South Azerbaijanis make statement following protest rally in Berlin

Natives of South Azerbaijan adopted a statement following the rally in Berlin, dedicated to the anniversary of the events of May 22 (1 Khordad) 2006 in Iran, Report informs.

The rally participants criticized the Iranian regime in the statement.

"A regime has been established in Iran that oppresses its citizens, endangers security in the Middle East and threatens global peace. This regime manifests a medieval attitude towards its citizens, far from civilized world values, exports terror and fanaticism to the countries of the Middle East, endangers global peace," the statement says.

It is also indicated that the citizens of Iran have been fighting for the establishment of democracy for many years. As part of this struggle, thousands of citizens have been killed, arrested, tortured, or seriously injured as a result of the inhumane actions of the authorities.

“Most of the citizens of Iran are being harassed. Iran is a multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-cultural country, and there are many variations in this country. But the Iranian regime does not recognize this and even tries to eliminate this diversity through repression.

The Turks living in South Azerbaijan and other parts of Iran were the relative majority of the country's population and, although they have played a central role in the history and structure of the country, they, like other oppressed peoples of Iran, are today deprived of their basic economic, political, cultural and social rights.

Our people have been fighting for their fundamental rights for more than a century and today continue their struggle under the slogan ‘Freedom, justice, national government’,” the statement says.

The protesters demanded that the countries of the world not be silent in the face of the Iranian regime, which is spreading war and terror, examples of which we see in Azerbaijan, Syria, Yemen, Lebanon, Ukraine and other countries.

On May 12, 2006, the Iranian authorities published in the official newspaper "Iran" a derogatory cartoon depicting more than 35 million Azerbaijani Turks as insects. This caused massive protests. According to official figures, at least 30 people were killed by police during protests in Tehran, Zanjan, Tabriz, Urmia, Ardabil, Ahar, Hamadan, Kaleybar, Miyaneh, Maragha, Khoy, Salmas, Meshginshahr, Miyandoab, Naqadeh and Maranda, and hundreds of people were maimed.