Asia

Asia

Azerbaijanis hold massive protests in Iran

22 May 2012 01:18 (UTC +04:00)

Dozens of protestors took part at massive peaceful demonstrations chanting slogans like â€œLong live Azerbaijanâ€, â€œLet Azerbaijan be unified, let them become blind who donâ€™t want itâ€, â€œLake Urmia is dying, and Majlis issue decree to this deathâ€.
The protesters demanded government to take necessary measures to prevent Lake Urmiaâ€™s drying up, to stop pressures against Azerbaijani activists, to remove ethnic discrimination, and to provide citizenship rights of 35 million Azerbaijanis.

In Asgarabad settlement and in place called â€œSardaranâ€ clashes also were reported between police and protestors.

Police attacked protestors with baton and used rubber bullets and tear gases in Tabriz and Urmia against demonstrators.

According to preliminary information over 100 protestors were arrested, and there are injured.

Police also prevented protests in Khoy, Maraga, Miyana and other cities.