AHRO Condemns Indiscriminate shooting of Ahwazi Citizens

On 10th of February 2017 , at 6 P.M ,Iranian security forces killed an Ahwazi Arab citizen by the name of “Hasan Alboghobeish” from Fallahieh city , south of Ahwaz .

“ Hasan “ was shot by direct bullets of the security forces who were chasing motorcyclists with their car . As motorcyclists ignored the warnings ,security elements opened fire on them near “Aboodi “bridge ,where “Hasan” received a direct shot in the head and immediately died on the scene.

The two passengers on the motorcycle Mr. Sayed Ali Mosavi and Sayed Mustafa Mosavi were injured and till this moment the reason why the bikers were chased by security forces is not clear .

This is the third similar incident that is being repeated by the security forces in Ahwaz region .In November of 2106 ,the same forces shot a moving car passing through a check point and killed a 3 year-old Ahwazi Arab girl who was in the car with her father and mother in “Alawi “ area ,west of Ahwaz. After Mr. Sawari ,an Arab citizen and activist who was wanted by the internal security forces of Ahwaz , did not comply with the orders to stop in the inspection point , his vehicle was shot ,resulting in the death of his daughter and injury of his wife.

Several bullets penetrated the body of 3 year-old “Raghad” ,killing her on the spot ,while slo the mother received serious injuries and was sent to hospital and Mr.Sawari himself was arrested and transferred to an undisclosed location .

This is not the first time that Ahwazi Arab citizens fall the victim of these random shootings by police at checkpoints or at raids to arrest wanted activists of even ordinary citizens.

In November 2015 , hundreds demonstrated the killing of the 17 year-old “Ali Jalali “ who was shot by the Iranian police forces during their raid in a populated market area in “Nahda” district in Ahwaz .

Ahwaz Human Rights Organisation condemns ,the repeated indiscriminate shootings of Ahwazi citizens by the Iranian security forces and police . AHRO demands that the perpetrators be brought to justice and calls for an end to these killings that target the Arab citizens in public and private places .

Ahwaz Human Rights Organisation
11/02/2017

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Last Updated: 12 February 2017

UNDP Representative in Iran visits Wetlands of Ahwaz

Gary Lewis ,the UNDP representative in Iran visits Ahwaz's wetlands on Worlds Wetlands Day 2017.

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 all around the world.

He twitted : “ As wetlands dry out ,one problem is dust and sand storms.Now major problem in Iran .Solutions must be regional ,UN and UNDP can help . “

And after visiting Fallahieh (Shadegan) marshlands he twitted :” spend time on Shadegan wetlands in Ahvaz for World Wetlands Day 2017 .Critical situation ,all hands needed to improve the situation “.

number of local Ahwazis wearing masks on their mouth as a sign of protest ,along with Flahieh (Shadegan) representative in Majles who was also present in the conference held banners and slogans to draw the attention and share their concern about the sand storms and air pollution with the UNDP representative . Slogans such as :” People of My Town Want Clean Air “ .

46 years ago one the same day and on the occasion of International wetlands day , “Ramsar Convention “ was signed . This documents is one of Iran’s oldest international treaties in an attempt to preserve the environment and natural ecosystem and it obliges 158 member countries to preserve the wetlands with international importance .

48 wetlands in Iran are registered in the convention as the wetlands that Iran is obliged to preserve under the convention that was signed in 1971 .
The critical situation of wetlands today ,however is an evident that Iran was not really successful in accomplishing the mission

According to environmental activists ,factors such as male -management ,change of land use , dam building , illegal hunting and fishing , water scarcity and droughts , and developing industrial projects in the watersheds and wetlands are the reason for the critical situation of Ahwaz’s marshlands .

This January UNDP Iran announced the second phase of the conservation of Iranian Wetlands Projects . Second phase is meant to be build on the results and achievement of the first phase .

As sand storms continue to disrupt the lives of Ahwazi citizens and more and more indigenous of marshlands are Iosing their livelihood emigrate from their natural habitat due to drought and pollution of wetlands , activists believe that this problem should be tackled more seriously in order to achieve real results .
We at Ahwaz Human Rights Organisation insist on the importance of reviving the wetlands all over Iran and especially those that have been damaged severely and impacted the everyday lives of the citizens , like the wetlands in south -west areas and sincerely hopes with the cooperation of UN and UNDP Ahwaz wetland be restored.

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Last Updated: 03 February 2017