Iran: Information on a group called Zanadigge-Dar Azerbaijan (or Independent Azerbaijan) and whether it had activities inside Iran between 1987 and 1991
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 November 1996 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | IRN25362.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Iran: Information on a group called Zanadigge-Dar Azerbaijan (or Independent Azerbaijan) and whether it had activities inside Iran between 1987 and 1991, 1 November 1996, IRN25362.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6abc84c.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
The following information was provided during a 12 November 1996 telephone interview with a specialist on Iran in England.
The source stated that the group Zanadigge-Dar Azerbaijan is based in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan. The group has a nationalist ideology that promotes reunification with the Azeri community in Iran. Between 1987 and 1991 the group was active in Baku, not in Iran. In 1990 the Iranian authorities were not enthusiastic about the group's nationalist ideology and independence demands from the Soviet Union, fearing it might have spark similar separatist calls in Iran's two Azerbaijani provinces.
In 1992 Iran lifted travel restrictions with Azerbaijan. However, the Iranians quickly reimposed these restrictions in 1993, partly because many Iranian women were leaving Iran to marry Azerbaijani men. The border is currently closely monitored by the Iranian security forces. The source stated that promoting Azeri nationalism is not illegal in Iran.
Azerbaijan was part of Iran until Russian expansion in the 19th century left the Azerbaijani community divided. The Turkmachai Treaty of 1828 established the Araks river as the border between Russia and Iran, leaving an estimated 7 million Azerbaijanis in Russia and 5 million in Iran.
The following information was provided during a 17 October 1996 telephone interview with a French journalist who was posted in Iran between 1992 and 1996.
The source stated that the group Zanagge-Dar Azerbaijan is based in Azerbaijan. The source never came across information indicating that the group was present in Iran between 1987 and 1991.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
References
French journalist formerly posted in Iran, Paris, France. 17 October 1996. Telephone interview.
Specialist on Iran in England. 12 November 1996. Telephone interview.