To those who may wonder that why Ahwaz popular uprising ignited in April 2005. The biggest popular uprising of Ahwazi people broke out on 15 April 2005 when people from different cities turned out into the streets and protested against the distribution of circular (petition) attributed to Mohammad Ali Abtahi, former vice president parliamentary legal affairs of the president Mohammad Ali Khatami.
The following letter is an official document from the office of the Vice President Sayed Mohammad Ali Abtahi of the Iranian regime. The letter from Vice-President Sayed Mohammad-Ali Abtahi to government departments on the procedure to change the ethnic composition of Al-Ahwaz (Khuzestan) and eradicate the Arabic language and culture in the province.
A former member of President Khatami’s staff has verified this letter as authentic. The following letter is a translation in English of the above document from Vice President Mohammad-Ali Abtahi’s office of the Iranian regime.
Translation:
Emblem of the Islamic Republic
ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN
Office of the President Head of the Executive Office
Number Date Attachment 5/316/20675 (hand written)
TOP SECRET In the Name of Allah
Head of the respectful Department of planning and budget- Mr. Dr. Najafi with greetings: Pursuant to the policies set forth, and the legislation approved by the National Security Council, with regards to changing the population demography of Arabs of Khuzestan and their appropriate resettlement to other parts of the country, it is necessary that the attached approved instructions be directed to all relevant subsidiary organizations for execution.
1. The Arab population of Khuzestan must be reduced to a third of the total population of Khuzestan within 10 years, with the rest of the population to be composed of Farsi-speaking residents and migrants.
2. On the resettlement of other ethnic groups, especially the Azeri (Turks) to Khuzestan province, in addition to the facilities approved under legislations # 16-32/971/5-7, dated 14/4/1376 (1998) -other arrangements have been made to facilitate this (forced resettlement) which will be announced in the future.
3. It is necessary to increase the resettlement of their (Arab) educated class to other provinces, especially to Isfahan, Tehran and Tabriz.
4. Proof of the existence of this ethnic group (Arabs) should be eradicated, including the changing of remaining (Arabic) names of cities, villages, regions and streets to Farsi names.
5. Arabic-speaking people should be used for the execution of this legislation, although the secrecy of
this program must be respected.
6. Newly approved legislation regarding the (forced) migration of (university) students, civil servants,
Teachers, military and security forces and farmers to other provinces, are attached.
Signature
Sayed Mohammad-Ali Abtahi
TOP SECRET 27686/62 2/5/1377
