Swedish FM: "Azerbaijanis face very severe discrimination in Iran"

Mr.Eliasson regarded Lisani's arrest as violation of human rights adding that the protest actions sparked by Iranian newspaper's publishing caricature insulting ethnic Azerbaijanis have demonstrated the Iranian government's approach to ethnic nations living in the country.

Swedish Foreign Minister said the conditions of ethnic and religious minorities in Iran are not satisfying, APA reports.

"Demonstrations staged in different provinces populated by Azerbaijanis show this dissatisfaction. Sweden and the European Union are concerned about this matter and closely following the situation on human rights in Iran," Eliasson underlined.

The Foreign Minister said Azerbaijanis living in Iran constitute main part of the population.

"According to UN reports there are about 30 million Azerbaijanis, who constitute 40 percent of the population. However, Persian is official language in the country and Azerbaijanis are facing very severe discrimination. All Azerbaijani rallies were suppressed with violence and separatism by the ruling regime. It does not sound logical to call the people claiming their civil rights as separatist," he said.

Eliasson says according to Iranian Constitution, all the peoples have equal rights regardless of their ethnic groups and religions.