The representative of Ahwaz human rights minority Mr.Jaber Ahmad's speech in the 8th session of UN forum on minority issues on 24 Nov 2015.
Thank you Mr.Chair,
My name is Jaber Ahmad I speak here as an activist in Ahwaz human right organization and as director of Ahwaz studies center.My colleagues and I have been working for many years regarding the oppressed minorities in Iran
the situation of oppression in Iran base on non independent judiciary and being under control security services . This had led to unjust sentences handed down against minorities such as Arabs, Kurds, Turks and Baluch .
Lashgarabad is one of the oldest districts of Ahwaz where Arab compatriots live. The spread of unemployment and poverty among the youth in this district has compelled them to open local restaurants and tea houses to earn a meager income to feed themselves and their deprived families.
Ahwaz in rage after the Iranian police killed a 17 years old male from Arab minority group . The police shot a young Arab man of 17 named Ali Jalaly during the invasion of a popular market in Ahwaz . Ahwaz Human Right Organization (AHRO) condemns the killing of the young man and demands punishment of the officer responsible ,and also condemns invading public restaurants and cafes in "Nehza" area populated with Arab residence .
According to eye witnesses , residence of the neighborhood and local resources, Bloody clashes that have erupted between security forces and the people led to the killing of the young man and it also resulted in the injury of dozens .
Activists published clips on social media which shows gathering of hundreds of people in front of police station number 30 in Ahwaz.
people shout against security forces and their attack on the popular market .
Amensty International has reported Fatemeh Salbehi, a 23-year-old woman, was hanged yesterday for a crime she allegedly committed when she was 17, only a few days after another juvenile offender, Samad Zahabi, was hanged for a crime he also allegedly committed at 17.
Syrian - Syrian asylum-seekers are the largest component of the latest refugee surge to Europe. Germany has been extraordinarily generous in providing a refuge. But with four million refugees having fled Syria’s daily atrocities and more waiting in the wings, we must ask how to improve the conditions forcing their flight.
IRAN - Mohammad Bagher Moradi, a member of Saraye Ahle Ghalam has been sentenced to 5 years of prison.
According to a report by the committee of human rights reporters HRANA, after being summoned by a telephone call to the branch 26 of the revolutionary court of Tehran, Judge Pir Abbasi has sentenced Mohammad Bagher Moradi to 5 years of prison on charge of colluding and gathering to act against the national security.
World Day 13th World Day Against the Death Penalty: Drug Crimes
On 10 October 2015, the 13th World Day Against the Death Penalty is raising awareness around the application of the death penalty for drug-related offences, to reduce its use.
Ahwazi: Secretary General Advocates for Protection of Arab Minority
The United Nations General Assembly convened for its Seventieth Session. While presenting his report Mr Ban Ki-Moon, UN Secretary General, addressed the treatment and human rights situation of the Ahwazi Arabs in Iran. The Secretary General has called on the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to undertake changes in its human rights practices towards the Ahwazi and grant them their rights and protection.
Below is an article published by Ahwaz Human Rights:
Ban Ki-moon the Secretary General of the United Nation, denounced the continuous suppression and persecution of Arab minority by Tehran in his report during the Seventieth session [September 2015] of the UN General Assembly which was held in New York.
Report of the Secretary General embarks upon the continued marginalization and repression of Ahwazi Arab. Authorities attempts to change the demography of the region, continued arbitrary arrests and killing of peaceful demonstrators.
Paragraph 58 of the report is as follow: "Ethnic minority groups also face restrictions on their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. For example, some 1,000 people were arrested on 17 March 2015 for protesting against the plight of an Arab from Khorramshahr, Younes Asakere, who set himself on fire in response to repeated harassment by the local authorities regarding the license for his produce stand. 29 He died, allegedly after being denied appropriate medical treatment. Most of the protesters were reportedly released after signing a pledge. Moreover, from mid -March to April 2015, nearly 100 Ahwazi Arabs, including activists and several minors, were arrested and detained following peaceful protests organized in the lead-up to the tenth anniversary of the Ahwazi uprising. In commenting on the present report, the authorities, disputing the above allegations, stated that Mr. Asakere had received adequate medical treatment but had died owing to the seriousness of his injuries. They added that the local authorities and non-governmental organizations had provided support to his immediate family after his death. "
In the footnote of page 22 of the report it is declared that: “In April 2005, Ahwazi Arabs took to the streets to protest against the Government’s alleged policy aimed at changing the ethnic composition of Khuzestan Province. The protests, which lasted for two weeks, reportedly turned violent, with several protesters killed. Since then, Ahwazi Arabs commemorate the uprising by staging protests throughout the area."
In paragraph 73 under recommendations, it is stated:" The Secretary-General urges the Government to promote and protect the rights of all persons belonging to religious and ethnic minorities in the Islamic Republic of Iran and to address any form of discrimination against them. "
Ahwaz Human Rights Organization (AHRO) is the organization which provided United Nations with comprehensive periodic reports on human rights violation in Ahwaz .Last week AHRO participated in the 30th session of UN Human Rights council in Geneva.
During an interview with Al-Arabiya net, the head of Ahwaz Human Rights Organization (AHRO) and the senior advisor to the Democratic Solidarity Party of Alahwaz, Dr.Karim Abdian stated: "the world is ending its indifference toward our just cause and the injustice suffered by our Ahwazi Arab people. This injustice manifests itself in suppression of an Arab nation that is trying to maintain its identity and restore its usurped rights."
Commenting on UN Secretary –General report concerning the human rights violations against the Ahwazi Arab nation, Dr. Abdian stressed that: "these statements mark the culmination of our continued and intensified contacts with the United Nations and its institutions in order to deliver the voice of the Arab people, and Ahwaz Human Rights Organization played a key and essential role in this respect."
Worth mentioning that Iran protested to the UN resolution adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations; a resolution which needs to be implemented by Ban Ki-moon on the human rights situation in Iran .
Also the UN resolution Number 69/190, which was issued by the General Assembly in New York, requires Secretary General to follow up its implementation, especially in regards to the observations and recommendations made by the United Nations bodies which monitored the breach of the terms of the human rights treaties, as well as government and media reports of official and non-governmental organizations.
