Latest news with #non-Persian
Memri
12-07-2025
- Business
- Memri
SUPPORT MEMRI RESEARCH TODAY – Donate To Our 2025 Summer Campaign
Following the 12-day Israel/U.S.-Iran war and with a possible resolution to the war in Gaza on the horizon, the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) continues to provide vital research, primary source translations, original analysis, and vital early warning to the governments of the U.S. and its allies and to their counterterrorism officials, law enforcement agencies, militaries, and other authorities. As the region resets, with never-before seen changes and increased tensions, MEMRI's work is more important and more needed now than ever before. Meanwhile, the last Iranian proxy standing, the Houthis, are renewing their disruption of shipping in the Red Sea and their launching of drones and missiles at Israel; China continues efforts to expand to the South China Sea and Taiwan; and civil wars continue in Sudan and Libya. In all these arenas, MEMRI is working around the clock, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, monitoring and translating, documenting its cutting-edge research, and providing open-source intelligence (OSINT). As always, our wide-ranging work focuses on the most recent and most critical events and developments in these regions. No other organization does the work that we are doing. But this work is resource intensive, and we need your help today. Your tax-deductible gift supports all of our vital work. YOUR TAX-DEDUCTIBLE DONATION SUPPORTS MEMRI RESEARCH Since MEMRI's establishment nearly 30 years ago, we have become one of the world's most productive nonprofit think tanks focusing on the Middle East and South Asia and on threats from these regions to the U.S. and the West. Our research output equals or surpasses that of similar organizations many times our size with many times our budget. In the past decade, not one day has passed without new MEMRI research being posted on our website and sent out in emails to hundreds of thousands of subscribers. MEMRI research is filling a major void; in our 27th year, we again prove ourselves leaders in this field. But during these eventful times, our research and translation teams remain stretched to the limit. There is so much more of this primary source material that MEMRI needs to monitor, translate, and distribute. As we face so many more tasks this year, we continue to produce ever more research and distribute it to governments, legislatures, media, and you, our readers. We are appealing to you, our donors and readers, to help support our work. Areas we are closely monitoring, with a focus on statements by governments, terrorist and rebel groups, and their leaders, include: Iran: Following the war, Iranian regime officials and clerics ramp up their assassination threats against Trump, as they withdraw from all international nuclear oversight organizations and vow to double down on the country's nuclear program. At the same time, Iran's non-Persian ethnic groups call for the downfall of the Islamic regime and possibilities for a new future for the country. Qatar: Qatar, the foremost sponsor of terrorism worldwide that pretends to be a U.S. ally continues to pretend also to be an "honest broker" in negotiations, amid its ongoing efforts to buy influence in the West, including in U.S. higher education. Gaza and Lebanon: As Hamas continues to attempt to thwart the distribution of humanitarian aid that it once exclusively controlled – thus controlling Gaza's civilian population – the Lebanese government, under U.S. pressure, demands that Hizbullah disarm, but Hizbullah's compliance is not assured. Syria : Amid President Trump's lifting of all remaining U.S. sanctions on Syria, and removal of Hay'at Tahrir Al-Sham – the organization led by Syrian leader Ahmed Al-Sharaa that took over the country in December – from the list of designated terrorists, Syria appears to be interested in security arrangements with Israel. Yemen's Houthis: Ansar Allah (the Houthis), the last Iranian proxy left standing, resumes its disruption of shipping in the Red Sea and missile and drone launches towards Israel. Jihadi activity: There are increased threats and chatter about lone wolf attacks in the West, from ISIS, Al-Qaeda, and other jihadi organizations. Russia-Iran-China Alliance: The 12-day Israel/U.S.-Iran war laid bare the limits of Russia's and China's support for Iran, as neither came to Iran's defense during that time. Extremist imams and Islamist organizations in the U.S. and West: In addition to all these regions, MEMRI focuses on exposing the continuing extremism emanating from mosques and Islamist organizations in the U.S. We continue our mission to "bridge the language gap" and to make it possible for U.S. officials and the public to understand what is happening both outside the U.S. and inside it (such as in sermons in mosques). We are appealing to you, as a reader and donor who is aware of our vital work, to continue with a greater effort to support our work. Your donation will also support these special projects: MEMRI TV – The MEMRI TV project scours hundreds of channels and online broadcasting outlets – Arabic, Farsi, Urdu, Turkish, Russian, Chinese, and Korean – for relevant, important content to record, translate, subtitle, and publish. To date, MEMRI TV clips, numbering nearly 12,000, have had over 350 million views across the web. No other research like this is being carried out by any intelligence community anywhere in the West. Lantos Archives on Antisemitism and Holocaust Denial – Named after the late honorable Congressman and Holocaust survivor Tom Lantos, this project exposes Muslim antisemitism in the Arab and Muslim world and the West, and also monitors online propaganda, incitement, threats, and recruitment activity by violent neo-Nazi groups and individuals. It maintains the world's largest archives on these subjects. Our linguists and analysts – experts in the field – have been exposing extremism, antisemitism, and jihadi threats for over a quarter of a century, and have thwarted a number of actual planned attacks. We ask you today to help us continue our essential, unique, and vital work. We cannot do this without you. With gratitude,
Memri
19-06-2025
- Politics
- Memri
Want Real Regime Change In Iran? Support The Minorities First
By Pel Berwari* If the world, especially the U.S. and Israel, wants real change in Iran, they need to stop relying on old exiled politicians and start supporting the people who are already resisting the regime on the ground: Iran's ethnic minorities or, better yet, the non-Persian ethnic groups. (Source: CIA) Who Are These Minorities/Non-Persian Ethnic Groups? Iran is not just Persians. It is made up of many other peoples, including Kurds in the west, Baloch in the southeast, Ahwazi Arabs in the south, Azeris in the northwest, and Turkmen in the northeast. These groups make up 50 percent of Iran's population and have been oppressed for decades, having no rights to speak their language, no political power, and often being targeted with violence by the regime. Why They Matter They have suffered the most under the regime, so they are the most motivated to fight back. They live in the border regions, which makes it easier for them to connect with neighboring countries and resist Tehran's control. They trust neither the Shah nor the Islamic Republic – they have been betrayed by both in the past. What Is Not Working The West keeps listening to Persian elites in exile – especially monarchists like Reza Pahlavi, the Shah's son. But these people have zero power inside Iran and no support from minorities, who remember how badly the Shah treated them. Whenever movements like Jin, Jiyan, Azadî ("Woman, Life, Freedom"), which started from the Kurdish community, rise up, the moment someone tries to turn it into a pro-Shah campaign, people leave the streets. They have seen this trick before. What Should Be Done? Support real grassroots movements especially those led by Kurds, Baloch, Arabs, and others. Give them security guarantees – because last time they trusted outside powers or the Shah, they were betrayed and slaughtered. Push for federalism or local autonomy, not another centralized Persian dictatorship. The Bottom Line If you want real regime change in Iran, stop pretending the exiled elite will save the country. The real opposition is already inside Iran and it is the minorities. Support them, and you support freedom. Ignore them, and you are just repeating history. They should suffocate the regime, not support it by the controlled opposition of the shah. *Pel Berwari is a Kurdish activist based in Kurdistan.
Memri
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Memri
Free Balochistan Movement: The Way Israel Is Resisting The Iranian State's Expansionism And Terrorism Is Commendable; Extremist And Fundamentalist States Like Iran And Pakistan Are Common Enemies Of B
The following is a statement on Israel's preemptive strike against Iran by the secular Free Balochistan Movement, headed by the renowned Baloch leader Hyrbyair Marri. After Israel's June 12 strike on Iran, the need to support the non-Persian ethnic groups in the country to bring about the collapse of the Ayatollahs' regime has become clearer. A coalition of non-Persian ethnic groups could topple the regime in a few months. It is worth noting that, unlike the Persian anti-regime population, the non-Persian anti-regime population is militarily organized. Concerning the Kurds, the following are their armed groups present on the ground ready to fight the Iranian regime: the Free Life Party of Kurdistan (PJAK), the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (KDPI), the Komala Party of Iranian Kurdistan (Komala), and the Kurdistan Freedom Party (PAK). These are well-known political parties and armed groups: KDPI has been around since the 1940s and Komala since the 1960s. They can gather thousands of people. The Balochs have the Baloch Army, which is an umbrella organization that covers the whole of Balochistan and is led by the secular and committed Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA). The Ahwazi National Resistance is the secret armed group of Ahwaz. There are no Persian organized militarized anti-regime groups on the ground in Iran. Following is a statement of the Free Balochistan Movement:[1] "Israel's Decisive Military Actions Against The Iranian regime Are Not Only Encouraging But Also Represent A Positive Sign For The Baloch People, Who Have Long Suffered Under Iranian Colonialism" "The spokesperson of the Free Balochistan Movement said in a statement that the situation in the region is changing rapidly and this transformation could become a rare and significant opportunity for Baloch national independence – provided that those responsible for the Baloch national independence struggle, along with the Baloch people, who are the true source of this movement, establish mutual unity and consensus, consolidate their dispersed national strength into a single front, and maintain unwavering faith in their national power and cause. "The statement noted that nations always make difficult decisions based on their interests. To benefit from the current developments in the region, it is imperative that we set aside all partisan, group-based, and individual interests and preferences, and adhere to the core principles and regulations of the Baloch independence movement and collective national interests. "The current regional situation represents a decisive phase for the Baloch nation. Our national identity is facing severe threats under the occupation of Pakistan and Iran and if the Baloch people do not unite at this critical juncture to protect their interests, history will never forgive us for this failure. "The spokesperson further stated that whether it is the Sunni-majority state of Pakistan or the Shia-led state of Iran, both have spared no effort in committing genocide against the Baloch. However, the way in which Israel is resisting the Iranian state's expansionism and terrorism is commendable. It is a clear fact that Israel is not an enemy of the Baloch nation. On the contrary, extremist and fundamentalist states like Iran and Pakistan are common enemies of both Israel and the Baloch people. "The Baloch nation is fighting a battle for survival against these very states, and Israel's decisive military actions against the Iranian regime are not only encouraging but also represent a positive sign for the Baloch people, who have long suffered under Iranian colonialism." (Source: CIA) "The Baloch Nation Has Always Been A Victim Of Iranian Occupation, Which Continues Today In The Form Of Systematic Genocide" "However, we must also accept the harsh reality that sitting idly by, hoping that some global power will intervene to liberate the Baloch nation, is both illogical and naive. The evolving situation in the region involves multiple parties with their own agendas and interests, which may not necessarily align with the goals of the Baloch national struggle. Therefore, to achieve the restoration of Baloch national freedom and territorial sovereignty, it is vital that all Baloch people involved in the movement prioritize collective national interests, the requirements of the freedom struggle, and the independence of a united Balochistan. "The spokesperson added that the Iranian state has long pursued expansionist policies in the Middle East, resulting in ongoing instability and uncertainty across the region. Iran is not only occupying Baloch territory, but its expansionism has also affected the Arabs of Al-Ahwaz, Kurds, Turkmen, Lurs, and the Turks of South Azerbaijan. Therefore, in this critical period – when political and social conditions in the region are changing rapidly and the likelihood of border changes has increased – the Baloch nation should build relations with other oppressed nations resisting Iranian occupation and repression, and establish the principles and framework of effective partnerships, to maximize gains from this volatile situation. "The statement went on to say that the Baloch nation has always been a victim of Iranian occupation, which continues today in the form of systematic genocide. In the current scenario, where the Iranian regime is militarily weakened and isolated on the global stage, this moment represents an opportunity for the Baloch national struggle. Any military action against Iran should be viewed, albeit indirectly, as a development in favour of the Baloch cause. However, it is equally important to remember that in order to capitalize on such opportunities, unity and confidence in collective national strength are essential within the Baloch nation – so that it may effectively communicate its voice to the world." Balochis flying the flag of Balochistan. "Such Historic Moments Do Not Recur Frequently In the Region" "In this context, the Free Balochistan Movement has prepared a comprehensive document titled 'Democratic Transition Plan for Iran,' which outlines a phased strategy for liberation, developed in collaboration with occupied Balochistan and other subjugated nations, in view of possible regional transformations. Furthermore, a detailed document titled 'Balochistan Liberation Charter'[2] has already been compiled, outlining the administrative roadmap of an independent Balochistan and shedding full light on its post-independence political and social governance. "The spokesperson concluded the statement by adding that the Baloch issue within Pakistan and Iran is not a matter of fair resource distribution or power-sharing, to be resolved through so-called 'regime change' or internal reforms. Rather, the real issue is the Baloch nation's right to govern its own land with complete autonomy and freedom, and to present itself to the world as a distinct and independent national entity. The aims of the Baloch national liberation struggle are fundamentally different from the interests of external powers. "Such historic moments do not recur frequently in the region. This is a rare opportunity that the Baloch nation must seize by uniting its collective strength and demonstrating to the world that the Baloch, as a responsible nation, can contribute to peace, development, and stability in the region – and is fully capable of establishing an independent and sovereign state that meets all political, social, economic, and geographical criteria."
Memri
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Memri
A Coalition Of Non-Persian Ethnic Groups In Iran Could Topple The Ayatollahs' Regime In A Few Months
After Israel's June 12 strike on Iran, the need to support the non-Persian ethnic groups in the country to bring about the collapse of the Ayatollahs' regime has become clearer. A coalition of non-Persian ethnic groups could topple the regime in a few months. It is worth noting that, unlike the Persian anti-regime population, the non-Persian anti-regime population is militarily organized. Concerning the Kurds, the following are their armed groups present on the ground ready to fight the Iranian regime: the Free Life Party of Kurdistan (PJAK), the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (KDPI), the Komala Party of Iranian Kurdistan (Komala), and the Kurdistan Freedom Party (PAK). These are well known political parties and armed groups: KDPI has been around since the 1940s and Komala since the 1960s. They can gather thousands of people. The Balochs have the Baloch Army, which is an umbrella organization that covers the whole of Balochistan and is led by the secular and committed Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA). The Ahwazi National Resistance is the secret armed group of Ahwaz. There are no Persian organized militarized anti-regime groups on the ground in Iran.[1] President of the Executive Committee of Ahwaz Receives Secretary-General of the Komala Kurdistan Party[2] President Of The Executive Committee Of Ahwaz Receives Secretary-General Of The Komala Kurdistan Party To Discuss Iran's Future Amid escalating regional tensions, a delegation from the Komala Kurdistan Party, headed by Secretary-General Mr. Reza Kaabi, conducted an official visit to the headquarters of the Executive Committee of the State of Ahwaz.[3] The delegation was received by Dr. Aref Al-Kaabi, President of the Executive Committee of the State of Ahwaz. The two sides held an extensive meeting during which they discussed the latest political and security developments in the region, with a particular focus on the rapidly evolving situation inside Iran. The meeting addressed the shared challenges facing the non-Persian peoples of the region, chief among them the Kurdish and Ahwazi Arab peoples under Tehran's repressive policies toward ethnic minorities. They also discussed the Iranian regime's ongoing attempts to export its internal crises through nuclear brinkmanship and regional military escalation. Both parties emphasized the importance of strengthening political and media cooperation among liberation movements within Iran in order to support the right of peoples to self-determination and to work toward building strategic alliances that can realize their aspirations for freedom and independence. The two delegations also stressed the need to capitalize on the current international climate to raise the voices of oppressed peoples on the global stage and to push for recognition of their legitimate rights in accordance with international conventions. At the conclusion of the meeting, both sides affirmed their commitment to continued communication and coordination, and reiterated their unified stance on the future of Iran and its peoples based on a shared vision aimed at establishing democratic systems that guarantee justice and freedom for all components of the region.
Euronews
13-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Euronews
In Iran, even President Masoud Pezeshkian is being culturally oppressed
By Mordechai Kedar, Middle East scholar Azerbaijanis in Iran, like many other non-Persian ethnic minority groups living under the Islamic Republic, face repression and are denied the right to speak in their mother tongue at official gatherings, even if they are the president of Iran. Don't they deserve better, Mordechai Kedar writes. ADVERTISEMENT A traditional cultural week was recently celebrated in the northern Iranian city of Tabriz. The event aimed to showcase the rich and diverse culture of the city, featuring traditional music and dance performances, art exhibitions, theatre, screenings of films about Tabrizian culture, lectures, and workshops. In addition to celebrating Tabriz's culture, the week also strengthened the bonds between the generations and promoted tourism to the city. For centuries, Tabriz was the capital city of the Azerbaijani people. Today, it is the cultural capital of the region of South Azerbaijan, with a predominantly Azerbaijani Turkic-speaking population. Although the territory is technically under Iranian sovereignty and Persian is widely understood, the culture remains Azerbaijani Turkic, and most of the population in fact speaks Azerbaijani, a Turkic dialect, as their mother tongue. The cultural week is an excellent opportunity to learn about the local culture, which harmoniously blends Azerbaijani and Persian traditions, offering a memorable experience. The week concluded with a ceremony attended by Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian. While official ceremonies such as these usually don't spark any significant political events, this time, a dramatic moment occurred during the president's speech. Pezeshkian decided to honour a famous poet from Tabriz, Mohammad Hossein Behjat Tabrizi, known as Shahriyar, by reading a few lines from his poem 'Heydar Baba Salam.' The poem was written in Azerbaijani, not Persian, since many people in northwestern Iran and Tabriz specifically are Azerbaijani — or Azeris, as they are called in Iran — and don't speak Persian. This division between Azerbaijanis in Azerbaijan and those in Iran serves as a reminder that Iran came out of the Persian Empire, which conquered various peoples, many of whom still live under Persian rule, such as the Azerbaijanis, Baluchis, Kurds and Arabs. Azerbaijanis are considered an integral part of Iranian society and were historically regarded as one of the highest classes. Even Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is half Azerbaijani. The difference between Azerbaijanis in Azerbaijan and those in Iran is that the former were conquered by the Russian Empire, while the Persian Empire conquered the latter. Iran honours locals and their culture It makes sense that the Iranian president would honour the locals and their culture, especially at an event that aims to celebrate Tabriz's diverse culture. After all, if we were to celebrate Persian culture in Iraq, it would be natural to read poems in Persian rather than Arabic, which is likely what the Iranian president was thinking. However, before taking the stage, the event organisers advised Pezeshkian not to read poetry in Azerbaijani. ADVERTISEMENT Pezeshkian shared this with the audience and stated that he would read two lines from Shahriyar's poem. He began with these lines: 'Heydar Baba, igit emek itirmez/Omur gecer efsus bere bitirmez/Namerd olan omru basa yetirmez/Biz de vallah unutmarık sizleri/Gorenmesek helal edin bizleri.' Since I believe that the readers of this passage, like some of the attendees at the ceremony, may not speak Azerbaijani, I will do what Pezeshkian did not do and provide the translation: 'Heyder Baba, a brave man does not tire/Life passes, but the legend does not end/A coward does not live to see the end of life/We swear we will not forget you/If we do not see you, forgive us.' Those are beautiful words that warm the heart. ADVERTISEMENT Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian just outside Tehran, July 2024 AP Photo/Vahid Salemi Pezeshkian was stopped by one of the officials organising the ceremony, and it appears that he was warned not to continue reading in Azerbaijani. In response, Pezeshkian laughingly made light of the interruption in front of the Turkic-Azerbaijani-Persian audience and said, 'No problem. No problem reading two Turkic poems,' with a smile. His lighthearted response made the audience laugh and cheer in applause. You might be wondering where his love for Turkic poetry came from. Like Khamenei, Pezeshkian is also half Azerbaijani on his father's side. Although not from Tabriz, Pezeshkian was born not far from there, in Mahabad, the capital of West Azerbaijan Province in Iran. ADVERTISEMENT Pezeshkian represented the Tabriz region in Iran's parliament for several years. Thus. his ability to read Azerbaijani and his love for Azerbaijani Turkic poetry. Reminiscent of the past This event is reminiscent of a visit by former Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who also visited Tabriz and read Azerbaijani Turkic poetry. During that event, the audience joined Ahmadinejad in singing Turkic poems. It turns out that an event honouring Azerbaijani culture in Iran could have gone unnoticed if they hadn't stopped the president in the middle of reading a poem and paying tribute to an important poet. Was Pezeshkian stopped because he is Azerbaijani? It's hard to say for sure, but what is surprising is that the Iranian president was not allowed to finish reading the Turkic poem. ADVERTISEMENT Many Azerbaijanis live in Iran; 40% of Iran is Azerbaijani, and they are considered one of the largest minorities in the country. Azerbaijani Turkic is spoken by millions and holds cultural significance for them, despite not being considered an official language in Iran. Seemingly, it was important for Pezeshkian to continue reading in his father's language because Turkic speakers in the audience would have enjoyed the poem. But mainly because this was part of a ceremony celebrating the culture of Tabriz, a Persian-Azerbaijani city that embraces both cultures and languages. Azerbaijanis in Iran, like many other non-Persian ethnic minority groups living under the Islamic Republic, face repression and are denied the right to speak in their mother tongue at official gatherings, even if they are the president of Iran. ADVERTISEMENT Don't they deserve better? Mordechai Kedar is a Middle East scholar and commentator on the region.
