Qashqayi Human Rights Committee Thank you Chair. Ladies and gentlemen, trust cannot emerge in any society where the basic rights of ethnic minorities are suppressed. I speak on behalf of the Qashqayi people, one of Iran’s major Turkic ethnic communities. For decades, they have faced systemic cultural and linguistic discrimination, and strict restriction on their civic and political freedoms. Qashqayi are denied education in their mother language and their cultural associations are frequently restricted. Peaceful expressions of identity, cultural gatherings, or even constructive criticisms often lead to security-related accusations. These policies do not promote unity, they deepen mistrust and social fragmentation. [Inaudible], a young Qashqayi civil activist, was sentenced one month ago by the Revolutionary Court in Tehran to 18 years in prison solely for peaceful, cultural activities, and advocating for the legitimate rights of his community. His case reflects a broad pattern of pressure on Turkic and Qashqayi activities across the country. Trust cannot be bought through silence about the suffering of minorities. Social cohesion requires equal participation, linguistic rights, cultural recognition, and freedom from arbitrary torture. Therefore, I call on the Human Rights Council to clearly urge Iran to recognize the rights of its ethnic minorities, including the Qashqayi. [Cut off by Chair]