In Baku, protesters lay black wreath at Iranian Embassy

Participants of the protest action, which was held today in front of the Iranian Embassy in Baku, demanded to stop anti-Azerbaijani provocations in the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI). The picket, organized by the World Azerbaijanis Congress (WAC) and the International Centre of Azerbaijani Diaspora, was attended by more than 100 persons.

Protesters demand to stop anti-Azerbaijani provocations in Iran

The picketers claimed that the demonstration in Baku is a response to the youth protest action held on May 8 in the Iranian city of Tabriz.

During the demonstration in Tabriz, its participants stated that Azerbaijan condones representatives of the gay movement and that the song contest "Eurovision" (the song contest "Eurovision 2012" will be held in Baku on May 22-26, note of the "Caucasian Knot") will turn into a gay parade, and, according to the participants of the Iranian protest action, that fact is unacceptable.

The participants of the picket in Baku have also expressed their indignation by the fact that on May 18, a new rally involving thousands of participants against holding the song contest "Eurovision" in Baku is to be held in Tabriz.

"It is Azerbaijan's internal affair, what events should be held. The song contest "Eurovision" is an important international event, and it proves the fact that Azerbaijan is a part of Europe. In fact, Iran is concerned not over the moral values of Islam, but over the independence of Azerbaijan," said Azhdar Tagizade, the member of the WAC Standing Committee, speaking at the picket.

Azerbaijani MP Sabir Rustamkhanly, Co-Chair of the WAC, demanded to stop anti-Azerbaijani provocations in Iran. He urged the Tehran Authorities to recognize national and cultural rights of Azerbaijanis. "35 million of Azerbaijanis have no opportunity to learn on their native language, and they have no their own media, theatres, and universities," stated Sabir Rustamkhanly.

Protesters laid a black wreath at the Embassy. They chanted slogans sounding: "Azerbaijan will be united with its capital in Tabriz", "Down with Farsi chauvinist regime", "Down with mullahs' regime!"

No member of the Iranian Embassy came out to the participants of the picket, so they put the resolution to the mailbox of the Embassy.

The protest action lasted about an hour. The police did not intervene and even blocked traffic to ensure safety of the protestors.

Only in 30 minutes after the start of the picket, the police began to push the protesters away from the Embassy.