People of Tabriz and Urmia Protest Against Publication 'Against Azerbaijanis' in a Newspaper

Simultaneously with the protests in Tabriz and Urmia against the publication of an article in the newspaper 'Tarh-e No', the official news agency of the Islamic Republic of Iran, IRNA, reported the referral of this provincial newspaper's case to court. According to this report, the Press Supervisory Board in its meeting on Tuesday identified parts of the article 'Haft Khan-e Rostam', published in the 30th issue of Tarh-e No, as a violation of clause 4 of Article 6 and decided to issue a written warning to this newspaper and refer its case to court. Clause 4 of Article 6 of the Press Law states that creating discord among social classes, especially through raising racial and ethnic issues, is prohibited. The newspaper 'Tarh-e No' published an article titled 'Haft Khan-e Rostam', which Azerbaijani-speaking citizens in Iran deemed 'offensive' and protested against it. In this article, quotes attributed to 'Rostam', the main character of the Shahnameh, included the phrase 'Turk of non-origin'. Protesters claim this article was accompanied by 'ethnic insults'. People in Tabriz and Urmia protested against this newspaper on Tuesday and Wednesday, the 4th and 5th of Mordad, with reports from some local websites indicating that several protesters were arrested during these events. According to the local website 'Oyan News', hundreds of citizens in Tabriz held a gathering on Wednesday around 8 PM local time, which ended shortly after security forces arrived. The day before, some citizens in Urmia protested against what they called 'the insults of Tarh-e No newspaper'. Eyewitnesses reported clashes between security forces and protesters, with several citizens being arrested in Tabriz and Urmia. Protests in East and West Azerbaijan provinces regarding ethnic and racial issues have a history. One of the most controversial cases that also provoked reactions from some officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran was related to a segment of the children's television program 'Fitileh'. Following the broadcast of this program last November, several citizens in East and West Azerbaijan provinces deemed it 'offensive' and demanded accountability through protests. In this segment of the children's program, aimed at 'teaching and the necessity of brushing teeth', one of the actors used a toilet brush instead of a toothbrush. The actors, a father and son, spoke in Turkish and Persian. Reactions to this segment of 'Fitileh', in addition to social media and a group of citizens, also reached some officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The public relations department of the Iranian Radio and Television announced the suspension of 'Fitileh' and stated that Mohammad Reza Jafari Jalveh, the director of Channel 2 of Iranian television, had reprimanded the head of the children's and adolescent group and the broadcast manager in separate letters and dismissed the deputy broadcast manager and the person responsible for the final oversight of the channel's programs.