Iranian Occupation Policies to Destroy the Environment in Al-Ahwaz and Displace Arab Inhabitants
Iranian Occupation Policies to Destroy the Environment in Al-Ahwaz and Displace Arab Inhabitants
The Iranian occupation authorities systematically pursue policies aimed at destroying the environment in Al-Ahwaz to pressure the Arab population and forcibly displace them from their lands. These policies include drying up rivers, polluting water sources, flooding agricultural lands with oil waste, and establishing environmentally destructive industrial projects, making life nearly impossible for the indigenous inhabitants.
- Drying Up Rivers and Diverting Watercourses
The occupation authorities have implemented extensive projects to divert the courses of Al-Ahwaz’s rivers, such as Karun, Karkheh, and Jarrahi, to Persian regions in central Iran, leading to:
• A severe shortage of potable water.
• The destruction of agricultural lands and a decline in agricultural production.
• The desertification of vast areas, resulting in the forced displacement of Arab inhabitants.
- Environmental Pollution Through Oil Waste Dumping
The Iranian authorities deliberately release crude oil and its residues into agricultural lands and rivers, causing:
• Contamination of groundwater and surface water, leading to serious diseases among the population.
• The destruction of soil fertility, rendering it unsuitable for farming.
• The death of livestock due to poisoning.
- Polluting Industries and Gas Flaring
Al-Ahwaz is home to numerous oil refineries and petrochemical factories that release massive amounts of toxic gases due to gas flaring operations, which result in:
• Increased rates of respiratory diseases and cancer.
• Air pollution and intensified local climate change effects.
• The displacement of residents due to deteriorating living conditions in affected areas.
Objective: The Forced Displacement of Arab Inhabitants
These policies aim to force Arab inhabitants to leave their lands, making way for the settlement of Persian settlers in Al-Ahwaz as part of a broader scheme to alter the region’s demographic composition.
Hossein Bouazar originates from Ahwaz and stands as a fervent champion for human rights. Deeply connected to his Ahwazi Arab heritage, his literary works illuminate the adversities faced by this community. An outspoken critic of the Iranian regime, Hossein bravely highlights the grave human rights violations inflicted upon the Ahwazi Arabs. Through his compelling narratives, he seeks to amplify international consciousness of the challenges the Ahwazi Arabs encounter. His prose resonates as a defiant call for a world that upholds the inherent rights of every individual, irrespective of their ethnic roots or background.
Ahwazi Centre for Human Rights
