IMHRO: Revolutionary Guards had opened fire on Turk farmers

Iranian Minorities’ Human Rights Organisation (IMHRO)

Ref.IMHRO.15

2008-06-24

Iranian revolutionary guards opened fire on Turkish farmers after they resisted the confiscation of their lands. According to Germany Deutsche Welle Persian website the attack happened in villages along the Aras River. This was at a time when the High Court had even voted in favour of the villagers.

As a result of shooting Mr. Nor Al Din Dargahi was killed. After that they beat his old father.

After the shooting the revolutionary guards searched every where to find and destroy possible cameras and any photos of the incident.

Among the injured were women and children. When the family went to hospital to visit them, they were beaten by the officers.

IMHRO condemns this massacre and the confiscation of Turkish farmers’ land and asks for a full investigation of this case in order to bring those responsible to justice.

Turk activist killed under torture

Farhad Mohseni Negarestan has been killed under torture while he was being interrogated by the Iranian intelligence service. Aged 25, he was arrested 2 years ago when he was injured by shooting during a demonstration which took place in Azerbaijan, to the north-west of Iran.

The government also have threatened to persecute his family if they speak out about their son’s death. They have also spread rumours that he had committed suicide. His body was buried without having any post-mortem examination.

Some reports suggest he died under interrogation while being subjected to electric shock treatment.

Reza Washahi, a researcher on minorities, told IMHRO that the death of Mr Farhad Mohseni Negarestan clearly shows how Turkish activists are being treated in prison.

IMHRO condemns the murder of Mr Farhad Mohseni Negarestan and asks for a full investigation to bring those involved to account.

Background

Turks in Iran number up to 30 million and face discrimination in many aspects of their lives. Turks in Iran cannot receive education in their mother tongue. It was in 1925 that their area was annexed by Iran.

Sunni minorities among them are also under pressure and suffer discrimination. For example, Sunni farmers do not receive government subsidies or loans.

In recent years after the discovery of oil in this area, the Iranian government started to change its demography by moving non-Turks to this area and confiscating the land of the Turkish people. In Soldoz and Nagahdeh city the government opened fire on a protesting crowd and killed dozens of people, including 17 year old Hussein Fathi Poor.

In recent years the civil movement has developed quickly and many activists including students have been arrested. In the Turkish area free media is banned and local Turkish papers are not allowed to be published.

Action

Please write to one of the following below and express your concern about the recent arrests of Turkish activists in Iran and ask for the immediate release of all Turkish prisoners of conscience in Iran. Please remind the Iranian government that as a state it is party to the international covenant on civil and political rights, which states in article one “All peoples have the right of self-determination. By virtue of that right they may freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development.” Therefore they should recognise the rights of Turkish people and other minorities in Iran. Please ask the Iranian government to fully investigate the shooting of farmers and the death of Farhad Mohseni Negarestan and bring those responsible to justice.


Secretary General United Nations
The Honourable Ban Ki-moon
United Nations Headquarters
Room S-3800
New York, NY 10017
USA

Supreme Leader of Iran
Sayyed Ali Khamenei
E-mail via web site
http://www.leader.ir/

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Ms Louise Arbour
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
Palais des Nations CH-1211 Geneva 10,
Switzerland

Head of the Judiciary
Ayatollah Mahmud Hashemi Shahroudi
Howzeh Riyasat-e Qoveh Qazaiyeh / Office of the Head of the Judiciary
Pasteur St., Vali Asr Ave.,
South of Serah-e Jomhouri,
Tehran 1316814737, Islamic Republic of Iran


Iranian President
Mahmud Ahmadinejad
E-mail via web site
http://www.president.ir/en/


European parliament Human Rights committee
Ms Hélène FLAUTRE
Bureau d'Hélène Flautre au Parlement européen
8G130,rue Wierz
B-1049, Bruxelles,
Belgique