Abdulkarim Hazrati the Mayor of second largest South Azerbaijani city of Urmia was one of the victims of police brutality in Tehran. The police brutality took place last week in the “Azadi” Sport Stadium in Tehran during a Volleyball match between Urmia’s Shahrdari Team and Tehran’s Peikan Team.
The Turkic fans of Shahrdari chanted slogans demanding education in their mother language. They also demonstrated signs and posters with human right demands.
The authorities called the police to suppress the Azerbaijani fans. The fans resisted to submit to Police’s demand to give up the signs and posters such as “Yashasin Azerbaijan” meaning “Long Live Azerbaijan.” Consequently, Tehran’s Police brutalized the South Azerbaijani volleyball fans. The Urmia’s Mayor himself was among the victims hit with police clubs. Many South Azerbaijanis sustained serious injuries. The action of the police has caused enormous anger among Turkic citizens including parliamentarians. The head coach of the Shahrdari Club has resigned in a protest.