Araz News: A group of Azerbaijani Students from Mohaghegh Ardabili University of Tabriz protested some local publications in Tabriz which insult Turks.

Navid-e Azerbaijan weekly, which is being published in Urmia (capital of West Azerbaijan province of Iran) and distributed in Azerbaijani provinces and Tehran, reports it has received a copy of a petition signed by many students of Mohaghegh Ardabili University of Tabriz.

Reportedly the petition includes sentences:

“

Undoubtedly 22 May, 2006 is an unforgettable date in modern history of Azerbaijan. An official publication which insulted and humiliated Turks caused eruption of mass protests, which were led by Student Movement of Azerbaijan.

But unfortunately we see that the attitude of that newspaper is being continued by some local publications of Azerbaijan which insist on insulting Azerbaijani activists and honorable people of Azerbaijan. Such publications like “Terh-e Nov” and “Vatan Yoli”, which little circulation of them shows they are not supported by Azerbaijanis, now are being followed by some so called student publications such as “Sas”.

It is obvious that aim of these circles is to deviate and demolition of public opinion and Student Movement of Azerbaijan. While Student Movement of Azerbaijan try to inform the community by realities and to constructively criticize the dominant environment they misinform people.

Recently a bulletin named “Tribune” in Madani University of Azerbaijan has insulted Azerbaijani right activists and defining them as panturkists has claimed that they are destroying language and culture of Azerbaijan.  While the bulletin blames Azerbaijani activists of ethnic nationalism, separatism and anti-revolutionary activities the bulletin itself insults Azerbaijani national heroes like Sattar Khan and Babak Khorramdin.

Of course we believe in freedom of speech but we think freedom of speech does not mean insulting or humiliating nations.

“

Note that creating parallel media to control anti-regime movements is a widely used application of Iranian government. In this manner some government run media is trying to alienate and take control over national movement in South Azerbaijan.