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Iran: Widespread arrests by security forces on International Day of Native Language |
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Saturday, 23 February 2008 |
NCRI - On the anniversary of International Day of Native Language, the State Security Forces (SSF) and agents of the Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) imposed an undeclared marshal law on many Iranian Northern provinces in fear of protests by mainly Azeri speaking population.
In Orumieh, the provincial capital of Western Azerbaijan, a 17-year-old teenage named Saied Nassiri and another youngster Shahram Qolizadeh were arrested distributing leaflets in the run up to the International Day of Native Language on February 21. In another incident, Reza Daghestani, Ashaq Asgar-Sawad and Mehdi Noori were also detained. The whereabouts of detainees were unknown.
In 2006, an insulting cartoon published in a government run paper sparked the uprising by people in the cities of Zanjan, Tabriz and Orumieh. Many government buildings and centers as well as the state-owned banks were torched in the demonstrations.
Protests erupted in Tabriz, simultaneously by students and bazaar merchants on two sides of the city and merged into one massive demonstration. People shouted anti-government slogans and clashed with SSF units. Tear gas were used to disperse the crowd and they were beaten up by batons. Many were arrested.
On following days, the northwestern Province of Azerbaijan was the scene of angry protests by the local residents.
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