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 the monolinguist education system has to change, he proposed allocating a larger budget to teaching schoolchildren Persian from a really young age – this despite article 15 of the Iranian constitution,...
23 September 2018 was the first day for school in Iran. Unfortunately, the first day for children from national minorities is not an enjoyable experience. It is a day when minority students experience...
The article below was published by Iran Human Rights Monitor: At least 32 Azerbaijani activists arrested in the lead-up to an annual July protest at Babak Fort in East Azerbaijan province against discrimination...
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...
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,...
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...
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...
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%....
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....
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...
The article below was published by Araz News: South Azerbaijan national activist Mr. Habib Sassanian was released from Tabriz Central Prison on Monday 28th of Aug 2017. The south...
Below is an article published by NCRI Lake Urmia in northwest Iran is on the verge of downright drying, according to the director general of crisis management bureau in West Azerbaijan Province....
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...
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...
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,...
Below is the report published by AHRAZ: Report on the death penalty in Azerbaijan’s cities in Iran (2015-2016) From October 2015 to October 2016, totally 588 people were sentenced...
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...
Below is an article published by Southernazerbaijan.com: On 21 of February 2017, the International Mother Language Day, Iran’s persecutory Islamic Tribunal sentenced 4 South Azerbaijani mother language...
Below is an article published by Southernazerbaijan.com: The South Azerbaijani human rights advocate Seyamak Mirzayi was sentenced to a harsh punishment of 10 years in prison and 2 years exile to Tabas...
Below is an article published by ARAZ News: Muhammad Esalari, prisoner in ward 12 in Tabriz Central Prison, following a severe heart pain called for medical attention, but instead of being...
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...
The article below was published by Kurdistan24: TEHRAN, Iran (Kurdistan24) – A funeral turned into an opportunity to voice dissent on Tuesday as an estimated two million gathered on the streets...
The article below was published by the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran: Azeri rights advocate Morteza Moradpour has been hospitalized in Tabriz, East Azerbaijan Province, while he recovers...
During their 5-day visit to Washington DC in December 2016, the UNPO delegation met with Members of Congress and the US Senate, experts of various think tanks, as well as Human Rights Watch (HRW) officials....
The article below was published by the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran: Imprisoned Azeri civil rights activist Morteza Moradpour has lost 44 pounds and is suffering from severe kidney...
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...
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...
Below an article published by Araz News: Armenia’s nuclear power plant and aluminum plant wastewater entering the river Araz, which its news has leaked a few years ago by environmental activists...
The videos of both interventions can be found below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAN2s0S1DwI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdP9kEH3USQ
Below is an article posted by Iran Human Rights: At least eight political prisoners are currently on life-threatening hunger strikes in Tehran and Karaj to demand better conditions and reviews of their...
Below an article published by Payvand: Imprisoned Azeri rights activist Rasoul Razavi has received emergency medical treatment on several occasions since he started a hunger strike in Tabriz Prison on...
The article below was published in Azernews: A marvelous concert devoted to the 25th anniversary of Azerbaijan's independence took place at the Philharmonic Hall. Azerbaijanis celebrate...
The article below is courtesy of Ahraz.org Labours’ strike at Mashin-Sazi factory in Tabriz: Labours at Mashin-Sazi factory in Tabriz went on strike on 9 August 2016, to protest against the privatization...
Below is an article published by Ahraz.org According to the report of HRANA, Dr. Ismail Afkhami, who had been detained in Ardabil about a month ago, was released on the bail of 3 billion IRR from...
Below is an article published by Ahraz.org According to AHRAZ, the arrest of Soheila was violent and without presenting any warrant. Her brother Javad Kargar confirmed that “At 10 am on...
Photo courtesy of Ahraz. Below is the report published by Ahraz: Morteza Nourmohammadi 14 March 2016, the Turk activist Morteza Nourmohammadi was released on bail in Shabestar, northwest...
Below is a statement published by AHRAZ: Report on the situation of Iranian Azerbaijanis regarding human rights: Abbas Lesani, Azerbaijani Turk activist from Ardabil ended his hunger strike after...
Photo courtesy of Ahraz Below is the report published by Ahraz 25 years old man was executed on public: On 7 Jan 2016 a 25 years old man was executed on public in ShabestarEast...
Below is an excerpt of the report published by Ahraz: Report on the situation of Iranian Azerbaijanis regarding human rights: Atabak Sepehri On 9 Nov 2015 Atabak Sepehri, the Azerbaijani Turk...
Below is an article published by Radio Free Europe: A slur against ethnic Azeris on an Iranian children's television program has sparked a backlash that has spilled onto the streets. The popular...
Below is the report in full and attached: August & September 2015 Report on the situation of Iranian Azerbaijanis regarding human rights: On 13 September 2015 Shahrokh Zamani, 52-year-old...
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...
Below is a document sent to UNPO by our member, the South Azerbaijan National Awakening Movement (SANAM). Each year, September 23 is the beginning of the academic year in Iran. On this...
Lake Urmia is a UNESCO-registered bio-reserve, once one of the world’s largest hyper saline lakes, located in the northwestern part of Iran and lies in between East and West Azerbaijan provinces,...
Below is an article by Radio Zamaneh A funeral was held in Tabriz on Tuesday [15 September 2015] for Shahrokh Zamani, the labour activist who died in prison. The Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA)...
Click here to read the article in Farsi.Photo Credit: Said Saed
Shokrollah Ghahramani On 24 June 2015, Shokrollah Ghahramani, the Azerbaijani Turk civil rights activist, was arrested in his hometown, Khodafrin, and then transferred to Ahar city prison, where...
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...
Below is the AHRAZ Report for June 2015, also attached: Hossein Alimohammadi & Taha Kermani On 15 Jun 2015, Hossein Alimohammadi and Taha Kermani’s lawyer submitted appeal...
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...
Below is a report published by the Association for the human rights of the Azerbaijani people in Iran: Iranian security forces arrested Hossein Alimohammadi an Azerbaijani civil right activist...
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,...
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...
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...
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...
Published by Vestnik Kavkaza,
Brussels, 29 October 2013 - The Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO) is calling on the international community to exercise pressure on the Iranian authorities to urgently take...
Below is an article published by:Gamoh.org Dr. Alireza Abdullahi, member of the South Azerbaijan National Awakening Movement (SANAM-GAMOH) Central Committee, participated in a panel aiming to analyze...
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,...
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...
Below is an article published by Today’s Zaman: Five South Azerbaijani politicians from northwestern Iran, imprisoned for establishing a political party advocating their identity...
Below is an article published by Gamoh: The Azerbaijani Embassy hosted an event in which many U.S officials were invited for the commemoration of the ‘Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan’,...
Below is a story from Minority Voices Newsroom: As the June presidential election approaches, Iranian authorities intensify repression against Azerbaijani-Turkish civil rights and political...
Below is an article published by gamoh.biz The Iranian regime recently imprisoned five renowned South Azerbaijani human rights activists for the supposed crime of “working against the Iranian regime”....
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?''...
Below is an article published by News.Az: I hope someday you will join us, and the world will live as one... (C) John Lennon People present their feeling of justice in different photo frames. Being beyond...
Below is an article published by gamoh.biz: On February 22, 2013 South Azerbaijani Turks gathered in front of the Department of State, located in the U.S capital Washington, D.C. They commemorated...
Below is an article published by Gamoh.biz: Many South Azerbaijani human rights activists have been arrested in the eastern part of South Azerbaijan, encompassing cities like capital Tabriz,...
Below is an article published by Gamoh Naser Khanzadeh was arrested several times and he was detained by the security forces of the Iranian regime after the South Azerbaijan National Uprising Day in 2006...
Below is an article published by Aljazeera: A grown man, resilient from a life of hard work and circumstance, is reduced to tears. His hands are caked in dirt, swollen from the cold and physical...
Below is an article published by the APA Information Agency: The leaders said the Turks of South Azerbaijan and East Turkestan are the same nation, underlined the importance of cooperation between...
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...
Below is an article published by Güney Azərbaycan Milli Oyanış Hərəkatı: The new education year in Iran has begun, but Southern Azerbaijani Turks are unhappy because...
Below is an article published by Al Jazeera: Casualties from a pair of earthquakes that devastated rural villages in northwest Iran on the weekend have risen to a total of 306 people, most of them women...
Below is an article published by Hurriyet Daily News: The Turkish Red Crescent has begun to distribute relief to victims of deadly twin earthquakes that hit northwestern Iran over the weekend. Two trucks...
Below is a report published by the Southern Azerbaijan National Awakening Movement (SANAM): - Known national activist, Akbar Moohajeri was arrested on 21.5.2012...
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...
Below is an article published by Radio Free/Europe Radio Liberty: Jailed Iranian blogger Hossein Ronaghi Maleki has been transferred to a hospital, his family has told RFE/RL. Ronaghi Maleki has...
Below is an article published by the Southern Azerbaijan National Awakening Movement (SANAM): The Southern Azerbaijan Culture Bureau (Güney Azerbaycan Kültür Derneği),...
Below is an article published by SANAM Turkey. On Friday, April 27 [2012], an important symposium, organized by SANAM, was held in the capital of Turkey, Ankara bout the purposeful drying of lake...
Below is an article published by SANAM Turkey: On Friday, April 27 [2012], an important symposium, organized by SANAM, was held in the capital of Turkey, Ankara about the purposeful drying of lake Orumiyeh....
Below is an article published by Gamoh: Near 200 participants, amongst them members of the Azerbaijanian and Turkish parliaments, well known writers and thinkers, publicly renowned artists, and many human...
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...
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...
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,...
Below is an press release published by SANAM: Azerbaijan National Awakening Movement’s (SANAM) successful General Assembly was held in the capital of Turkey, Ankara, on February 4, 2012....
Below is an article published by Sana News: According to SANA NEWS, the conference of the Turkish World Human Rights Organization took place in Ankara’s Bey Pazari city on December 10-11 [2011]....
Below is an article published by Azeri-Press Agency: A group of Azerbaijani Turks living in Iran addressed the President of Azerbaijan Republic Ilham Aliyev and Chairman of the Azerbaijani Parliament...
Below is a statement as issued by ADAPP Five Iranian Azerbaijanis, Jamal Shaikhzade, Farhad Islamdust, Muhammad Jangali, Dehqan Salamat and Riza Alipour were executed on 10 October, the World Day...
Below is an article published by Gamoh, SANAM Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, says that “the Lake Orumiyeh naturally dries every five hundred years." However, scientists doing research on the...
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...
Below is an article published by Radio Free Europe When Leon Panetta, the new United States defence secretary, declared on September 6 that it was only "a matter of time" before an Arab Spring-style...
Below is a statement released by The Association for Defense of Azerbaijani Political Prisoners in Iran: The Association for Defense of Azerbaijani Political Prisoners in Iran (ADAPP) is appealing to...
Below is an article published by News.Az: It is regrettable that the Iranian regime still continues its policy of discrimination against Azerbaijani Turks who make up almost half of population of...
The Southern Azerbaijani National Awakening Movement (SANAM) has written a letter calling for action from the Iranian government and the international community to address an environmental and humanitarian...
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...
Below is an article published by News. AZ Ethnic Azerbaijanis in Iran give mostly passive support to anti-government protests, a political scientist has said. They will give stronger support, if the...
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...
Below is an article published by the Association for the Defense of Azerbaijani Political Prisoners: The systematic violations of Azerbaijanis human and ethnic rights in Iran continued...
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...
Below is an article published by SANAM: According to the report from Mr. Aghri Garadaghli (SANAM representative in Baku, Azerbaijan), more than 50 Southern Azerbaijani Turks have been arrested...
Below is an article published by SANAM: According to intelligence from SANAM’s Northern Azerbaijan (Azerbaijan republic) representative, known Southern Azerbaijani national activist...
Below is an article published by the Southern Azerbaijan National Awakening Movement (SANAM): Akbar Azad and Shahram Radmehr, both Southern Azerbaijani human-rights activists, have spent the last two...
Below is an article published by Southern Azerbaijan National Awakening Movement (SANAM) : It has been a month since Zahra Farajzadeh was detained by the security forces of...
Below is an article published by Association for the Defence of Azerbaijani Political Prisoners in Iran:ADAPP condemns stoning of any kind and for any reason as is stipulated by the Universal Declaration...
Below is an press release published by Southern Azerbaijan National Awakening Movement: To international human-rights organizations: Ayat Mehralibagloo, known and a leading national and...
Below is an article published by SANAM : Zahra Farajzadeh: This Southern Azerbaijani Turkish women activist was arrested on Saturday, June 19. The reason for her arrest is reported by...
Below is an article published by The South Azerbaijan National Awakening Movement (SANAM):Below are the names of five innocent S. Azerbaijani activists who have been arrested in the past week....
Below is a letter published by Southern Azerbaijan National Awakening Movement:Dear Sir/Madam,Azerbaijan Turks, struggling for their rights in Iran Islamic Republic, recently meet unprecedented...
Below is an article published by SANAM: Le us recap that Aydin Khajei, a peaceful Azerbaijan Student Movement (AZOH) activist was arrested in his university campus (Tabriz University)...
Below is a call for urgent action published by Amnesty International:Abdollah Sadoughi, aged 33, a member of Iran's Azerbaijani minority, writes for the Iranian publications Goal, Corner and...
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,...
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...
Below is an article published by The People's Voice : Iran's large Azerbaijani minority feels disappointed and ignored by the pro-democracy movement, which has been widely praised internationally...
Below is a press release published by Association for Defense of Azerbaijani Political Prisoners in Iran: Protests have erupted this week [May 2009] in three Iranian cities after former Iranian...
Iran has a surface area of 1 648 195 km² (what represents 1/6 of Canada). It was the cradle of the second older age of the world (civilization Elamite), after Iraq (Sumerians civilization),...
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...
Mr. Ladjevardi's speech is in Persian. Please click here to read it.
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...
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...
Below is an article published by: Radio free Europe Radio Liberty February 21 was International Mother Language Day and I thought of my own mother language, Azeri Turkish.Azeri Turkish...
Below is an article published by the Vancouver Sun :There is a haunted look in Fakhteh Zamani's eyes as she recalls guiding Iranian activist Vahid Davarpanah through the streets of Turin, Italy.He...
Below is an article published by ANS Press : 20 Azerbaijanis including Rugeyya Lisani, wife of Abbas Lisani, one of the leaders of the movement for the rights of Iranian Azerbaijanis and their children...
Below is an article published by Iranian Minorities Human Right Organisation (IMHRO) : Vedud Asadi is well-known for his work promoting the cultural and language rights of Iran's Azeri minority,...
Mr Khosroshahi had reported being threatened several times by the Iranian Intelligence & Security (ETTELAAT). His dead body was found in the bathroom of is own office. According to a colleague, Mr...
Body of the resident of Tabriz City Farhad Rahim Mohsini, 25 recently detained by the Iranian Law-enforcement organizations was found in the Elglu garden of the city. Head of the Research and Information...
Below is an article written by D. Khatinoglu and published by Trend News: Although a half of Iranian population is Iranian citizens of Turkic origin (Azerbaijanis), the authorities still do not recognize...
Despite an appeal on 10 March 2008, Abbas Lisani remains in detention and the authorities continue to restrict medical access. Below is an appeal issued by the Committee for the Defense of Abbas Lisani: It...
Detained, beaten, and now deported, it is time that the international community moves to ensure his release from Iranian abuse. Below is a press release issued by the Committee for the Defense of Mr....
A three-day conference aiming to unify Iran’s many opposition movements, including a number of minority communities, was held this weekend [15-17 June 2007] in Paris. Below is an article...
The British government’s spokesperson announced yesterday (01/05/07) that the memorandum of understanding with Iran on the return of failed asylum seekers has been abandoned. Below is an article...
As more and more Azeri human rights activists are targeted by the Iranian government, the struggle for democracy and human rights in Southern Azerbaijan gains visibility. Below is an article written by...
Below is an article published by Baku Today: Hadi Sid Javad Musavi, an activist with a nationalist Azeri group inside Iran, flew from the Azerbaijani capital Baku to Tehran early Thursday [12 April 2007],...
Below is an article published by Azeri-Press Agency: “Hadi Seyid Javad Musevi, one of the activists of Southern Azerbaijan National Awakening Movement, who was detained by Azerbaijani police and...
Below is an article published by Regnum News Agency: On April 3, a customs check-point on the Azerbaijani-Iranian border was closed, Zerkalo newspaper (Azerbaijan) reports, saying that hundreds of Azerbaijani...
Below is an Urgent Action notice published by Amnesty International on 9 March 2007: The Iranian Azerbaijani cultural and linguistic rights activists named above [Esma’il Javadi, Ebulfezl Alilu,...
The Hague, 28 February 2007 - Demonstrations took place last week on 21 and 22 February 2007 in Southern Azerbaijan protesting the systematic oppression and discrimination of the Southern Azerbaijani community...
The latest meeting of the UNPO Presidency, which met from 01 – 03 February at the European Parliament in Brussels, has continued pursuit of UNPO’s goal of giving a voice to all unrepresented...
Below is an article published by Demaz: Bush’s administration after international human rights organizations expressed concern about the fact that authorities in Iran oppress ethnic and religious...
12-13 November 2009, Geneva UNPO Participants with Ms McDougall Karim Abdian addresses the Forum Monireh Sulemani of the BPP ...
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...
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...
The Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO) is an international, nonviolent and democratic membership organisation. Its Members are indigenous peoples, minorities, unrecognised States and occupied territories that have joined together to defend their political, social and cultural rights, to preserve their environments and to promote their right to self-determination.
