to...

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Nov 15, 2006

Ahwazi: Forced "Confessions" Broadcasted

Forced confessions of 11 Ahwazi men broadcasted on Khuzestan TV blamed a little-known militant group that has supposedly resurfaced more than 20 years after it vanished during the Iran-Iraq War. After...

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Nov 14, 2006

UNPO Call to Stop Public Executions of Ahwazi...

The Hague, 14 November 2006 - UNPO has issued appeals to Philip Alston, the United Nations’ (UN) Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary, or Arbitrary Executions, and Mrs. Louise Arbour, the...

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Nov 13, 2006

Ahwazi: Fear of Imminent Execution

Article by the British Ahwazi Friendship Society: The Iranian Supreme Court has confirmed death sentences for 10 Ahwazis convicted of bomb attacks in Ahwaz and will be publicly hung very soon, according...

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Nov 13, 2006

UNPO Appeal on Imminent Execution of Ahwazi Activists...

The Hague, 13 November 2006 – UNPO remains deeply concerned about the fate of 19 Ahwazi men convicted on charges of terrorism and mohareb (enmity with God) by Iranian courts. 10 of the men; Ali...

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Nov 07, 2006

Ahwazis: Arab Group in Iran Faces Persecutio...

Below is an aricle published on the San Francisco Chronicles which presents the Human Rights violation suffered by Ahwaz People under the Iranian regime. For decades, the Persian shahs and ayatollahs...

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Nov 06, 2006

Ahwazi: Iran Bans Lejnat Al-Wefaq, Minority Rights...

The Iranian regime has banned an Ahwazi Arab group campaigning for minority rights, claiming that it was behind the unrest in Al-Ahwaz (Khuzestan). According to the official Iranian Students News Agency...

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Nov 03, 2006

Ahwazi: Join Demonstration against Khatami in...

Bellow is an Article published by the British Ahwazi Friendship Society on the demonstration against Khatami’s visit in London:   Ahwazis were among the hundreds demonstrating outside Chatham...

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Nov 01, 2006

Ahwazi: UNPO VIII GA Adopts Resolution on Situation...

A central component of the VIII UNPO General Assembly, held this year in Taipei, Taiwan, from 27 – 29 October, was to facilitate the discussion of specific problems facing UNPO Members, as well...

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Nov 01, 2006

Ahwazi: Rally for Eid ul-Fitr

London's Ahwaz Arab community celebrated Eid ul-Fitr on Saturday, with food, traditional music and speeches on the Ahwazi movement. The Eid celebration was organised by the Ahwaz Community Association...

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Oct 31, 2006

Ahwazi: Anger over Khatami's Honorary Degree

Below is an article issued by the British Ahwazi Friendship Society on their reaction on the awarding of former Iranian president Muhammed Khatami an honorary doctorate. Ahwazi activists have joined...

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Oct 26, 2006

Ahwazi : Activists Call for End to Practice of...

PRAGUE, October 25, 2006 (RFE/RL) -- Women's rights activists in Iran have called on the head of the country's conservative judiciary and the parliament to end the stoning to death of convicted adulterers....

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Oct 25, 2006

Ahwaz: Youths Defy Iran Regime with Eid Prot...

Ahwazi Arab youths defied the Iranian security forces and used Eid ul-Fitr - an Islamic festival marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan - to call for Arab minority rights in protests across Ahwaz. Peaceful...

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Oct 24, 2006

Ahwazi: Poverty Leads to Massive Rise in Female...

The number of female pavement sellers in the Arab majority cities of Khorramshahr (Mohamareh) and Abadan is soaring, according to a report published by Iran's Fars News Agency. According to the news...

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Oct 23, 2006

Ahwazi: Iran Regime Plans Nuclear Reactors in...

In a meeting with Ahwaz's new head of energy, Iran's Deputy Energy Minister, Mohammad Ahmadian, confirmed that the government was studying the possibility of two new nuclear power plants in the province....

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Oct 23, 2006

Ahwazi: Appeal to Investigate Situation in Envin...

Below is the text of the petition released by the Human Rights Activists in Iran (H.R.A.I), the Committee Defense for Human Rights in north-west of Iran (H.RN.W.I), the Kurdish Human Rights Defense organization...

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Oct 20, 2006

Iran: New Daily Suspends Publication after Ministry...

PRAGUE, October 19, 2006 (RFE/RL) -- A new daily newspaper in Iran has suspended its publication just three days into its printrun after the Culture Ministry told it that it could not cover political news....

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Oct 19, 2006

Ahwazi: Dutch Activist in Prison Torture Cha...

Faleh Abdullah Al-Mansuri, a Dutch citizen and the leader of the Ahwaz Liberation Organisation (ALO) (pictured with the mayor of his home town Maastricht), has been transferred to Evin prison after being...

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Oct 19, 2006

Ahwazi: 1,442 Arrests in One Month

Colonel Matin-Rad, commander of Iran's State Security Forces in the border city of Abadan, has announced that 1,442 people were arrested in the Arab-majority province of Khuzestan in the space of just...

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Oct 16, 2006

Ahwazi: Three Ahwazis Face Execution

Below is an Abstract of an article published on the British Ahwazi Friendship Society’s website: Three Ahwazis have been sentenced to death on trumped up charges of theft in order to intimidate...

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Oct 16, 2006

Ahwazi: Pollution Threatens Livelihoods

An Iranian petrochemical company has denied that the death of thousands of fish off the Mahshahr (Mashour) coast was related to its poor environmental standards. The pollution is believed to have come...

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Oct 11, 2006

Ahwazi: Tehran's Secret War Against Its Own ...

Below is an article written by Peter Tatchell, journalist to the Times and Sunday Times newspapers. Published on the Time Online’s website it underlines the persecution of Ahwazi Arabs by Teheran’s...

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Oct 11, 2006

Ahwazi: Back African Union Action on Darfur

Ahwazi Arab groups have joined British politicians, academics and human rights campaigners in calling for greater international action to prevent genocide in Sudan's Darfur region. Director of the Ahwaz...

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Oct 10, 2006

Ahwazi: Port Workers Protest at Non-Payment of...

Ahwazi port workers have clashed with police in recent days during protests at the non-payment of wages. Hundreds of workers employed at port facilities and ship building industries in Mohamareh (Khorammshahr)...

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Oct 02, 2006

Ahwazi: Women at Risk of Execution by Stoning...

Nearly all of the women have been sentenced to die by stoning for adultery. Officially Iran had placed a moratorium on the cruel and painful practise in 2002, but Amnesty claims sentencing continues. The...

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Sep 30, 2006

Ahwazi: New Journal on Human Rights in Iran ...

Gozaar, meaning "transition"–is a monthly Persian/English journal devoted to democracy and human rights in Iran. Recognizing that open access to ideas and information is the cornerstone...

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Sep 22, 2006

Ahwazi: Paramilitaries Forces Mobilization D...

Hardline Majlis member for Ahwaz, Hamid Zanganeh, has downplayed the deployment of Bassij paramilitarist forces on the city's streets. Local residents of the Ahwaz City, which is experiencing growing...

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Sep 19, 2006

UN Refugee Agency Appeals for Release of Three...

Voicing "deep concern" about the fate of three Iranian Arabs being held in Syria, the United Nations refugee agency on Friday 15th September urged their release. Before being taken into detention...

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Sep 19, 2006

Ahwazi: "Twenty Seven Dissidents in Custody"

According to BBC Persian Service, one of Iran's leading human rights activists, Emadeddin Baghi, the head of the the Society for Defending Prisoners' Rights and editor of the banned Jumhuriyat (Republic)...

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Sep 18, 2006

Ahwazi: UNHCR Deeply Concerned about Refugees...

UNHCR is deeply concerned about the fate of three Ahwazi refugees (Iranian Arabs) in Syria. The three men were arrested by Syrian authorities last May in Damascus and have been detained since that time....

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Sep 10, 2006

Ahwazi: Twenty Persons Face Execution in Ira...

Iran's pro-regime media have confirmed that a further 20 Ahwazis blamed for leading unrest in Al-Ahwaz (Khuzestan) in April 2005 have been referred to tribunal court to confirm death sentences against...

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Aug 21, 2006

Ahwazi Refugees Remain in Syrian Custody

The Ahwaz Human Rights Organization (AHRO) has received unconfirmed reports that only one of four Ahwazi refugees were extradited to Iran, contrary to media reports. Following consultation with United...

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Aug 18, 2006

Ahwazi: Urgent Appeal: Syrian Regime Handed Over...

[NOTE by UNPO: 18 August 2006 - The UNHCR informs that contrary to what was stated by other sources, it has not received confirmation from Syria that Taher Ali Mazraa, Rasool Ali Mazra and Jamal Obaidawi...

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Aug 15, 2006

Ahwazi: UNPO Appeal on Deportation of Ahwazi-Arab...

The Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO) is deeply concerned about the recent Syrian handover to Iranian Authorities of Ahwazi-Arab (ethnic Arabs of southwest Iran) political refugees....

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Aug 15, 2006

UNPO on Illegal Syrian Handover of Ahwazi-Arabs...

The Hague, 15 August 2006- The Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO) is deeply concerned about the recent Syrian handover to Iranian Authorities of Ahwazi-Arab (ethnic Arabs of southwest...

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Aug 14, 2006

Ahwazi: Dutch Activist Still Held Incommunic...

Efforts to seek the release of 60 year old Dutch national Faleh Abdullah Al-Mansouri, the leader of the Ahwaz Liberation Organisation (ALO) who was deported to Iran by the Syrian government in May 2006...

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Aug 12, 2006

Ahwazi: Syria Violating International Law

Amnesty International has issued a statement claiming that Syria violated international law by deporting five Ahwazis, most of them refugees, to Iran in May. (click here to download) In an urgent action...

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Aug 10, 2006

Ahwazi: Syria Deports Ahwazis to Iran, Including...

The British Ahwazi Friendship Society (BAFS) has learnt that the Syrian government has deported all Ahwazis, including UNHCR registered refugees and a Dutch national, in its custody to Iran where they...

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Aug 07, 2006

Amnesty Belgium Demonstrates Outside Syrian Embassy...

Amnesty International Belgium held a demonstration outside the Syrian embassy in Brussels on Friday to protest at the detention of Ahwazi refugees in Damascus. Dutch national Faleh Abdullah Al-Mansouri...

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Aug 03, 2006

Ahwazi: Urgent Appeal by AHRO

The Ahwazi Human Rights Organization (AHRO) has issued an urgent appeal to world leaders concerning the imminent execution of 10 ethnic Arab-Iranians (Ahwazi-Arabs) in Ahwaz, provincial capital of Khuzestan...

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Aug 02, 2006

Ahwazi: Oral Intervention on Human Rights Situation,...

UNPO member, Ahwazi Human Rights Organisation, presents statement on the human rights situation of the Ahwazi at the opening session of the UN WGIP in Geneva Agenda Item 4 (a): General Discussion Thank...

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Jul 28, 2006

Son of Ahwazi Sentenced to Death Appeals to Kofi...

The young son of Zamel Bawi, who has been sentenced to death after a show trial by the Iranian regime, has delivered a heart-wrenching appeal to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to intervene to save his...

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Jul 27, 2006

Ahwazi: Ten Sentenced To Hang in Public

Below is a press release from the National Council of Resistance of Iran The clerical regime's judiciary handed down 10 death sentences in the southwestern town of Ahwaz. "Ten people have been sentenced...

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Jul 26, 2006

British Ahwazi Friendship Society Launches Collaborative...

The British Ahwazi Friendship Society (BAFS) has launched a collaborative blog run by Ahwazis in its effort to support access to the alternative media for the Ahwazi community. AHWAZ BLOG allows Ahwazi...

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Jul 21, 2006

Ahwazi Unrest Threatens Oil Markets

A Moody's economist has warned that unrest in Ahwaz (Khuzestan) could send global oil prices soaring. Speaking to Dow Jones Market Watch, Rakesh Shankar indicated that sabotage of oil pipelines running...

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Jul 18, 2006

Ahwazi: UN Special Rapporteur Condemns Iran's...

UN Special Rapporteur on housing, Miloon Kothari, has released a damning report on Iran's housing conditions, singling out ethnic and religious minorities and women as suffering discrimination. Kothari...

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Jul 05, 2006

Ahwazi: Ahwazi Issue Raised at the United Na...

Another round of talks in The Hague, Netherlands, between the GoI and the National Socialist Council of Nagalim has taken place with a high-level representation from New Delhi, including three political...

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Jul 05, 2006

Ahwazi: Ahwazi Issue Raised at the United Na...

The abuse of Ahwazi Arabs' human rights has been raised at the United Nations Human Rights Council amid mounting concerns over Iran's treatment of political prisoners, including minors and babies, who...

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Jun 30, 2006

Ahwaz: Iran Could Extend Assassination and Terrorist...

The British Ahwazi Friendship Society (BAFS) has received credible reports from inside Iran that the Iranian regime is planning to assassinate dissidents in Europe. Ahwazis and BAFS members have received...

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Apr 18, 2006

Ahwazi: Iran May Call on Sistani for Mediati...

The Iranian regime is considering bringing the Iraq-based Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Husayni Sistani to mediate with Ahwazi Arabs to bring the uprising in Al-Ahwaz (Khuzestan) to an end. Reports from...

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Apr 14, 2006

Ahwazi:Amnesty Urges Iran Restraint on Intifada...

Amnesty International has called on the Iranian government to show restraint in policing any demonstrations marking the anniversary of the Ahwazi Arab intifada in Ahwaz City, southwest Iran....

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Apr 12, 2006

Ahwazi: Marking in Brussels of 2005 Uprising

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...

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Apr 11, 2006

UNPO on Unlawful Arrest and Detention of Ahwazi...

The Hague, 11 April 2006- The Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO) is deeply concerned about the recent arrest and detention of four Ahwazi women with their children, being held...

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Apr 07, 2006

Ahwazi: Leading Politician Supports Ahwazi Arab...

A leading member of the European Parliament, Paulo Casaca, has pledged his support to the Ahwazi democratic resistance to the Iranian regime. In a letter to the British Ahwazi Friendship Society...

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Apr 06, 2006

Ahwaz: Iran Cyber Attack on BAFS Website

The British Ahwazi Friendship Society (BAFS) website has been attacked by hackers, along with a number of other groups campaigning against human rights violations in Iran. The website, which...

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Apr 03, 2006

Ahwazi: UNICEF Called Upon to Intervene to Stop...

Untitled Document The British Ahwazi Friendship Society is called on UNICEF to intervene to stop the continued kidnapping and detention of young Ahwazi children and their mothers....

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Mar 28, 2006

Ahwazi: The British Ahwazi Friendship Society...

The British Ahwazi Friendship Society (BAFS) website celebrates its first anniversary this week. BAFS was created in December 2004 to lobby on behalf of Ahwazi Arabs and attract international...

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Mar 27, 2006

Ahwazi: Ahwaz Human Rights Organization Condemns...

Appeal issued by the Ahwaz Human Rights Organization (AHRO) On Sunday, 19 March 2006, the Islamic Republic of Iran, in a closed Religious court without the presence of lawyers, sentenced two...

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Mar 21, 2006

Ahwazi: Teacher Faces Imminent Execution

Teacher Risan Hassan Sawari, 30, is facing imminent execution, according to his relatives. He was one of several men "confessing" on the state-owned Khuzestan TV to carrying out bomb...

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Mar 13, 2006

Ahwazi: Iran Slammed for 'Barbarian' Treatment...

Portuguese Socialist MEP Paulo Casaca, the head of the European Parliament's delegation to NATO, has slammed the Iranian regime's "show trials" of Ahwazi Arabs. He has also raised...

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Mar 10, 2006

Ahwazi: Iran Arrests More Than 50 Ahwazi Arabs...

The Iranian regime says it has arrested more than 50 Ahwazi Arabs in a clamp-down on anti-government protests in Al-Ahwaz (Khuzestan). Officials claim the arrests are related to a series of bomb attacks,...

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Mar 09, 2006

Ahwazi: Mayor Among Latest Arrests by Iran Re...

Saeed Ehmidan, the mayor of Khalafiyeh (Khalafabad), is among the latest wave of arrests by the Iranian regime in Al-Ahwaz (Khuzestan). Khalafiyeh is a own of 30,000 inhabitants lying 58 miles...

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Mar 07, 2006

Ahwazi: Call to Iran to Release Women and Chi...

Ahwazi activists are continuing to press for the release of 28-year-old Masouma Kaabi, her four-year-old son Aimad and her mother-in-law from prison. The women and baby have been imprisoned to...

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Mar 02, 2006

Ahwazi: Regime Abuses Women and Children

Abuse of Ahwazi women and children Ahwazi activists are highlighting the cases of two female Ahwazi political prisoners: Sakina Naisi and Mousma Kaabi. Sakina is 40 years old and pregnant and...

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Mar 02, 2006

Ahwazi: Imminent Execution of Ahwazis

Imminent Execution of Ahwazis 02 March 2006 - UNPO remains highly concerned about the two awaiting execution set to take place today, following the reported execution of three Ahwazi Arabs on...

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Feb 28, 2006

Ahwazi: Ethnic Cleansing in Full Force in Ira...

The Iranian regime is stepping up its land confiscation programme in order to expand Persian settlements in Al-Ahwaz (Khuzestan), despite condemnation by the UNCHR and European Parliament last...

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Feb 27, 2006

Ahwazi: Cambridge Academic Calls For Recognition...

University of Cambridge academic Gabriel Glickman has called for greater recognition of cultural and ethnic diversity as a basis for democratic change in Iran. Writing for the Henry Jackson...

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Feb 23, 2006

UNPO on Imminent Unjust Execution of Ahwazi Arab...

The Hague, 23 February 2006- UNPO has issued an appeal for urgent action to Mr. Philip Alston, United Nations Special Rapporteur Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions to pay urgent attention...

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Feb 22, 2006

Ahwazi Brothers in Iran Facing Execution

Iran Focus (20 Feb): Yesterday, according to Iran's official Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), Justice Minister Jamal Karim-Rad had still dismissed suggestions that seven Ahwazi Arabs accused...

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Feb 21, 2006

Ahwazi: Iran Claims New Bomb Planted by Brita...

Tehran, Iran, Feb. 20 – Iran said on Monday that Britain was behind a blast that had gone off in the south-western city of Ahwaz on Sunday night which was similar to several recent explosions...

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Feb 17, 2006

Ahwazi: Iran Condemned for Treatment of Ethnic...

The administration of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has come under severe criticism from Amnesty International in a report entitled "New government fails to address dire human rights situation",...

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Feb 15, 2006

Ahwazi: Iran Sentences Seven over Bombings

Seven people have been sentenced in relation to the bomb attacks in Ahwaz in January, according to reports in the Iranian media. Little is known of the seven that have been sentenced or the 38...

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Feb 13, 2006

Ahwazi: Appeal to Support Al-Ahwaz TV

Al-Ahwaz TV is the main form of communication between the Ahwazi Arabs and the outside world. Since it was set up two years ago, Al-Ahwaz TV has gone from strength to strength and become a vanguard...

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Feb 09, 2006

Ahwazi: Political Repression On the Rise

The Iranian regime's campaign of political repression against Ahwazi Arabs has intensified. The Deputy Governor of Khuzestan, Mohsen Farokhinejad, claimed that a further 40 suspects have been...

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Feb 02, 2006

Ahwazi: Children in Irans Custody at Risk of ...

Amnesty International has issued an urgent action appeal on behalf of scores of Ahwazi Arabs, including children, arrested during the Eid-al-Adha protests in Ahwaz City on 11 January. The leading...

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Feb 01, 2006

Ahwazi: Joint Statement Against Bomb Attacks

This statement is a response by the largest Ahwazi groups and their supporters to the bomb attacks of 26 January in Ahwaz City, which killed nine people and injured at least 40 others. They are...

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Jan 30, 2006

Ahwazi: Liberty or Death for Imam on Hunger S...

According to the Mohammara News Agency (MONA), Sheikh Saleh Haidari, the imam of Dayiereh mosque, has been on hunger strike since last Wednesday. Sheikh Haidari was arrested after he led the...

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Jan 28, 2006

Ahwaz: Joint Ahwazi Statement Against Violenc...

This statement is a response by the largest Ahwazi groups and their supporters to the bomb attacks of 26 January in Ahwaz City, which killed nine people and injured at least 40 others. They are...

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Jan 27, 2006

Ahwazi: U.K. Slammed With Terrorism Accusatio...

The U.K. is fielding accusations from Iran regarding their involvement in an Ahwaz bombing this week. Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki claims that there are photographs with U.K. officials...

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Jan 25, 2006

Ahwazi: Eight Killed in Iran Bomb Attacks

At least eight people were killed and 46 injured in two blasts in the south-western Iranian city of Ahwaz, police said. The two bombs exploded outside a privately-run bank and a government office...

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Jan 17, 2006

Ahwazi: Iran Authorities Arrest Hundreds and Shoot...

Report by British Awazhi Friendship Society: Clashes between Ahwazi Arabs and security forces, which began with a peaceful demonstration on Eid-al-Adha, are continuing and have spread throughout...

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Jan 16, 2006

Ahwazi: Iran's Crack-Down as Ahwaz Eid Protests...

Clashes between Ahwazi Arab youth and security forces have erupted after Iranian security forces fired on demonstrators in Ahwaz City on Wednesday, killing an unknown number of people. On Thursday,...

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Jan 13, 2006

Ahwazi: Iran Security Forces Attack Ahwazi Anti-government...

Iranian security forces attacked thousands of Ahwazi Arabs staging peaceful demonstrations during the Muslim festival of Eid-ul-Adha on Wednesday, with dozens arrested and injured and reports of...

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Jan 11, 2006

Ahwazi: Minorities Protest Ahmadinejad Statem...

A front representing Iran's ethnic minority parties has condemned the Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's position on the Nazi Holocaust and the destruction of Israel. The Congress of Nationalities...

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Jan 05, 2006

Ahwazi: Parliamentary Think Tank Warns of Ethnic...

The Islamic Majlis Centre for Research has warned that Iran could face ethnic conflict and unrest unless the government addresses the needs of Iran's ethnic minorities. In a recently published...

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Jan 04, 2006

Ahwazi: Freed Ahwazi Arab Prisoner Speaks of ...

Untitled Document A young Ahwazi Arab recently released from jail has spoken of his treatment after his arrest during demonstrations in Ahwaz City, which coincided with Eid Al-Fitr in...

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Dec 30, 2005

Ahwaz: Ahwazi Arabs Executed

Two Arabs were executed in Ahwaz City, according to reports by Iranian news agencies on Wednesday. It is unclear what crimes the men were accused of committing, with one source suggesting they...

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Dec 27, 2005

Ahwazi: Iranian Baseej Forcibly Conscripting ...

The Ahwaz Studies Centre has received reports that the Iranian regime is militarising education in Khuzestan by forcibly recruiting Ahwazi Arab students. Sources in the Ahwazi Arab opposition...

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Dec 20, 2005

Ahwazi: Members Protest at Karoon River Diver...

Members of the Iranian parliament representing Khuzestan province have launched a strong protest against the government's Karoon River water diversion project, with a petition to impeach Energy...

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Dec 12, 2005

Ahwazi: Amnesty appeal for Ahwazis in Iran de...

Amnesty International published an urgent action this week highlighting the incommunicado detention and possible torture of four Ahwazi Arabs who participated in demonstrations by Arabs during...

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Nov 15, 2005

Ahwazi: Scholar Discusses Domestic Threats to...

Untitled Document Ethnic Separatism in Perspective Iran is more an empire than a nation. While Persian (Farsi) is the official language, half of all Iranians speak a different language...

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Nov 08, 2005

Ahwazi: More Details Emerge of Iran's Eid Cr...

The Ahwaz Human Rights Organisation (AHRO) has released further details on the Eid protests by Ahwazi Arabs. AHRO reports that on Friday 3,000 Ahwazis staged a peaceful march towards the centre...

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Nov 07, 2005

Ahwazi: Ahwaz Eid Protests End in Arrests

Following Friday's Eid prayers, 3,000-4,000 young Arabs clashed with police after marching from Darieh (Shilingabad) wearing Arabic clothing towards Naderi in Ahwaz City's centre. Police attacked...

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Oct 30, 2005

Ahwazi: Homeland used as Terrorist Smuggling ...

London's Sunday Telegraph has revealed that the Iranian regime is smuggling terrorists into Iraq via Khuzestan, the homeland of the persecuted Ahwazi Arabs. According to an article by the correspondent...

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Oct 20, 2005

Ahwazi: Iran's Militarisation of the Shatt Al...

The Iranian regime is preparing to expel thousands of Ahwazi Arabs to create an exclusive military-industrial zone along the Shatt Al-Arab, which marks its southern border with Iraq's Basra province....

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Oct 14, 2005

Ahwazi: European Parliament Condemns Iran's Persecution...

The European Parliament voted overwhelmingly in favour of a motion that included a strong condemnation of Iran's treatment of Ahwazi Arabs. The British Ahwazi Friendship Society (BAFS) joined forces...

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Sep 30, 2005

Ahwazi:Iran's Ahvaz Region Boycotts Regime

Arab opposition groups in Iran's Ahvaz region began a 'full boycott' on Monday against what they called the "Iranian occupier." Ahwaz is a region located in western Iran on the border...

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Sep 06, 2005

Ahwazi: Iran's Mass Arrest of Tribal Leaders and...

The Iranian security forces have embarked on a campaign of mass arrest of Ahwazi Arabs, an Iranian minority group who make up the majority of citizens in the oil-rich province of Khuzestan....

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Sep 05, 2005

Ahwazi: Oil Wells Sabotaged in Ahwazi Arab Ho...

Iranian authorities have admitted that a series of explosions at oil wells around the province of Khuzestan were an attempt to sabotage oil production. Khuzestan is the centre of the Ahwazi Arab...

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Aug 22, 2005

Ahwazi: Ahwaz Written Newspaper shut down by Iran...

Untitled Document According to Iran-Emrooz, the Iran's largest electronic publication, the Sout-el-Shaab (Voice of the People) newspaper has been shut down by the Iranian regime...

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Aug 11, 2005

Ahwazi: UN steps up Criticism of Minority Discrimination...

The United Nation's Special Rapporteur for Adequate Housing has resumed his attack on discrimination against Ahwazi Arabs and other minorities by the Iranian government. In an interview with...

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Aug 08, 2005

Ahwazi Arabs Express Solidarity with Iran's K...

Ahwaz Arabs have backed Kurdish protests against the Iranian regime after dozens of Kurds were killed in uprisings in Mahabad, Baneh and Saqqez. The Iranian security forces used heavy weapons,...

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Jul 08, 2005

Ahwazi Arabs in London Condemn Bomb Attacks

Untitled Document London is home to 2,000-3,000 Ahwazi Arabs, many of whom have been given sanctuary by the British government after fleeing tyranny and oppression in Iran. The...

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Jun 29, 2005

Ahwazi Arab Political Prisoner Released in Ir...

Untitled Document Azizi-Banitorouf was arrested on 25 April after giving a radio interview criticising the regime for killing unarmed protestors in demonstrations in Ahwaz City and...

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Jun 20, 2005

Ahwazi: Election Boycott in Khuzestan

Untitled Document Reports from Iran suggest that an overwhelming majority of Ahwazi Arabs boycotted the presidential elections in protest against the regime. In recent weeks, Al-Ahwaz...

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Jun 16, 2005

Ahwazi: Ahvaz Bombings Seen as Warning

Untitled Document The recent blasts in Iran's Arab southwest are not evidence of a growing separatist movement but rather a deadly warning for the government to address grievances,...

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Jun 14, 2005

Ahwazi London-Based Group Denies Carrying out...

Untitled Document LONDON - A London-based Iranian Arab separatist group blamed by Teheran for a series deadly bomb blasts in the country denied responsibility Monday, insisting...

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Jun 10, 2005

8 Killed in Ahwaz and Teheran Bomb Blasts

Untitled Document Ahwaz City witnessed multiple bomb attacks Sunday morning, just two months after the Iranian government launched a bloody crack-down on Ahwazi Arab protestors in...

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Jun 06, 2005

Ahwazi: Bodies of tortured Ahwazis found in Karoon...

Untitled Document The bodies of two murdered Ahwazi Arab men involved in recent demonstrations have been found washed up on the shores of Karoon River in Ahwaz City in Iran's...

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Jun 02, 2005

Ahwaz Arab voice at the UN in Geneva

Iran's persecution of its Ahwazi Arab population was highlighted at a top level meeting at the UN's Palais des Nations in Geneva this week. Karim Abdian, Director of the Ahwaz Education and Human...

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May 24, 2005

Ahwazi: Former Iranian MP in Ahwazi appeal

Untitled Document Jasem Shadidzadeh Al-Tamimi, a former member of Iran's Majlis and the Secretary General of the Islamic Wefagh Party, has appealed to President Khatami to address...

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May 23, 2005

Ahwazi Hunger Strike

Untitled Document The Kuwaiti press has reported that large numbers of Iranian Arab Ahwazis have staged a hunger strike in Karoon prison and other prisons in Ahwaz City, the provincial...

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May 13, 2005

Ahwazi: HRW Condemns Iran's Violence in Khuze...

Untitled Document Human Rights Watch has joined Amnesty International and other human rights bodies in raising alarm over the Iranian government's violent repression of Ahwazi Arabs...

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May 12, 2005

Ahwazi: Alarm over Ahwazi Asylum Seeker's Treatment...

Untitled Document The British Ahwazi Friendship Society has expressed its alarm over the treatment of a 27 year old Ahwazi asylum seeker, who was forcibly removed from Australia's...

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May 02, 2005

Ahwazis arrested in Syria

Untitled Document Concerns have been raised by Syrian human rights groups over the arrest of three Ahwazi students and two refugees in Syria. Syria and Iran have forged a closer alliance...

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Apr 28, 2005

Ahwazi: Appeal to EU to Stop Human Rights Abuses...

Untitled Document On Wednesday 27 April 2005, representatives of Ahwazi Arab political parties and community groups held a demonstration outside the European Commission offices in...

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Apr 26, 2005

Ahwazi Writer Becomes Prisoner of Conscience

Untitled Document Yossef Azizi-Banitorouf, a prominent Iranian Ahwazi Arab journalist and writer was arrested yesterday at 2pm, Tehran time. The arrest by the Iranian security forces...

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Apr 26, 2005

Ahwazi: Call for Release of Two Imprisoned Jo...

Untitled Document On 26 April 2005 Reporters Without Borders called for the immediate release of reformist Iranian Arab journalist Yosef Azizi Banitrouf, who was arrested in a raid...

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Apr 25, 2005

Ahwazi: Clashes between Iranian Security Forces...

Untitled Document More than 130 have been killed, 806 injured and 1,700 arrested following a week of unrest in Iran's Arab-dominated province of Khuzestan, said the Ahwaz Human Rights...

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Apr 22, 2005

Ahwazi: Human Rights Groups Voice Concern over...

Untitled Document Amnesty International and the Paris-based Arab Commission for Human Rights (ACHR) have voiced serious concerns over continuing violence and human rights abuses...

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Apr 21, 2005

Ahwazi: International Condemnation of Massacre...

Untitled Document The US State Department has added its voice to the growing condemnation of the treatment of Ahwazi Arabs by the Iranian authorities. State Department Deputy Spokesman...

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Apr 21, 2005

The Tragic Week of Ahwaz

The number of victims of state violence in Khuzestan is rising daily, while official reports are under-playing the number of casualties. Since the uprising began on 16 April, demonstration have spread...

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Apr 20, 2005

Ahwazi: Amnesty Appeal for Ahwaz Prisoners

Untitled Document Amnesty International has launched an appeal on behalf of Ahwazi Arabs arrested during demonstrations against ethnic cleansing last weekend. The human rights...

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Apr 19, 2005

Ahwazi: European Solidarity for Iran's Ahwazi...

Untitled Document Members of the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party (ELDRP), comprising Europe's centrist parties including the UK's Liberal Democrats, have sent messages...

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Apr 19, 2005

Number of Ahwaz Dead Rises

Untitled Document The Iranian security forces are carrying out house-to-house operations, arresting at least 1,300 Ahwazi Arab community, tribal and religious leaders and members...

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Apr 19, 2005

At Least 23 Dead in Ahwaz Unrest

Untitled Document New details are emerging on the casualties of this weekend's bloodbath in Khuzestan, in which Iranian security forces fired on unarmed Ahwazi Arabs. At least...

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Apr 17, 2005

Ahwazi: Iran's "Bloody Friday" Massacre in City...

Untitled Document More than 20 Ahwazi Arab demonstrators were killed, 500 injured and 250 arrested during protests in Ahwaz city (Khuzestan) this weekend. Demonstrations broke out...

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Apr 13, 2005

Ahwazi Appeal Newly Elected Iraqi Prime Minis...

Untitled Document The election of Ibrahim Jaafari as Iraq's prime minister could be an opportunity for Iraqi political parties to break links with the Iranian regime, according to Arab...

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Apr 09, 2005

Ahwazis Appeal to Jaafari to Break with Tehra...

The election of Ibrahim Jaafari as Iraq's prime minister could be an opportunity for Iraqi political parties to break links with the Iranian regime, according to Arab Ahwazi representatives. Jaafari...

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Mar 23, 2005

Ahwazi: Appeal to UNHCR for the Safety of Ahwazi...

Ahwazi human rights activists sent an urgent appeal this week to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees over the safety and security of Ahwazi refugees living in southern Iraq. In an open letter...

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Mar 22, 2005

Ahwazi Representatives Met the UN Official on...

A Delegation representing the cause of the Democratic Solidarity Party of Ahwaz and the Ahwaz Human Rights Organization met at the Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights (OHCHR)...

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Feb 28, 2005

Ahwazi: Manifesto of the Congress of Iranian Nationalities...

Untitled Document On February 19, 2005, leaders of organizations representing major nationalities and ethnic groups in Iran gathered in a historic summit to form “The Congress...

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Feb 04, 2005

Ahwazi: Iran - UN, Human Rights Groups Call On...

Iran is a signatory to the UN Convention on the Rights of Child, which prohibits the execution of people under the age of 18. To get around this, the Islamic Republic's judiciary often issues death...

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Jan 04, 2005

Ahwazi: the Controversial Iranian-Chinese Oil...

Untitled Document The following is an article that was submitted to the Washington Post for publication on December 14, 2004, in response to an editorial report in the Post on December...

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Dec 13, 2004

Ahwazi in hunger strike

Untitled Document Ten indigenous Arab-Iranian asylum seekers in Australia (Baxter Detention Center) have been on “Hunger Strike to Death” for the pat 4 days. The Hunger...

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Dec 02, 2004

Solidarity Message from Indigenous Ahwazi on Hunger...

Untitled Document To: Indigenous Hunger Strikers in Geneva We, 4.5 million Indigenous Ahwazi Arabs of Southwestern Iran, the province of Al-Ahwaz or Khuzestan, are in solidarity...

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Dec 02, 2004

Emergence of Economics Alliance between China...

Untitled Document The most vivid reflection of this alliance is the recent huge oil and gas deals that signed on 30 October 2004 in Beijing. According to China’s Xinhua news...

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Nov 07, 2004

Protection needed for Ahwaz Refugees

Untitled Document Louise Arbour, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Dear Mrs. Arbour, Re: Arab-Iranian Asylum Seekers in Australia My name is Karim Banisaid-Abdian....

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Nov 01, 2004

Norwegian Firms among Bidders on Iranian Oil ...

Untitled Document Two Norwegian oil companies, Norsk Hydro and Statoil, are bidding to develop the Yadavaran oil field in Iran's Khuzestan Province, Radio Farda reported. The companies...

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Oct 16, 2004

Ahwaz: No Tolerance for Repulsive Behavior and...

Untitled Document Editorial by Karim Abdian - The Washington Post - October 4, 2004 The Sept. 20 editorial "The Choice on Iran," while correctly describing Iran as...

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Jul 22, 2004

Ahwazi: Statement at the WGIP

Untitled Document On behalf of between 4 to 5 million indigenous Ahwazi Arab people of Southwestern Iran, we want to thank you for the opportunity. Indigenous AHWAZIS believe the exercise...

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May 26, 2004

Ahwazi: Ahwazi's Condolences to the Kurdish...

Untitled Document A message of solidarity and condolence from: The Democratic Solidarity Party of Ahwaz, presented s to the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and the Democratic...

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May 03, 2004

Ahwazi: Iranian Court issued its verdict against...

On April 3, 2004, Khuzestan branch of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Court of Appeals, upheld and issued its final verdict against Mr. Ali Al-Chaldawi, An Arab-Iranian human rights activist,...

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Apr 01, 2004

Ahwazi: Dossier of Human Rights violations and...

The following is a dossier of Human Rights violations and abuses by the Iranian Government against the indigenous Ahwazi Arabs in Iran: 1. Iranian national policy is based on...

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Mar 24, 2004

Ahwazi: Tehran-Tokyo Oil Deal and Indigenous ...

To The Honorable Mr. Junichiro Koizumi, Prime Minster of Japan March 9, 2004 We sadly learned about the oil deal signed on February 18, 2004 between the Japanese state-owned Inpex...

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Nov 30, -0001

2009 UN Forum on Minority Issues: Iranian Group...

12-13 November 2009, Geneva   UNPO Participants with Ms McDougall   Karim Abdian addresses the Forum   Monireh Sulemani of the BPP             ...

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Nov 30, -0001

2010 Periphery Voices from Iran

  The aftermath of the Iranian elections in 2009 pushed people power and protest within Iran onto the front pages worldwide. Most media outlets failed to notice however that a substantial proportion...

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Nov 30, -0001

2009 Conference: Human Rights and the Question...

In conjunction with Congress of Nationalities for a Federal Iran (CNFI) UNPO organized a two day programme focusing on the possibility of federalism in Iran to act as a vehicle to combat human rights discrimination...

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