Statement by Ms. Somayyeh Karimdoost before Seventeenth Session of the Forum on Minority issues

With theme of Minority Representation in Public Space

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 Statement

By

Ms. Somayyeh Karimdoost

Representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran

Before

Seventeenth Session of the Forum on Minority issues

With theme of “Minority Representation in Public Space”

 Geneva, 28 November 2024

بسم الله الرحمن الرحیم

 

Madam Chairperson,

The Islamic Republic of Iran highly values diversity and peaceful coexistence of different people within and beyond its borders, including in the context of the international relations.  Our stern commitment to the concept of justice, is rooted in Iran's history and religion and goes beyond compliance with international obligations. Ethnic groups in our country are the main components of our magnificence and paramount segments of our nationality.

Madam Chair,

Iran is composed of 31 provinces that the name of most of them are selected in accordance with the ethnic majority that live in them. For example, Azerbaijan is the name for two of our provinces in north west that are mostly settled with Azari ethnicity, Sistan and Baluchistan is the name of another Province in south east that is mostly populated by Baluchi ethnicity, Kurdistan province in west is well settled by Kurd ethnic and luristan is the name of another province that most of its inhabitants are from lur ethnicity. 

In Tehran, the capital of Iran, there are many highways, squares and streets that are named with ethnic related names. For example, one of the longest highways in Tehran is called Kurdistan highway that connects north of Tehran to its south.  Another example is the Zoroaster street in north of Tehran that reminds every day to its passersby the deep history of Zoroastrians in Iran. These are just small examples of many others to show all-around presence of ethnic names in Iran.

 In conclusion, we express our concern on increasing restrictive measures in some European countries on Muslim minorities; As a recent incident, in July 2024, many Islamic centers and mosques were closed in Germany. “Islamic Centre of Hamburg”, famous as the Blue Mosque, was one of these mosques that not only was a place of worship, but a historical place that represents the identity of some Muslim minorities there. 

I thank you.

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