The first parliamentary resolution in Europe and America, specifically about South-Azerbaijan, has been laid in the Swedish parliament

It is with great honor that I can share with you that the first parliamentary resolution in Europe and America, specifically about South-Azerbaijan, has been laid in the Swedish parliament. The resolution which was initiated and drafted by the Azerbaijani Youth Association in Sweden, was laid on October 31 by Mr. Hans Linde, a member of the Swedish Parliament and the Left Party’s representative in the Swedish Foreign Affairs committee.

The resolution gives a historical background to the ruling chauvinistic system in Iran as well as explains the situation of the South-Azerbaijanis today. It brings up not only the cultural discrimination in the country but also the systematic economical and social oppression conducted against the Azerbaijanis. The banishment of the Azerbaijani language in the school system and media as well as in all other public contexts, the distortment of the Azerbaijani history, the economical negligence of Azerbaijani regions, the Persification of Azerbaijani geographical names and the reducing of land areas bearing the name Azerbaijan, are given as examples of the Persian chauvinism and the forced assimilation of the Azerbaijanis in Iran. The resolution also mentions the mass demonstrations in the Azerbaijani areas in northern Iran, which took place in the end of May earlier this year. Through the publishing of the degrading article and cartoons in the state owned newspaper “Iran”, which initiated the demonstrations, the Iranian state’s anti-Azerbaijani propaganda is clearly identified. It is stated in the resolution that this is a part of the strategy of diminishing the national self picture of the Azerbaijani nation in Iran and a way to instill shame over their origin.

Concretely, the resolution proposes that the Swedish government within the UN, EU as well as other international bodies shall work so that:

1. the Azerbaijanis in Iran have the right to study and write their own history
2. the Azerbaijani language gets the status of an official minority language in Iran.
3. the Azerbaijanis in Iran have the right to freely use their language in both oral and written form and that the language is educated in the schools.
4. the right of the Azerbaijan people to build their own political and cultural organizations.
5. the right of the Azerbaijanis to preserve their culture and heritage.
6. the democratic, cultural and human rights of the Azerbaijanis are defended and secured.

The resolution will be treated within the Swedish Foreign Affairs committee, and will later be discussed in the Swedish parliament where Mr. Linde and his party will have to defend the above mentioned proposals. After voting, a final decision regarding the resolution will be taken.