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For nearly a century, the indigenous Arab population of Ahwaz has faced systematic marginalisation under successive Iranian governments. What was once an autonomous Arab region was absorbed into Iran, and since then the Ahwazi Arabs have endured policies aimed at erasing their identity and weakening their presence on their own land.
Today, Ahwazi Arabs suffer from some of the harshest conditions in the country. Although their region produces most of Iran’s oil and gas, local communities live in deep poverty, with unemployment rates far above the national average. Environmental manipulation has worsened their hardship: rivers have been diverted, wetlands drained and farmland destroyed, leaving entire villages without water or livelihoods.
Cultural suppression continues as well. Arabic language and heritage are restricted, historic Arab cities have been renamed, and demographic engineering has altered the social fabric of the region. Protests by Ahwazi Arabs – whether over water shortages, discrimination or basic rights – are routinely met with force, arrests and Internet blackouts.
The Ahwazi tragedy is not a distant historical issue; it is a living humanitarian crisis. The people of Ahwaz deserve recognition, dignity and the basic rights afforded to all communities. Highlighting their suffering is a moral responsibility, and it is time for the international community to acknowledge their struggle and support their call for justice.
John Churchilly
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