continuing protests rock Iran's second largest city: 25 dead so far.

author: siftim

iran's government shuts down major newspaper for printing racist cartoons which have sparked mass violent protests in the Azeri areas of Iran.

ethnic tentions have been especially high in Iran lately as Iran's government continues its suppressive policies toward its different ethnic groups. Today, roughly 48 million Iranians speak a language other than "farsi/persian" at home. yet, Farsi is the only language taught in the schools of iran. this policy of persianification was first instituted by the Pahlavi dynasty 75 years ago and continued by the "islamic republic".

the azeris in iran are close relatives and speak the same language of the people of Azerbaijan Republic (ex USSR). devided by the river Araz into north and south by the bulshevik and british compromise after wwI and then again after wwII.



Reuter's article:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060522/wl_nm/iran_protest_dc_1

video of Tabriz protests:

link to video.google.com

BBC europe report:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4472368.stm

numbers:

http://www.iranfocus.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=7346

government bans newspaper under severe pressure:

http://www.myantiwar.org/view/80562.html

arrests:

link to www.rferl.org