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 Solidarity Party of Al-Ahwaz.

Below is an article by British Ahwazi Friendship Society:

The Ahwazi Arab movement received a significant boost on Sunday (21 October 2001) when Ahwazi Arab and Danish human rights activists launched the Dansk Ahwazi Venskabsforening (DAVF, Danish Ahwazi Friendship Society) in Copenhagen.

The new society is modelled on the British Ahwazi Friendship Society, which has successfully raised the profile of the Ahwazi Arab struggle in Britain and Europe. Denmark hosts many Ahwazi refugees who have fled persecution in Iran and is a centre of activity in the Ahwazi Arab community in Europe.

Ali Naseri, an Ahwazi activist living in Denmark, opened the launch meeting with an outline of the suffering Ahwazi Arabs endure in Iran. He detailed the main problems facing the Arab population, including the expropriation of farmland, the regime's policy of holding the wives and children of Ahwazi Arab opposition activists hostage to extract false confessions, the kidnapping and murder of Arabs in the street, execution of Ahwazi rights activists, the pollution of water supplies and the river diversion programme, the destruction of homes, forced migration and prohibition on Arab customs and traditions.

Naseri said: "The Arab people of Al-Ahwaz are asking democratic countries and nations to stand by them and stop the crimes against humanity. We will continue our peaceful resistance against these inhumane actions until we reach our goals of human rights, democracy, social justice and freedom."

BAFS Chairman Daniel Brett also addressed the meeting and emphasised the importance of a solidarity group in Denmark. He said: "The formation of the Danish Ahwazi Friendship Society is a very important development in the international Ahwazi solidarity campaign. Denmark is one of Europe's smallest countries. While this makes it less politically powerful than Britain, France, Germany or Italy, its size provides opportunities for publicity and a greater impact on the European Parliament, which is the powerhouse of Europe. Following Denmark's experience regarding the controversy over the Prophet Mohammed cartoons, which led to violent attacks on their embassy in Tehran by regime-backed extremists, there are many in Denmark who are eager to hear from freedom-loving Arabs and Muslims.

"The DAVF has run a highly professional launch meeting, which indicates that it will make a significant impact on advancing the Ahwazi cause. A network of Ahwazi solidarity groups is now being developed. The Ahwazi cause will no longer be ignored."

Karim Abdian, the Director of the Ahwaz Human Rights Organisation [and UNPO Presidency Member], also addressed the meeting, giving his support to the new group.

The DAVF elected a five member board, comprising three Ahwazis and two Danes and headed by Erik Nordessgard.

BAFS was the first Ahwazi solidarity lobbying group in Europe. The formation of the Danish Ahwazi Friendship Society follows the creation last year of the Deutsche Ahwazische Freundschaft (DAF, German Ahwazi Friendship Society). BAFS, DAVF and DAF form the basis of a European Ahwazi solidarity network and will co-ordinate their activities to maximise their impact on EU policy-making. The mainstreaming of the BAFS model is testament to the effectiveness of its strategy, which focuses on media campaigns and lobbying and utilises a body of volunteers from the Ahwazi community.