Ahwazi Activists Make Impactful Contributions at the 17th UN Forum on Minority Issues
The 17th United Nations Forum on Minority Issues took place on November 28-29, 2024, at the UN headquarters in Geneva. This year’s session aimed to address the pressing concerns of ethnic, religious, and linguistic minorities while focusing on enhancing their participation in public life, policymaking, and cultural discourse. The active participation of Ahwazi activists was a notable highlight, as they used this platform to shed light on the enduring struggles and systemic violations faced by the Ahwazi people under Iranian rule.
Key Agenda of the Forum
The forum was organized around four pivotal Agenda, providing an opportunity for minorities, including the Ahwazi community, to voice their concerns and aspirations:
1. Representation of minorities in public space.
2. Representation of minorities in the education system.
3. Representation of minorities in media, including social media.
4. Representation of minority in arts and culture.
Contributions of Ahwazi Activists
Ahwazi activists took full advantage of this platform, delivering seven impactful speeches that documented and exposed the systematic human rights violations inflicted upon the Ahwazi people. Their interventions, supported by evidence and personal testimonies, offered a sobering glimpse into the realities of life under the Iranian regime.
Representation in Media and Public Life
Abdulrahman Al-Heidari, representing the Patriotic ArabDemocratic Movement in Ahwaz (PADMAZ), delivered a powerful address on the exclusion of Ahwazi Arabs from Iranian media. He highlighted how state-controlled media not only denies Ahwazi voices a platform but also perpetuates racism and anti-Arab sentiment.
Al-Heidari also condemned the broadcasting of coerced confessions of Ahwazi prisoners on state television, describing it as a weapon of oppression. Despite an attempt by an Iranian government representative to interrupt his speech, the session’s moderator ensured that he could finish his remarks, underscoring the importance of free expression within the forum.
Challenges in the Education System
Education was another critical area of focus for the Ahwazi activists, with several representatives highlighting the systemic barriers faced by their community:
• Faisal Moramadi, from the Ahwazi Human Rights Center, described Iran’s targeted efforts to erase the cultural and linguistic identity of Ahwazi Arabs through discriminatory policies, forced migrations, and systemic marginalization.
• Abdullah Heidari, representing Youth Seeking Life, spoke on the compounded challenges faced by non-Persian minorities with special needs, exposing the double discrimination they endure in accessing education.
• Hakeem Kaabi, from the Ahwazi Human Rights Organization, detailed how the imposition of the Persian language on Ahwazi children contributes to high dropout rates, further marginalizing their community.
• Mansour Habib Salman, of Paths to Justice Organisation, criticized Iran’s failure to uphold Article 15 of its constitution, which guarantees the right to education in one’s mother tongue. He called on the international community to support the Ahwazi people’s fight for equitable and inclusive education.
Representation in Public Life and Policy
Hassan Alwan, from the Karoun Cultural Organization, highlighted the Iranian regime’s efforts to erase Ahwazi heritage by renaming cities and undermining the historical and cultural significance of the region. He argued that these actions are part of a broader campaign to obliterate Ahwazi identity and called for fair representation of minorities in public life and policymaking.
Remote Participation and Side Events
In addition to live speeches, some Ahwazi activists contributed via pre-recorded video messages. Although these recordings were not played during the forum due to time constraints, UN officials promised to share them on the organization’s website.
Remote participants included:
• Mehdi Hashemi, representing Ahwazi Source.
• Tariq Jasem, representing Research Hub for Indigenous and Ethnonational Studies (RIES)
• Habib Qasem, from the Ahwazi Cultural Center in France.
• Fatemeh Mousavi, from the Voice of Justice Institute.
In a notable side event, Abdulrahman Al-Heidari provided an in-depth account of the Ahwazi people’s plight. He presented evidence of systematic repression, including violations of basic rights and efforts to erase the cultural identity of the Ahwazi community.
Significance of Ahwazi Participation
The involvement of Ahwazi activists in this high-profile international forum marks a significant step in amplifying their voices on the global stage. Their presence brought critical attention to issues such as the denial of education in their mother tongue, pervasive discrimination, and the erasure of their cultural identity.
The recommendations presented during the forum will be submitted to the UN Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues, who will include them in reports to the UN General Assembly. This process is expected to increase international pressure on Iran and advocate for the rights of the Ahwazi people.
Conclusion
The Ahwazi activists’ contributions underscored the urgency of addressing the community’s grievances, including their right to cultural preservation, access to education in their language, and fair representation in public life. They also emphasized the need for international support to ensure justice and equality for the Ahwazi people.
This participation not only raised global awareness of the Ahwazi people’s struggles but also paved the way for sustained advocacy at both national and international levels. Continued efforts of this nature can play a transformative role in securing justice and rights for the Ahwazi community.
To watch the speeches delivered by Ahwazi activists at the forum, click the link below: