Speaker: Thank you Mr. Chairperson. I am [inaudible] and I am giving my speech on behalf of
PADMAZ, the [inaudible] Patriotic Arab Democratic Movement in Ahwaz that targets to get the
right of self determination for the Ahwazi nations that are located on the border between Iraq
and Iran and on the north of the [inaudible] Gulf. The Ahwazi human rights defenders are
humiliated, harassed and targeted by the Iranian authorities, not only inside Ahwaz but also
when seeking refuge in western countries. For instance, I was targeted by the Iranian authorities
and my family was threatened by the Iranian authorities. We are here and we can express our
own ideas, share it with the rest of the world. However we Ahwazi activists inside the [inaudible]
have not got the chance to express their own idea. Because the Iranian authorities accuse them
of being a terrorist or of being a spy of western governments. So I would like to share with you
an experience that happened in 2019. As the world said goodbye to our [inaudible]. November
is a special month for… you know when the massacre happened in Māhschahr where 200
people were massacred by the Iranian authorities, the IRJ. The people who saw it took refuge in
the nearby marshland where targeted by the IRJ forces opened fire into the marshland and then
set it afire. Killing around 200 young people, mostly unmarried protestors. The only weakness of
[inaudible] is facing death sentences. And also a number of Ahwazi activists were imprisoned
and killed inside a prison. For instance my cousin [inaudible] was killed on 13th of November.
So we ask the United Nations to take action, to stop this humiliation against our people. Thank
you.