OVER 1,000 ETHNIC AZERIS REPORTEDLY ARRESTED IN

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAKU 000673 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/29/2017 TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL KDEM IR AJ SUBJECT: OVER 1,000 ETHNIC AZERIS REPORTEDLY ARRESTED IN IRAN Classified By: DCM Donald Lu for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (SBU) Baku media outlets report that over 1,000 ethnic Azeris have been arrested in connection with demonstrations commemorating the one-year anniversary of large-scale ethnic Azeri protests which took place in northwestern Iran on 22 May 2006. According to these reports, largely peaceful demonstrations took place in the northwestern cities of Tabriz, Zanjan and Orumiyeh, with the 23 May 2007 demonstration in Tabriz reportedly involving over 30,000 demonstrators. ¶2. (C) While press reports suggest that Iranian security forces fired upon demonstrators in Tabriz, Professor Gholam-Reza Sabri-Tabrizi, head of the Coordinating Committee of World Azerbaijanis, reported that there have been no deaths in connection with this year's protests. Another contact reported that approximately 2,000 demonstrators have been arrested, 500 in Orumiyeh alone. Subsequent, smaller-scale demonstrations have reportedly taken place in Tabriz protesting the continued detention of these demonstrators. ¶3. (C) Comment: Assessing the veracity of these reports is difficult, especially given the lack of photographic or other evidence usually available to support similar claims. Unlike the May 2006 protests which generated a considerable amount of photographic and video evidence (later surfacing on diaspora websites and GunAz Television),none has emerged in connection with this year's protests. We will continue to monitor the situation and report any developments. End Comment. DERSE