Standing In Solidarity With The Ahwazi Protests

Kazhal Naghshbandi, the Secretary General of the Iranian Kurdistan Democratic Women’s Union Abroad, also spoke out in favor of the Ahwazi protests: “It is obvious for the world that the mullahs` regime started killing, suppressing and executing people especially the minorities among them Kurds from its first days because they are seeking their rights and do not give up. It is undeniable that Kurds in Iran have always been supporting the other minorities confronting the regime. This time the people are protesting to obtain their basic rights such as drinking water and electricity. In retaliation, the dictator’s regime tried to take control of the situation by killing people and some have lost their lives.”

Eskandar Jafari, a Kurdish reporter and human rights activist, added that the Kurds showed their solidarity in different ways with the Ahwaz people inside Iran; Kurdish political parties, individuals, civil activists, and human rights activists were in the field. Although the regime has many armed forces, Jafari noted that “the regime prefers to utilize its proxy militia groups such as Hashad-al-Sha`bi from Iraq to suppress protesters because many of its armed forces refuse to attack people, since they may have family members, relatives or friends among protesters.” He also believes that even the regime refuses to let Kurdish pro-government forces move to Ahwaz, since the regime does not trust these forces and know they don’t desire to suppress the people.

“We show solidarity with the Ahwaz not just for humanitarian reasons,” said Awin Motafazaden, a Kurdish human rights activist. He believes that the protests in Ahwaz is a continuation of the protests in December 2017 and October 2019, which were also against the Islamic Republic of Iran. “The people have reached the common understanding that they are opposed to this dictatorship and that it is the root of their problems.” 

Manel Msalmi is an advisor to the President of the European Association for the Defense of Minorities. He noted that in the West Azerbaijan province, murals now appear “calling to overthrow the Iranian regime and supporting the Ahwaz uprisings in the Turkish language. It seemed that the utilization of the Turkish language with these protesters posters was intended in rejection of the policy of discrimination that has been implemented.” 

Ahmad Obali, the founder of the Azerbaijani Gunaz TV in Chicago, stated in an exclusive interview: “Ten Azerbaijani organizations came out in support of the Ahwaz nation. We called for demonstrations in Azerbaijani cities.” Although the regime tried to stop Azerbaijanis from joining the protests, Obali noted that the regime failed in this: “Now, an Azerbaijan-Ahwaz unity exists.” In the interview, Obali discussed how the minorities in Iran are uniting against the mullahs and how this unity could lead to the creation also of an independent South Azerbaijan: “This is the talk of the day. It is a possibility.”