Historical background and struggles
Before the military invasion of Reza Khan Pahlavi, the Arab Ahwazi nation lived in a region that had experienced semi-independent and independent governance during different eras, and specifically during the Qajar era, the land of Ahwaz that was referred to as “Arabistan”, enjoyed an independent governance.
In April 1925, this quasi-independent sovereignty of the confederation was destroyed through a military attack done by Razan Khan Pahlavi, and which led to the capture of its last ruler, “Sheikh Khazal”. It is worth mentioning that historically the Arab nation of Ahwaz, referred to this day as the day of “occupation” and loss of “sovereignty”.
The occupation of Ahwaz (Arabistan) and annexing it to the newly founded country “Iran”, as well as the formation of the state-nation of Iran, which was accompanied by a slogan referred to as “one language, one flag, one homeland”, led to the process of “colonization” and creation of a newly founded government on the land of Ahwaz (Arabistan). The goal of this occupation mainly was to destroy the identity of the Arab nation, and the mission of this long-term project in its military form was entrusted to Reza Pahlavi, who had become the Shah of Iran. In the first step, Reza Shah and his think tank changed the Arabic names of this land and converted them into Persian names. Thus, he changed Arabia to Khuzestan and other cities to new Persian names.
The process of de-identification during the period related to the Pahlavi monarchy and the Islamic Republic was accompanied by resistances on the one hand and bloody suppression of these resistances on the other hand. Although, the resistance has gone through ups and downs, which could be summarized in three major stages. The stage of formation until “ethnic self-awareness”, which began simultaneously after the occupation of Ahwaz (Arabistan), and the beginning of resistance against the enemy, which continued until the emergence of the Arabistan Liberation Front.
Following Reza Khan’s rule over Ahwaz (Arabistan), a resistance against this rule was formed, and was started by the sheikhs of the tribes. It is noteworthy that during the era before Sheikh Khazal, each of those tribes in Ahwaz had its own role in the region. Thus, every time a tribe could gain power, it attempted to gather the rest of the tribes under its leadership umbrella, and accordingly made them submit to it by force or by creating alliances. However, when Sheikh Khazal gained power, he somehow managed to bring everyone under the umbrella of his rule, and accordingly was able to form the “nation” of Ahwaz, without desiring it or being aware of it.
Because in that situation, the global and regional situation was moving towards statehood and nationhood. Therefore, Sheikh Khazal considered himself an independent ruler like Muhammad Ali Pasha in Egypt and expected that the independent sovereignty of his country would be recognized by other major countries.
After the fall of Sheikh Khazal and Reza Khan’s conquest of Arabistan-Ahwaz, the main conflict of that era was no longer the invasion and dominance of one or another tribe, but it was the conflict of a foreign power that desired to include all these “local” rulers and regions in a new system. Therefore, during that period the “national conflict” led to a “tribal conflict, and accordingly the tribal solidarity arose. Thus, the tribe and its interests were not the nation’s highest priority, but foreign invasion that caused threat to the preservation of the whole nation had become the priority, and at that time the “national awareness” began in Ahwaz.
The stage of growth and expansion until “acquiring national identity” was coincided with the emergence of Arab nations’ movements throughout the Arab countries, especially the movement in Iraq that is based on planning of ethnic thinking, and which aims to create infrastructure for organization and acquisition of national identity
This nationalist movement, which invaded all Arab countries from Egypt to Iraq and coincided with the anti-colonial liberation movements and the left-wing liberation movements for oppressed nations, played an important role in promoting the struggles of the Ahwaz nation and created a qualitative transformation. This qualitative change was deeply effective in theorizing the concept of “Ahwaz Nation”.
The stage of consolidation to “organization” has continued from the overthrow of the royal dictatorship until the present time. After the overthrow of the Shah and the creation of an open political space, elements of this movement set up political and cultural centers and in this context attempted to expand their activities in all cities and villages. These activities were welcomed by the masses of young people, however, the leadership of the movement was unable to transform this abandoned potential into an organizational structure.
The political scene in Iran, especially in Ahwaz and its cities, was determined after the invasion of the ruling government and the suppression of the national movement of Ahwaz, and following the Iran-Iraq war, the political scene and situation completely transformed. Therefore, the national and local movements were suppressed and the Islamic Republic of Iran established its complete control over all of Iran, and after the war was over, reforms were put on the agenda and Khatami became the leader of the transformation, with the purpose of overcoming the crises of the new government.
During Khatami’s presidency, which is considered as one of the key and important points in the national movement of Ahwaz, the Arab National Movement began its public, legal and peaceful activities legally and peacefully, through forming a party and organization. Therefore, during that time, the movement could train an active civil force, and accordingly new forces appeared that were fundamentally different from the old forces in both their political thinking and their working methods. Thus, the new forces defined their movement within the internal framework and actually built the foundations that are active until today, and accordingly the national movement inside Ahwaz follows the same path.
This movement slowly and gradually attracted many sections of the nation and sparked an awakening movement at the national level, and a number of active youths who were active in civil activities had created the Arab Struggle Movement of Ahwaz on 27/11/1999. However, this peaceful civil movement could not survive for a long time and was suppressed in 2005, and following the suppression of the movement the Ahwazi youths who had participated in the civil movement began their armed activities.
They officially established the Arab Struggle Movement, which aimed to liberate Ahwaz with an armed (political) approach. The armed operation against the military and security organs of the regime (who attempted to kill Ahwazis and change their identity) could put the movement in the center of attention, and later this organization was able to become popular among the nation of Ahwaz. Following these activities, many leaders of the organization were arrested and executed, which led to the migration of many of them abroad.
At the beginning of 2015, new changes occurred in the policy of the political segment in the struggle movement, and that was the transformation from an armed force to a non-armed force. Furthermore, the symbol of weapon in the movement’s logo was replaced with an Ahwazi Arabic palm symbol. Additionally, the movement witnessed a qualitative change in regards to its principle of self-determination, and In 2019, at the New York conference, the movement officially announced its main movement which is the nations’ rights to determine their own destiny.
These changes have continued up to the present time, and today the movement provides a more practical and clear concept to the mentioned principle (the right to self-determination of nations) along with a program that fits the reality of the movement. Thus, this principle could be pursued through building a federal democratic government and a decentralized system within the current geography of Iran.
Political program
General principles
Iran is a multi-ethnic country that is made up of several nations, and are as follows: the Turkish nation of Azerbaijan, Baloch, Kurdish, Lor, Arabs, Persian, Turkmen, Qashqai, and Gilak nations.
Each of these nations has its own characteristics and has gone through its own history, and as it was mentioned earlier before the formation of the nation-state and the establishment of the new Iran, during the Qajar era, the Arab nation had an independent governance and was considered a confederation. Today we believe that Iran in future will face two different and opposite paths, the path of growth in which all the nations within this geography will enjoy their own path and destiny, and through a voluntary union they will form a modern and democratic country of Iran, or the path of re-establishing tyranny and centralism in which the nations will remain under the power of the center, and in which they will be on the path to collapse.
From our point of view, centralism and the domination of the central nation state could not be democratic, libertarian, and just. The basis of this system is based on the suppression of other nations, as well as the rejection of their presence, hence it hinders the growth and peaceful coexistence of other nations. Therefore, it must be destroyed forever so that we can live together as multiple and equal nations, especially that centralism and domination of the totalitarian nation state will inevitably lead to autocratic and dictatorial rule, which is forced to suppress other nations for its survival.
We believe in nations’ rights to determine their destiny, and support national geographic federalism. Although this could be achieved only through internally developing a democratic and decentralized government that consists of participants representing all the nations living in this geography, consequently the government must be determined by all nations in Iran.
Therefore, we believe that this geography will witness the struggle of people in Ahwaz (Arabistan), for achieving their legitimate right and determining their own destiny. It is worth noting that the struggle of our nation to achieve its legitimate right is highly connected to the struggles of all other nations in Iran.
Basic principles and principles
Accepting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as the existing framework for respecting the basic rights of every individual and citizen.
Freedoms: Freedom is an important ideal for us, accordingly In the national government, basic freedoms must include the individual freedom, freedom of thought, freedom of expression, freedom of parties, freedom of elections and public, cultural, social and civil freedoms must be provided and guaranteed legally.
Social justice: Social justice is our most important goal and main priority, as economic progress help in alleviating poverty and reducing the class gap. Therefore, we will apply every economic projects as an opportunity to eliminate poverty and unemployment
Women: We strongly believe in the special role women play in any struggle, as women are capable of fundamentally changing the society, therefore we attempt to pay special attention to this role and function of women in the course of our activities. Thus, women should be able to have more facilities and legal protection to compensate for their lost rights. We deeply believe in the equality of the rights of men and women and the human dignity of both. As a result, we will fight against any kind of misogyny and will try to remove this sinister phenomenon of gender discrimination from the society by creating cultural changes in the heart of the society.
Furthermore, participation of women in leadership and administration of the national government in equal proportion with men is one of our main goals to recognize the real position of women in Ahwaz society.
Democracy: We believe in a democratic society, in which the plurality of parties and the independent presence of unions for all trades is essential for the progress of the society. Democracy is the main factor for progress and overcoming the backward culture of tribalism for the Ahwazi Arab society.
Environment: We will pay full attention to the environment, and thus, our national government will use all means and tools to compensate for all the damages caused by the rule of the Shah and Mullahs’ regimes. Hence, overcoming the problem of water and fine dust will be one of our most important projects
Farmers and villagers: Returning all the lands usurped by the shah and the mullahs to the farmers and villagers, and compensating all the damages caused by the predatory regimes of the shah and the mullah are among the priorities of our economic programs.
Religions: We believe that religion is separate from the state government and any political power, hence Religious Institutions will not play any political role in the life of society. In addition, there will be no official religion in the national government, however, religions will be free to promote and propagate their ideas independently.
Civil Societies: In order to move from a tribal and backward society to a civil society, we aim to guide tribes in Ahwaz to participate in developing civil societies and political trade unions. We will accomplish this goal by encouraging and supporting all different segments to form their own independent unions.
Minorities: In the national government of Ahwaz, Dezfuli, Shushtri and Behbahani minorities have self-governing governments in their city or region within the national government.
In the regions that consist of Arabs, Lors, and Bakhtiaris, the dual governance of the council will be established based on the principles of democracy, and it will accordingly govern the dual governance.
Moreover, the national government will allow the existing minorities, based on their population (which will be approved by the law), to be presented in the National Government Administration Council.
Political program
The strategy of the Struggle Movement to achieve the right to self-determination is summarized in three stages:
First stage: Active participation in the overthrow of the regime of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which is the main barrier and obstacle to the Arab nation of Ahwaz for achieving their right to self-determination.
Second stage: The period after the overthrow and the transition stage until the determination of the new system, in addition to active participation in the administration and management of this stage.
Third Stage: The period after the determination of the new government.
1) In the first stage, we have two important tasks to accomplish, in order to overthrow the regime of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
a) Externally: To form coalitions within the Ahwaz nation and through leading organizations, in order to form the common front of the Ahwaz, that represent the national movement in the political arena. Furthermore, forming an alliance with the different nations in Iran on two conditions, first to overthrow the regime and second to accept the Ahwazi nation’s right to self-determination.
b) Internally: To organize the national movement in secret and semi-secret organizations and expanding internal organizational networks that help in overthrowing the regime.
We actually consider that the overthrow of the Islamic Republic of Iran regime is far beyond necessary, and that overthrowing this regime requires national uprisings, although, any uprising occurring in this political geography is violently suppressed by this regime.
We are also convinced that peaceful protests, demonstrations and strikes are really essential, however, alone are not capable of overthrowing this regime, as a consequence uprisings at some point will be transformed into mutual violence.
Additionally, no nation alone is capable of overthrowing the rule of the Islamic Republic, without the right national uprising and an influential national leading organization, which should be built based on the organization of diverse nations in Iran. Accordingly, each of these nations should have specific uprisings in their own regions, that coordinate and cooperate with the leading organization.
2) in the second stage and transition period:
• temporary control and administration of Arab cities and regions of Ahwaz, in addition to maintaining internal security by forming local and regional councils.
• Forming a council consisting of the nations to ensure security and to manage affairs related to those areas.
• Forming a delegation to examine the transition period, the shape and nature of the future system in Iran and Ahwaz (The members of this board are chosen by the councils of regions and localities, and they also form representatives from real organizations and experts).
• Forming a committee of martyrs and political prisoners, and dealing with their issues.
• Establishing a livelihood supply headquarters (Activating relevant institutions to provide the essential and daily needs of the people).
• Directing the formation of trade unions for all classes and fully supporting them (Labor unions, farmers’ unions, teachers’ and students’ unions, women, marketers, etc.)
• Providing the necessary facilities and conditions required different parties, organizations and groups.
3) The stage formation of the national government:
• Elections of the House of Representatives- the local parliament and drafting the constitution of the national government that does not contradict the national law, in addition to elections of cities and districts
The Struggle Movement
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