Iranian Dissidents Arrive in Brussels to Discuss a Federal Iran
Representatives of Iranian opposition political parties, minority groups, and civil society have begun arriving in Brussels for a two-day conference examining the state of human rights in Iran.
Representatives of Iranian opposition political parties, minority groups, and civil society have begun arriving in Brussels for a two-day conference examining the state of human rights in Iran and in particular the situation facing Iran’s minority Ahwaz, Azerbaijani, Baloch, and Kurdish populations.
Almost half of Iran’s population is made up of minorities but all groups face varying levels of discrimination from the Iranian authorities on the basis of their language, religion, or ethnicity . This conference will examine how Iran’s minorities can forge a fair and common future, drawing on the potential of federalism.
Participants will be meeting against the backdrop of significant lobbying from the Iranian authorities that have pressured some high-level speakers to withdraw their participation. Nevertheless, the conference represents a rare opportunity to hear constructive criticism from Iranian opposition in the heart of Brussels.
The conference will be held on 1-2 April with opening speeches in Room P4B001 of the European Parliament at 9.15am. The concluding panels of the conference will be held from 9.00am at the Best Western County House Hotel before the closing session of the conference.
Almost half of Iran’s population is made up of minorities but all groups face varying levels of discrimination from the Iranian authorities on the basis of their language, religion, or ethnicity . This conference will examine how Iran’s minorities can forge a fair and common future, drawing on the potential of federalism.
Participants will be meeting against the backdrop of significant lobbying from the Iranian authorities that have pressured some high-level speakers to withdraw their participation. Nevertheless, the conference represents a rare opportunity to hear constructive criticism from Iranian opposition in the heart of Brussels.
The conference will be held on 1-2 April with opening speeches in Room P4B001 of the European Parliament at 9.15am. The concluding panels of the conference will be held from 9.00am at the Best Western County House Hotel before the closing session of the conference.
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