Iran: Information since April 1997 on the treatment by the government of the Azeri (Azari) minority
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 November 1997 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | IRN28190.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Iran: Information since April 1997 on the treatment by the government of the Azeri (Azari) minority, 1 November 1997, IRN28190.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6acaf14.html [accessed 30 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
According to a 28 July 1997 article in IPS, ethnic Azeris in Iran are well-integrated into Iranian society, to such an extent that "Iranian Azeris have held most of the high-ranking military posts in recent Iranian history, as well as a fair share of top civilian and scientific positions." Moreover, ethnic Azeris in Iran enjoy a higher standard of living than Azeris in neighbouring Azerbaijan (ibid.). Nevertheless, some Iranians are concerned about the possibility that pan-Azerism ( a common Azeri nationalism uniting ethnic Azeris on both sides of the Iran-Azerbaijan border ( could harm the interests of Iran (ibid.). This concern has been heightened since the 1992 election of Abulfaz Elchibey as president of Azerbaijan, which was followed by an increase in pan-Azeri sentiment there (ibid.). The article adds, however, that "pan-Azerism has made little impact" in Iran (ibid.). Please see the attached text of the article for more details.
According to a September 1997 HRW report on Iran, complaints of ethnic Azeris tend to focus on alleged cultural and linguistic discrimination (27). The report adds that people in Iran who have spoken out in favour of Azeri rights have been accused by government representatives and the media of being separatists or spying for Turkey (ibid.). For details please see the Human Rights Watch/Middle East publication Iran: Religious and Ethnic Minorities, available at Regional Documentation Centres.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
References
Human Rights Watch (HRW)/Middle East. September 1997. Vol. 9, No. 7 (E). Iran: Religious and Ethnic Minorities. New York: Human Rights Watch/Middle East.
Inter Press Service (IPS). 28 July 1997. Tschanguiz Pahlavan. "Iran: New Policies for New Times." (NEXIS)
Attachment
Inter Press Service (IPS). 28 July 1997. Tschanguiz Pahlavan. "Iran: New Policies for New Times." (NEXIS)
