TABRIZ, Azerbaijan

Araz news: Azerbaijanis activists have launched a campaign with the hope of garnering the attention of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. The “Red Card Campaign,” named in reference to Friday’s soccer championship game where a Tractor Sazi midfielder was suspiciously red carded, hopes to present “red cards” to President Rouhani during his visit to Tabriz.

The initiative has thus far taken social media by storm, with many activists changing their profile photo and sharing photos of red cards with the hopes that it won’t go unnoticed by authorities.

President Rouhani is scheduled to travel to Tabriz on Wednesday, May 20th, to address a predominantly ethnic Azerbaijani in Takhti Stadium. Activists are expected to present the President with their own ‘red cards’.

The symbolic act not only signifies Azerbaijani sentiment that they were robbed of a championship victory, but addresses the greater problem of racism against Azerbaijani Turks in both the Iranian government and society.

President Rouhani’s campaign promise of allowing for language education for Iran’s ethnic minorities has not yet been realized. Azerbaijani Turks contend that not only is there still no instruction in the Azerbaijani-Turikic language in South Azerbaijan, but they are still waiting for the Turkish Language and Literature Academy to be established, both of which were campaign promises used by the current President to secure the Azerbaijani vote.

The Red Card Campaign is currently gaining momentum with ethnic Azerbaijanis in Iran. Below are some of the memes that are being shared on social media: