Azerbaijani Students of Tabriz University Protests Khatami

Azeri-Rights Protesters Demand Khatami Apology
May 24, 2009
(RFE/RL) -- Hundreds of ethnic Azeri students in several Iranian cities have gathered at rallies to express anger over perceived discrimination that was highlighted in a YouTube video that appears to show former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami making an ethnic joke at their expense, RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service reports.

Khatami, who bowed out after flirting with a fresh bid for the presidency, is campaigning for fellow reformist candidate Mir Hossein Musavi.

Separate protests at Tehran University in the capital and at Sama University in Umiye demanded an apology from Khatami and the passage of antidiscrimination legislation in the parliament.

One participant in the Tehran demonstration told RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service that more than 100 demonstrators were on hand to condemn "chauvinism" and "apartheid" in Iran.

"Khatami should apologize via official media -- print and television," the student added.

Demonstrators insisted that Khatami should be banned from wearing religious garb, since they say he misused religion by making fun of the way Azeris tell religious stories in a remark recorded at a private gathering.

They also urged all candidates in Iran's June 12 presidential election to express their views on issues of minorities and discrimination.

On May 23, several hundred protesters gathered in front of Musavi's campaign office before police dispersed them and made at least three arrests, journalist Ismayil Javadi told RFE/RL.

A group called the Association for the Defense of Azeri Political Prisoners in Iran reported the arrest of two activists, Farshid Adli and Hamid Birang.

There were similar Azeri protests at Shahid Rajei University in Tehran and Tarbiyat Moallem University in Karaj on May 23, RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service reported.

A former prime minister, candidate Musavi was expected to visit Tabriz on May 25, and activists said he was likely to face questions on the topic from the audience.

Four people were reportedly arrested in Tabriz, in northeastern Iran, after they and possibly others disrupted an officially sanctioned but unrelated rally marking a major anniversary, shouting for ethnic-Azeri rights and criticizing Khatami.

http://www.rferl.org/content/Azeri_Rights_Protesters_Call_For_Khatami_Apology...

Category:

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Tags:

• Azerbaijan
• Students
• Tabriz
• Urmiye
• University
• Protests
• Khatami
• Tebriz
• Azerbaycan
• دانشجو
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• تبریز
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[EbulHasan]

Qardaşlar halal sizlərə!

Almaniya'dan Cənubi Azərbaycan'a selamlar!

Savad görsədin.. Türk irqi sağ olsun!

Ulu Tanrı və uca Türk milləti sizinle!

[MrSakosh1]

@2anewday no you are not iranian, you are turk -_-

[ozgurluksesi]

It is over now! The 35 million Turks of South Azerbaijan have waken up and will free themselves and their country South Azerbaijan from Iranian(Persian) occupation

[TheAzeri77]

mulla used to exist to help people for religiouse duty in old dadys where people

did not read or write! having mullas around in 2011 for what ?? these people have no respect for existances people of azerbyjan . they come over homes in our cities and they impose their language on us. atleast they can do their B S in turkish. Fars always was small man we made this country where it was and where it is now . we need to bring back civil rights to our people as peacefully as we can.

[sspersian]

@FreeSouthAzerbaijan donlt lie pise of shit:

1)according to international sites like:cia facts,...turkic speaker of iran are max 205 from 70 milion total iran makes them 14 milion,rest persian 60%,kurd10%,baluch 2%,arab 2%,assyrian,jew,blacks,gypsies­,armanian,..2% gp read.how u got 35 milion turk:while most iran are non turk,!?

2)while half of turkey and azarbaijan are also iranic speakers:talysh,kurd,tatas,..

[Atakan2015]

@FreeTaylish shut up armenian bitch, you can only suck russian dicks! :-D

Did you use Google Translate.... ;-)

[ibrahimsanlier]

@FreeTaylish

Its not ''Ana dili men''

Its ''Menim ana dilim''

Appearantly you don't live in Azerbaycan and can't speak Azeri.

Don't pretend as if you are a Talish from Azerbaycan.You are probably an Armenian.

lol,Google translate:)))