Interview with Fakhteh Zamani

June 29, 2009
Uploaded by Farzin, AP Peace Fellow
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Partner: ADAPP

Interview with the Founder and President of the Association for Defence of Azerbaijani Political Prisoners in Iran (ADAPP). Zamani discusses the current elections crisis and why Azerbaijani provinces in Iran have been relatively quiet compared to Tehran.

The Association for the Defence of Azerbaijani Political Prisoners (ADAPP) works on the human rights situation facing Irans minorities, and in particular, the Azerbaijani Turkic community. Iranian Azerbaijanis are mainly Shia Muslims and are acknowledged as Irans largest minority, where they are generally believed to constitute between 25-30 percent of the population. The Azerbaijani Turkic society is mainly in the north and north-west of Iran, although significant communities are found throughout the country. In recent years, they have been calling for greater cultural and linguistic rights, such as the right to education in the Azerbaijani-Turkic language, and the right to celebrate Azerbaijani culture and history. However, these demands are violently suppressed by the Iranian authorities, resulting in execution, torture, persecution and imprisonment of Azerbaijani human rights activists.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Fakhteh Zamani
• Guney Azerbaijan
• Iran elections
• Iranian Azerbaijan
• ADAPP

[KipchakResistance]

A Z E R !!! NOT AZERI !!!

STOP FARSI LIES !!!

[sleptlion]

@MegaAlborz and also I am not going to insult ur nation the way u did, as I have many Iranian friends that doesn't think and act like u. You just showed who is fashist u or we. Just look all around ur borders, there is almost left no country with whom u haven't a conflict or problems. Finally go and look carefully urseves in the mirrow, may be after, u will recognise who is who.

[TheAzeri1977]

i have no idea how bad is the goverment . i know this much there are some stupid dumb fars ass wholes out of the country they have been asking for real good ass kicking !! like this guy calls himeslf. IRAN SEPAHBOOD he is calling heros of azerbyjan roaches than dumb fucking camel jocky blacks me off!! if any one out there knows anything about this camel shit please let rest of us know who the hell is this dog shit I like to visit him as of son of roache !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[insanhaqlari]

Official ideology in Iran obstinately continues to deny the existence of Azerbaijani/Turkish people and a Turkish language...An official ideology [denying the existence of the Turkish people] has been imposed on universities, legal institutions, political parties, the press and media...For example, Iranian universities which follow the official ideology give up scientific truth and deny the reality of the Turkish nation.

[TheAzadveten]

Iran is afraid of Azerbaijanis today. It’s leaders know that any Azeri uprising will be the beginning of the end. That’s why their president is visiting Tabriz today to urge Azeri Turks not to take Mousavi’s side.

I suggest my Azerbaijani brother in Iran not to support the current regime. Your nationality is more important than your religion! It’s time to build a united and strong Azerbaijan. It’s time to be free!!!

[KaWeH17]

Good interview, too bad it was so short and the wind didn't help...

As for the racists here, you either accept basic human rights in Iran (people should be allowed education in their own language) or you don't. There is no grey area, you can't pretend to be pro-democracy in Iran and not acknowledge the institutional and cultural racism in Iran. Azeri's in Iran should be allowed to have schools in their own language, period.

[DerafsheKavian]

1- This woman is not an ethnic Azarbaijani. She speaks English with a noticeable Persian accent. Her job is obviously to generate enemity between the peoples of Iran and its neighbors.

2- If folks from Iran, Azarbaijani or otherwise, and from the neighboring countries get at it here, we have helped her and her owners acheive their objectives. Let's not do that.

[BachehMirdamad]

I agree with Marduniya, this woman is a traitor and obviously funded by enemies of Iran.

If anything Azaris in Iran are the majority and the most successful group in Iran.

Many in the Iranian establishment who are guilty of crimes against our nation originate from that region, the most senior being the Iranian Leader and lets not forget Khakhali who killed so many innocent iranians from all parts of Iran.

Shame on her!

[Marduniya]

Mrs. Zamani needs to grow a pair of balls and come out with it: she wishes to see Iran divided (thus why she called Iran a "so-called country"). But no, she wishes cowardice and deceitfulness to be the pillars of accomplishing her goal.

If Zamani was an animal, she would most certainly be a snake.

[Marduniya]

@Mege1 Your Persian is pretty good, where did you learn? :D