PROTESTS IN IRAN CONTINUE TO MAKE NEWS IN

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAKU 000782

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/30/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM PINR ASEC IR AJ
SUBJECT: PROTESTS IN IRAN CONTINUE TO MAKE NEWS IN
AZERBAIJAN

REF: BAKU 762

Classified By: Charge d,Affaires Jason P. Hyland, reasons 1.4 (b, d).


1. (U) The protests by Azeri-Iranians in northern Iran
continue to supply a steady diet of news stories to an
interested readership in Azerbaijan. The TURAN news agency
cites unnamed Iranian sources to the effect that "tens of
thousands" participated in a major protest in the Iranian
city of Parsabad. TURAN also claimed that the Iranian
Government brought "special troops" into the city, who fired
into the crowd, killing four and wounding dozens. The same
story claims that the crowd then set several bank offices on
fire. Reportedly the Parsabad demonstrators called for the
establishment of Azeri as a state language and were
protesting the Persian-only language policy of the school
system.


2. (U) Meanwhile, TURAN claims demonstrations have continued
in the cities of Akhar, Meshkin, Urmiya and Sulduz - the
latter supposedly where 5-10 demonstrators died after police
fired on the crowd. TURAN also cites the deteriorating
health of one arrested protester, Manukheckr Azizi and says
there has been no news about "famous lawyer" Akhmed
Heydaroglu, arrested in Tabriz on May 22. Turan asserts that
arrests are continuing in Tabriz, Khoy and Ardebil.


3. (C) Although the GOAJ is keeping quiet on the issue of the
Azeri-Iranian protests, Azerbaijan's political parties are
monitoring them with interest. Asim Mollazade, member of
Parliament and leader of Azerbaijan's Democratic Reforms
Party, told Emboff that the protests are widespread in
northern Iran. He cited as significant a recent public
statement by Iranian President Ahmadinejad (which post has
been unable to obtain) where the Iranian leader acknowledged
the death of four protesters in Tabriz - contradicting
Iranian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Suleymani, who asserted none
has died (reftel). MOLLAZADE says he has information that 14
protesters have been killed, but it is unclear whether he
meant in Tabriz or if he was aggregating the figures in the
open press for Sulduz and Parsabad.


4. (U) Finally, on May 26, the opposition Liberal Party of
Lala Shovket issued a statement condemning the actions of the
Iranian authorities. The Liberal Party demanded an end to
the "repression" of Azeri-Iranians, and argued that Iran must
grant the "national and political rights" of Azeri-Iranians,
including the right to receive education in the Azeri
language and the granting of an official status to the Azeri
language. The Liberal Party also called upon progressive
societies worldwide to support the struggle of the
Azeri-Iranians.
HYLAND