Araz News: Akbar Mohajeri, Mehdi Samadian, Nikbakht Samadian, Masoud Baleghi and Behzad are five South Azerbaijani right activists who are transferred to central prison of Tabriz. They were arrested during Tractor-Sazi of South Azerbaijan and Alain of UAE football match in Tabriz on April 1. They are charged of “disrupting general order”.

Earlier South Azerbaijani websites reported at the match between Tractor-Sazi of South Azerbaijan and Alain of UAE Iranian police detained about 25 fans in Tabriz because of national demonstrations and slogans to protest Lake Urmia’s drying. Most of detainees were released on bail earlier.

Reportedly police officers have beaten Tractor fans and used tear gas during detention. Detainees had been taken to intelligence office of police in Saeb Street of Tabriz. Most of the detainees had come from other South Azerbaijan cities such as Urmia, Shabestar, Marand, Tasouj, Maku, etc.

Days before match between Tractor-Sazi of South Azerbaijan and Alain of UAE South Azerbaijani activists made calls to Tractor Club supporters to sound Lake Urmia problem during the match. The activists published announcements via websites as well as distributing leaflets and sending SMS in South Azerbaijan cities.

During the matches of Tactor-sazi football team usually fans shout slogans and show banners to sound human rights of Azerbaijani community in Iran. Lake Urmia’s drying problem is a focal point in Tractor fans demonstrations.

Lake Urmia, second largest salt lake in the world, in South Azerbaijan has dried largely during the last years. Experts say billons tons of salt will destroy the human and wild life in region being spread by wind and millions will be forced to displace. Many blame Iranian government of carelessness against the major environmental disaster. Even some people accuse Iranian state to left the lake to be dried intentionally.

South Azerbaijan which is majorly populated by ethnic Turks is a ethnically problematic region in Iran which Iran spends efforts to hold the nationalist tendency of region under control.

Azerbaijani Turks are second largest ethnic group in Iran with a slight difference after Persians.