National Statehood Day- 12 December
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| President Pishevari1945 |
Southern Azerbaijanis commemorate the 12 December as the National Statehood Day since the Azerbaijan People Republic was established on 12 December (21 Azer) of 1945, under the leadership of the Azerbaijan Democratic Party and its charismatic leader Mr. Jafar Pishevari who also served as the first president of the Republic of Southern Azerbaijan between 1945-1946. The National Statehood Day is mostly celebrated by Southern Azerbaijani communities living abroad since Iranian government suppresses such attempts inside Southern Azerbaijan.
Genocide Day—17 December
17th December is the anniversary of the Southern Azerbaijanis genocide carried out by the Tehran regime during its occupation and the overthrowing of Azerbaijan
Evidence of vandalism and destruction of Southern Azerbaijan by Persian Army
People’s Republic in 1946. During this invasion, 35000 Southern Azerbaijani civilians were killed and half a million were exiled or arbitrarily detained.
The mass killings was discussed at the Nuremberg Court in 1948 and finally in 1950 was legally recognized as an act of genocide.
The United States Supreme Court Associate Justice William O. Douglas in his famous BOOK
“Strange Lands and Friendly People” notes the event, he describes as vandalism done by Iran Army in Azerbaijan reminds him of the Nazis soldiers’ behavior towards France. This violence is known as the Genocide in Southern Azerbaijan.
“Strange Lands and Friendly People” notes the event, he describes as vandalism done by Iran Army in Azerbaijan reminds him of the Nazis soldiers’ behavior towards France. This violence is known as the Genocide in Southern Azerbaijan.
BOOK Burning Day—17 December
Burning Day—17 December
The public Turkic book burning ceremonies conducted by Iranian racist regime in 1946.
During the aforementioned invasion of Southern Azerbaijan by the Pahlavi regime in 1946 all the BOOKS found to be published in the Azerbaijani Turkic language were burnt in public on 17 December 1946.
found to be published in the Azerbaijani Turkic language were burnt in public on 17 December 1946.
The public use of Azerbaijani people`s mother tongue has been prohibited since then.
The United Nations has accorded the aforesaid actions against the Southern Azerbaijanis between 15 December 1948 and 19 December 1966, as breach of the international covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and it has also been declared as cultural genocide.
Southern Azerbaijani civil activists hold special ceremonies on “book day”. They present Azerbaijani Turkish books to each other as gifts and some even donate Turkish books to retailers.
The following is the English translation of the requisition of recognition submitted to the United Nations’ General Assembly in 1946.
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| Seyid Jafar Pishevari |
The following is the English translation of the requisition of recognition submitted to the United Nations’ General Assembly in 1946.
28th day of January 1946
Requisition
The People of Azerbaijan ( South) is one of the ancient nations with an affluent and protracted national history. It has been able to preserve its national language, its culture and custom throughout troubled centuries.
The despotic regimes of Iran took control of Azerbaijan and mercilessly ransacked its wealth and resources. As a result, the once prospering town and cities of Azerbaijan have been devastated.
Through expansionist- imperialistic state policies, the chauvinistic- racist rulers of Iran rebutted the existence of Azerbaijanis. They imposed the most abusive deeds and arrangements to eradicate the Azerbaijani language.
The despotic regimes of Iran took control of Azerbaijan and mercilessly ransacked its wealth and resources. As a result, the once prospering town and cities of Azerbaijan have been devastated.
Through expansionist- imperialistic state policies, the chauvinistic- racist rulers of Iran rebutted the existence of Azerbaijanis. They imposed the most abusive deeds and arrangements to eradicate the Azerbaijani language.
Nonetheless, the Azerbaijanis have never halted their struggle for freedom. The movements of Settarkhan, Bagirkhan, and Shaikh Mohammed Khiyabani are some of the bright instances of our nation’s struggle for liberty and self-governance. These aforesaid courageous idols were the leaders and ( later) the martyrs of the struggles.
The victory of democratic states on bloody fascism has created new circumstances and stimulated the recent struggle of the people of Azerbaijan.
The victory of democratic states on bloody fascism has created new circumstances and stimulated the recent struggle of the people of Azerbaijan.
Despite the opposition of the Tehran regime, the centuries-old struggle of the people of Azerbaijan has succeeded on 12 December of 1945, followed by formation of the National Assembly and the National Government of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan has proclaimed the formation of its democratic National Government to the world.
The 5 million Azerbaijanis reinforced by their history and civilization have demonstrated to be a modern nation which will no longer whimper under Persian despotism. They will no longer tolerate the dominance of the Farsi language over the languages of other peoples and nations in Iran.
The 5 million Azerbaijanis reinforced by their history and civilization have demonstrated to be a modern nation which will no longer whimper under Persian despotism. They will no longer tolerate the dominance of the Farsi language over the languages of other peoples and nations in Iran.
Our people are unified and are willing to sacrifice their lives to preserve their national liberty and government.
The newly established National Government of Azerbaijan has made inordinate modifications in social, economic and cultural areas, and it has achieved a full internal security and stability.
After the formation of the National Government, the long oppressed and exploited people of Azerbaijan have just commenced to live in civilized circumstances as human beings. Thus, our nation has demonstrated that the Azerbaijanis are fully capable of self-governance.
It is an irrefutable fact that the National Government of Azerbaijan exists, and it is established upon the willpower of our nation, pursuant to the Atlantic Charter, and on the basis of pledges made by the democratic states.
By appealing to the General Assembly of United Nations the People of Azerbaijan is demanding that the National Government of Azerbaijan is recognized and our nation is provided with guarantees that its right to self-determination is respected without any foreign coercion and intervention.
Seyid Jafar Pishevari
It is an irrefutable fact that the National Government of Azerbaijan exists, and it is established upon the willpower of our nation, pursuant to the Atlantic Charter, and on the basis of pledges made by the democratic states.
By appealing to the General Assembly of United Nations the People of Azerbaijan is demanding that the National Government of Azerbaijan is recognized and our nation is provided with guarantees that its right to self-determination is respected without any foreign coercion and intervention.
Seyid Jafar Pishevari
The Prime Minister of the National Government of Azerbaijan
28th Day of January 1946 South Azerbaijan-Tabriz
International Mother Language Day—21 February
Since Azerbaijani language has played an important role in awaking of Southern Azerbaijan people and also in profile raising of Azerbaijani identity, every year in February 21, Azerbaijani activists prepare gatherings and demonstrations against the governing regime in the face of large personal risks.
National Uprising Day—22 May
In May 2006, a discriminatory cartoon was published in “Iran”, Iran`s
22 May Tabriz, mass demonstrations
bestselling magazine analogizing Turks to beetles feeding from the Fars’s toilet. It followed to ask how to prevent the increase in the beetles population. And answered that they were mostly not able to talk in their own language, it suggest that, the Fars, should not even spare the time to defecate on the beetles. This clear political and media bullying to promote cultural assimilation is strong in Iran, however, causes great offence to the nationalities.
Thus, on the 22 May, hundreds of thousands of Southern Azerbaijanis demonstrate in Tabriz and other major cities, and even some of the smaller towns of Southern Azerbaijan. During the uprising hundreds of protesters were killed and injured, and thousand more imprisoned. However, it became a turning point in the Southern Azerbaijan national awaking movement’s resistance against the religious theocracy which dominates in Iran. Since then, every year on “The National Uprising Day” Southern Azerbaijan people do demonstrations and have ceremonies in memory of those killed in 2006