European Ahwazi Human Rights Organisation

Ahwazi Arab Delegation at UN Human Rights Session

The cause of the Ahwazi Arabs got a top-level platform at the 20th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council this week.

An Ahwazi delegation led by the Ahwaz Centre for Human Rights addressed the session on 28th June to bring global attention to the Iranian regime's violent persecution of Arabs.

Bringing attention to planned Arab demonstrations in April, ACHR's Ali Saedi said: "This year, the Iranian government prepared well in advance to preempt any uprising; rounding up prominent members of the Ahwazi community, killing some under torture, broadcasting forced confessions on its international Press TV network and imposing martial law on Ahwazi Arab districts. Around 100 people were arrested in the run-up to the planned protests on March and April, in a clear attempt to intimidate the Arab population of Ahwaz."

He drew highlighted the killings of three Ahwazis killed by security forces: Naser Alboshoka (19) and Mohammad Kaabi (32) who were killed under torture few days after their arrest and 15 year old Hassan Tamer Haidari who was killed by a live bullet fired in a raid at his parents' house.

He also spoke on the recent execution of four Ahwazi Arabs, who were arrested in April 2011 after a massive demonstration called the “Ahwazi Day of Rage”, stating that they paid the ultimate penalty as part of the regime's campaign of terror against the Arab population. This was followed by the "brutal attack of Iran’s security forces on Ahwazi Arabs and the arrest of 30 people from Malashieh district in a protest against the executions." In addition, Salem Sawari (28) was killed in Sepidar prison on 14th June during a prison protest against the ill-treatment of prisoners and the planned executions.

The killings emphasised the criminal disregard of the Iranian regime for international condemnation of its treatment of Ahwazi Arabs. The European Parliament, the British Parliament and Amnesty International were among those who voiced concern about the poor human rights situation facing Ahwazi Arabs ahead of the executions.

Ali Saedi warned that up to 13 Ahwazi political prisoners were still in danger of execution, having appeared on the Iranian government's Press TV giving forced "confessions" and called on the international community to "continue their campaign to press on Iran to stop the implementation of the unfair trials against the people of Ahwaz". However, he warned that any lack of action as the world becomes preoccupied by the nuclear issue could lead to a humanitarian disaster.

The 13 political prisoners in danger of execution are:

• Hadi Rashedi 38-year old
• Hashem Shabani Amuri 31-year old
• Rahman Asakereh 33-year old
• Mohamed Ali Amuri 33-year old
• Jabbar Albushoka 27-year old
• Mukhtar Albushoka 25 years old
• Khaled Abidawi 26-year old
• Hassan Abayat
• Idan beit Sayah 37-year old
• Jassem Sawaedi
• Ahmed Dabbat 21 years old
• Maher Chabi (Ka’abi)
• Sajjad Beit Abdullah

Source: http://www.ahwaziarabs.info