Dr.Asma Al-Ktebi

During the seventh session of the Forum on Minority Issues on "prevention and confrontation of violence and terrible crimes against minorities," which was held in the Human Rights Council headquarters in the United Nations during 25th and 26th of November 2014 in Geneva,in an unprecedented step in the field of human rights in the Arab world Dr.Asma Al-Ktebi ,human rights activist , professor in Emirates University and the representative of SPHER human right organization , Supported Ahwazi demands and called for an end to the violence and the discrimination practiced against them.

During the seventh session of the Forum on Minority Issues on "prevention and confrontation of violence and terrible crimes against minorities," which was held in the Human Rights Council headquarters in the United Nations during 25th and 26th of November 2014 in Geneva,in an unprecedented step in the field of human rights in the Arab world Dr.Asma Al-Ktebi ,human rights activist , professor in Emirates University and the representative of SPHER human right organization , Supported Ahwazi demands and called for an end to the violence and the discrimination practiced against them.

Following is the text of Dr. Al-Ktebi's speech:

Based on the objectives of this session (the 7th) on the rights of minorities, which revolves around the factors leading to violence against minorities, and under international laws and by the general assembly of the united nation in its preamble that believes "the promotion and protection of the human rights of people belonging to minorities contribute to political and social stability of the countries in which they live.

As our organization stands for human and environment rights ,We would like to highlight the human rights violation in Ahwaz region ,which led to the environmental violations ,and violation of both caused the political instability and the opposite is true also. If the Iranian government was keen to economic and human development in regions with minorities through protecting their rights as an integral part of its territory , and providing their necessities as an integral part of Iranian people, beginning from the right of living and ending with the rights of living in a suitable environment, the political stability would be achieved in the country .

Iran has a population of 75 million people, mostly Muslims (Shia,Sunni),and among the population there are different ethnic and religious minorities and Ahwazi Arabs are our subject matter. It is worthy to mention ,that although most of the Ahwazi Arabs are Shia ,but they suffer from oppressive policies of the Vali-ye faqih (Guardian Jurist) ,which is quiet different from the support that Iranian government provides for the Shia Arabs in Bahrain.

Human right violations and environment ,were not connected to a particular government, Despite the different trends and ideologies it was handed down to the next Iranian government (Pahlavi ,shia)

Human rights violations such as: denial of education ,health ,and even the right of life,in addition to violations of freedoms.

on Environment: violations appear in the inequity of water ,and its pollution through industrial waste ,particularly chemical waste ,which is disposed in river water and also in the gulf waters ,as well as aggravated dams on the rivers ,which increases the frequency of earthquakes in the region . This actions whether intentional or unintentional harms both men and the environment.

What I am asking here is for the prevention of violence ,it is simple and can be achieved.

If Iranian government considered Ahwaz region as part of its territory and considered Ahwazi Arabs as part of its people, since the inclusion of Ahwaz region, instead of violating their basic rights ,beginning with ethnic cleansing, as if they are not part of the Iranian fabric ,and ending with harming the environment of the region as if it is not part of its unity as a nation, political stability for the government and social security for the Ahwazi Arabs would have been achieved .

It’s a small ethic obligation from the government toward, the people and environment in Ahwaz ,which will bring a win win situation, for the people, the environment and the government .

This is possible through following steps:

1.Economic,social , political and environmental development.

2. Granting individuals the right to establish parties and to participate in political action. There have been no governor –till this moment – assigned for Ahwaz ,who is actually from the Ahwaz region.

3.Having cultural rights in education and right of practicing native language (Arabic) in schools and universities.

4. Halt the execution of political activists, and stop the arbitrary arrests.

5. interest in the environment situation of the region .

All of which meet the demands of Ahwazi Arabs,who deserve to live like other Iranian citizens, and nothing would detract from the Iranian government ,nor from its budget, as this region contains 70% of iran's oil export.

video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOEYfR4jHEo&list=UUOplHM1Otr6BxZjrGlh0RRg