PRESSURES DID NOT END AT THE ANNIVERSARY OF
THE CARTOON INCIDENTS
In Iran, at the anniversary of the incidents
that took place upon the publication on a newspaper on May
22, 2006 of the cartoon insulting the people of Turkish
origin, many Southern Azerbaijani people were taken under
custody in big cities like Ardebil, Zanjan, Tabriz and
Uroumiah. Furthermore, as of May 20, short message services
via cellular phones and cellular phone and internet
communications were stopped and security cameras were placed
at the significant quarters of the big cities.
On May 18-20, 2008 in Western
Azerbaijan-Uroumiah, security elements called almost 150
Southern Azerbaijani people to the Nirouye Antazami forces
stations and made them sign a written contract mentioning
that they would be ready to serve the due penalty in case
they take part in the acts. In the meanwhile, as of May 21
morning hours, at the mentioned regions, groups with more
than 3-4 individuals were immediately interfered and sent
away from the region.
On the other hand, despite the strict
measures the Turkish nationalist groups distributed leaflets
they prepared in memory of those who have lost their lives
during the incidents that took place in various cities of
Western Azerbaijan, Eastern Azerbaijan and Ardabil
provinces. In the leaflets they mentioned “the Persian
Administration brutally massacred the Azerbaijani Turkish
people at the quarters in Khordad 1385 (May 2006), the
Iranian Administration could not tolerate even the most
innocent claims for their rights of the Turks although it
was more tolerable even towards the armed Kurds due to its
racist chauvinist policies”.
