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Iran: Azeris stage demonstrations in major cities

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Regime officials call for stepped-up suppression of Turks in Azerbaijan

Thursday, July 28, 2016, thousands of Iranian Turks in various cities including Tehran, Tabriz, Orumiyeh, Zanjan, Ahar, Khoy and Ardebil staged demonstrations to protest denigration of Azeris by the state media.

The demonstration in Tehran took place in Toopkhaneh Square. In Orumiyeh, thousands of angry protesters took to Ata’ii and Sardaran cross-sections to express their protest where they were attacked by SSF anti-riot units who shot plastic bullets to the crowd. Young men clashed with SSF troops and engaged in hit and run.

In Tabriz, a large number of people marched in the main avenues, expressing their abhorrence at the clerical regime’s repressive policies which have repeatedly insulted Iran’s Turks. SSF agents and anti-riot units attacked the demonstrators to scatter the crowd, beating and injuring many.

A number of people were arrested in the demonstrations in the cities of Orumiyeh, Tabriz, Zanjan and Maragheh. There is still no information available on the fates of those arrested in other demonstrations on Tuesday in Orumiyeh and Tabriz.

Orumiyeh’s Governor said the demonstrations were illegal and ordered security forces to deal decisively against the people of Azerbaijan.

Systematic discrimination and double oppression of ethnic and religious minorities have become more extensive with the aggravation of the regime’s various economic and political crises as it is not capable of responding to any of the just demands of the populace. The abysmal conditions in Iran could be ended only with the overthrow of the religious fascism ruling Iran.

The Iranian Resistance calls on the nation and its valiant youths to express their solidarity with the people of Azerbaijan and protest the anti-popular policies of the ruling regime against ethnic and religious minorities.

Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran
July 28, 2016