Azeri police prevents anti-Iranian action of protest

Today, the police forces have prevented activists of the "Musavat" party from holding a picket in front of the Iranian embassy in Baku in protest against violations in that country of the rights of ethnic Azerbaijanis.

The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports that reinforced police squads have forced picket participants away from the embassy building. Nevertheless, about fifty "Musavatists" have held the action in the park named after Mirza Fatali Akhundov 100 meters away from the embassy.

Arif Gadzhily, head of the "Musavat" party central body who spoke at the impromptu meeting, described violations of Azerbaijanis' rights in Iran. "Our compatriots, despite the fact of being residents of the country and constituting almost half of its population, are deprived of all cultural and ethnic rights. They have no opportunity to study in their native tongue, publish their newspapers or broadcast TV and radio programs", said Gadzhily.

Despite the police cordon around the approaches to the Iranian embassy, two participants of the action were allowed to hand over the picket resolution to the embassy.

The Iranian embassy press-service refused to comment on the action of protest and on the issue of Azerbaijanis' rights in Iran.