The Azeri cartoon controversy in "Iran" newspaper arose over a cartoon, published in the Iranian state-run newspaper Iran and drawn by the cartoonist Mana Neyestani, an ethnic Azeri himself ^[1][2][3][4]. The cartoon, published in the children's section of the newspaper on May 12, 2006, allegedly insulted the Azerbaijani people by depicting a child speaking in Farsi to a cockroach, which was replying in the Azerbaijani language, saying "namana" ("what?").

The controversy resulted in massive riots throughout Iran in May 2006, most ostensibly in the predominantly Azerbaijani-populated city of Tabriz. The riots were violent in some cases, with protestors damaging public buildings and throwing stones, prompting the reaction from the Iranian police.^[5] According to the Amnesty International:

In May [2006], widespread demonstrations took place in mainly Azerbaijani north-western towns and cities in protest at the publication of a cartoon offensive to Azerbaijanis in the state-run Iran newspaper. Hundreds, if not thousands, were arrested and scores reportedly killed by the security forces, although official sources downplayed the scale of arrests and killings.^[6]

The Iranian government promptly responded to the events by temporarily shutting down the Iran newspaper, arresting the cartoonist and the editor-in-chief of the newspaper, Mehrdad Ghasemfar. It further accused "outside forces in playing nationalistic card". ^[7]

Possible foreign interference

See also: Iran's ethnic minorities and foreign interference Emad Afrough, head of the Majlis Cultural Commission at the time, said that pan-Turks were involved in creating the tensions.^[8] Video^[9] and pictures^[10] did show some protestors who were exhibiting the terrorist ^[11][12] pan Turkic Grey Wolves symbol^[13][14][15]. The symbol is also used by the Grey Wolves of Turkey and Azerbaijan Republic, and may hint at possible foreign interference, as there were suspicions in Iran that pan-Turks were involved in inciting the some of the protests.^[8] Other members of the Iranian government blamed it on the United States, Israel, and the United Kingdom with a suspicion of inciting ethnic strife in Iran.

According to Touraj Atabaki, well known expert on Iran's Azerbaijani minority, there might be some truth behind Iranian government's allegations of a foreign plot, yet the responsibility for the unrest lies first and formost with the central government. ^[16]

Slogans

Protestors used various slogans during demonstrations.

• “Down with Chauvinism!”,
• “Azerbaijani nation will not bow to such abasements!”,
• “When North and South Azerbaijan will unite, Tabriz will be its center!”
• “Death or Independence!”, “Coward governor, come and answer to this!”,
• “Iran newspaper has to be closed!” ^[17]

Some of the slogans, chanted by the crowd were anti-Persian, Anti-Armenian, and Anti-Russian. Some of the slogans included^[18]:

• "Fars dili-It Dil" (translation: "Persian is the language of a dog")
• "Azeri: Fars, Rus, Armani , Azerbaijan Dushmani" (translation: "Persians, Russians, Armenians are the enemies of Azerbaijan")
• "Har kas ki bitaraf dir, fars daan daa bi sharaf dir" (translation: "Whoever does not take sides [in the protests], has less integrity than a Persian")
• "Tabriz , Baki, Ankara , Biz haraa Farslaar Haraa" (translation: "Tabriz, Baku, Ankara---Where are we, where are Persians")

See also

• Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy

References