Appeal for the Protection of Azerbaijani Rights in Iran
As a concerned citizen and a member of the South Azerbaijani community, I am deeply troubled by the ongoing violations of the rights of ethnic Azerbaijanis living in Iran. With an estimated population of 30 million, Azerbaijanis make up a significant portion of Iran's diverse society. However, their rights have been systematically and severely violated in recent months.
In the areas where Azerbaijanis live in Iran, the water shortage problem has increased in recent years. The indifferent attitude of the Iranian authorities to its solution has purposefully affected the worsening of the environmental situation in those areas. The inactivity of the Islamic Republic of Iran toward the solution to this problem has led Azerbaijanis to leave those territories and face the risk of assimilation.
The flora of the Qaradagh forests, known as the “breathing lung” of South Azerbaijan, has been damaged due to the works carried out in the “Sungun Copper Mine” copper mine located in the Varzagan province of Eastern Azerbaijan. In addition, according to the research of Zanjan University researchers, the region of Lake Urmia, located in the West Azerbaijan province, is becoming an ecological disaster zone. In recent years, salt storms rising from the dry bottom of the lake threatened the life and health of the province of East and West Azerbaijan residents. Suppose the ecological balance in the water basin is not regulated, and preventive measures are not taken. In that case, serious environmental problems will become inevitable in the coming years. Referring to the research of ecologists, if the drying up of the lake is not prevented, it will be impossible to live in the region, leading to the migration of 14 million people to other regions. Also, the Shahar River passing through Urmia has dried up due to unplanned dams. It is polluted because of the dumping of household waste. Despite the appeals of Azerbaijani eco-activists to state institutions, no action was taken to solve the environmental problem.
According to the forecast, East Azerbaijan province ranks last among Iranian provinces regarding precipitation level and may become a desert region. Three hundred sixty villages were completely evacuated due to a serious water shortage in 700 villages in the province. Also, due to digging wells to eliminate the water shortage problem, the cases of land subsidence in the Tabriz Plain have increased. Suppose subsidence in the relevant region was 3-4 centimeters last year. In that case, the amount of subsidence has reached 10 centimeters in some places.
At the same time, the stones and soil poured into the lake for the construction of the Urmia-Tabriz highway, which passes through the middle of Lake Urmia, led to the division of the lake into two parts, the destruction of the ecosystem and accelerated the drying of the lake.
From the territory of Armenia, the discharge of toxic waste from the copper-molybdenum mine and “Metsamor Nuclear Power Station” into the Araz River has resulted in an increase in cancer disease in the region of South Azerbaijan, especially in East Azerbaijan and Ardabil. In addition, 70 percent of hospital beds in East Azerbaijan province are unusable and old. The general condition of the medical centers and hospitals of the province does not correspond to the service of 10 million citizens.
It is worth noting that while the rights issue of Azerbaijanis in Iran has become particularly severe in recent times, this problem is generally not recent. The Iranian authorities are indifferent to the solution to these problems; they allocate budget funds unevenly by provinces and provide a small amount of these funds to the areas where Azerbaijanis live in contrast to other provinces.
However, unfortunately, the international community is traditionally indifferent to these problems. Such indifference creates an environment of impunity.
It is crucial that we raise our voices against these injustices faced by our fellow Azerbaijani brothers and sisters living in Iran. By signing this petition today:
1) We demand that Iranian authorities take immediate action to address water scarcity issues faced by Azerbaijanis living within their borders.
2) We call upon the Iranian government to respect cultural diversity by promoting inclusivity rather than imposing assimilation policies.
3) We urge the Iranian authorities to ensure the protection of fundamental human rights, including freedom of speech, assembly, expression, and association for all Azerbaijanis.
4) We request international organizations and governments to closely monitor the situation in Iran and hold them accountable for their violations of Azerbaijani rights.
It is time for us to stand in solidarity with our Azerbaijani brothers and sisters in Iran. Let us raise awareness about these violations and work towards a future where everyone can enjoy their fundamental rights without fear or discrimination.
Please sign this petition to support the protection of Azerbaijani rights in Iran. Together, we can make a difference!