UN chief condemns crackdown against Ahvaz Arabs by Iranian regime

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in his recent report on the human rights situation in Iran presented to the 70th UN General Assembly condemned the mullahs’ crackdown against Ahvaz Arabs and other ethnic minorities in this country.
Ban referred to the continuing trend of marginalizing and sidelining Ahvaz Arabs, crackdown measure against this ethnic group and planned forced demographic changes in Sunni areas. The UN chief went on to express his utmost outrage and protest regarding such policies adopted by Tehran.

Article 58 reads:

“Ethnic minority groups also face restrictions on their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. For example, some 1,000 people were arrested on 17 March 20 15 for protesting against the plight of an Arab from Khorramshahr, Younes Asakere, who set himself on fire in response to repeated harassment by the local authorities regarding the license for his produce stand. He died, allegedly after being denied appropriate medical treatment. Most of the protesters were reportedly released after signing a pledge.  Moreover, from mid -March to April2015,  nearly  100  Ahwazi  Arabs,  including  activists  and  several  minors,  were arrested and detained following peaceful protests organized in the lead -up to the tenth anniversary of the Ahwazi uprising.30 In commenting on the present report, the authorities, disputing the above allegations, stated that Mr. Asakere had received adequate medical treatment but had died owing to the seriousness of his injuries. They  added  that  the  local  authorities  and  non -governmental  organizations  had provided support to his immediate family after his death.”