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(Jan
11), - A front representing Iran's ethnic minority
parties has condemned the Iran's President Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad's position on the Nazi Holocaust and the
destruction of Israel.
The Congress of Nationalities for a Federal Iran (CNFI),
which includes parties representing Iranian Kurds,
Arabs, Baluchis, Azeri Turks and Turkmen, condemned
the regime's manipulation of the Palestinian issue
for its own political ends.
In the statement, the Congress argued that "the
Iranian regime's internal and external policies are
based on creating tension and confrontation, both
inside and outside Iran. By taking an irresponsible
position, President Ahmadinejad is trying to deflect
public attention in Iran away from domestic
economical, political and social crises.
The government's foreign policy aims to position
Iran as the sole defender of Palestinian people's
right by allying with extremist groups to create
tension in the Middle East and ultimately derail the
peace process between Palestinians and Israelis.
While the Palestinians and Israelis are seeking a
permanent solution to their problems despite the
Iranian regime's intervention, Iran's own minorities
are denied the right to voice their demands.
"While we condemn the Iranian government regarding
Holocaust and the destruction of Israel, we appeal
to all democratic forces and human rights
organisations to support the oppressed Iranian
nationalities (that comprise 2/3 of the population)
towards the establishment of a secular, democratic
and a federal state in Iran."
The group, which includes the Democratic Solidarity
Party of Ahwaz (DSPA), drew parallels between the
plight of the Palestinians and Iran's ethnic
minorities. They pointed out that their appeals for
human rights, freedom of speech and democracy has
led to "gross human rights violations by the Iranian
security forces and intelligence agencies. Arrests,
kidnappings, illegal detention and the
extra-judicial killing of political, cultural and
social activists are routine in Iran. The Iranian
constitution sets in stone the systematic social,
ethnic and cultural discrimination against ethnic
minority groups."
The CNFI's statement was signed by the Azerbaijan
Cultural Society, Balochistan National Movement -
Iran, Balochistan Peoples Party, Balochistan United
Front of Iran, Democratic Party of Iranian
Kurdistan, Democratic Solidarity Party of Ahwaz,
Komela and the Organization for Defence of the
Rights of of Turkmen People.
www.ahwaz.org.uk
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