The Ahwaz state: existing legitimacy
There are numerous historical political and humanitarian facts concerning the Arab state of Ahwaz emphasizing the legal status of Ahwaz as an independent international entity throughout various stages of history shedding light on how its sovereignty was lost its legitimate right to restore this sovereignty and the right of its people to self-determination in accordance with international laws
Historical Background of Ahwaz
The history of Arab Ahwaz dates back to ancient times when the Elamites and Semitic peoples first settled in this region around 4000 BCE Several civilizations including the Babylonian Assyrian Chaldean and Median empires successively ruled Ahwaz In 539 BCE the region was invaded by the Achaemenids under the leadership of Cyrus the Great who launched a campaign of extermination against Arabs in the area His campaign extended beyond the Arabian Gulf to the Arabian Peninsula where he committed horrific massacres including in Yemen Cyrus earned the title The Shoulder Cutter among Arabs due to his brutal practice of severing the shoulders of his victims This figure is still celebrated in Iranian history despite his atrocities Other invaders such as Azad Firuz bin Jashish known as Al Mukabar Al Farsi continued committing horrific crimes against Arabs in subsequent years
Islamic Conquest
The Battle of Dhi Qar is a significant milestone in the history of Ahwaz where Arabs achieved a decisive victory over the Persians In 637 CE Abu Musa Al Ashari successfully liberated Ahwaz ending Persian control over the region Ahwaz remained under Islamic rule from that time until the Mongol invasion in 1258 CE underscoring the Arab identity of Ahwaz and its complete integration into Arab Islamic civilization
Ahwaz as a Sovereign Entity
Throughout various periods in history Ahwaz enjoyed independence as a sovereign state It maintained its political entity until 1925 when it was subjected to an illegal Iranian occupation Ahwaz had all the components of a state including land people and governance exercising full sovereignty over its resources and territories
Iranian Occupation
In 1925 Iran forcibly annexed Ahwaz a blatant violation of international laws and norms Since then the Ahwazi people have suffered systematic oppressive policies aimed at erasing their authentic Arab identity These policies include land and resource confiscation vast agricultural lands were seized for the benefit of Persian settlers suppression of Arabic language Arabic was banned in educational institutions and media targeting the cultural identity of the region political repression Ahwazi activists faced arbitrary arrests executions and systematic torture
The Right to Self-Determination
Under international law the people of Ahwaz are entitled to demand the restoration of their sovereignty and exercise their right to self-determination Article 1 of the United Nations Charter affirms the right of peoples to self-determination a principle that applies unequivocally to the people of Ahwaz given their history and their current situation under occupation The Ahwazi people possess the legal right to regain sovereignty based on international resolutions rejecting illegal occupations choose their governance through a free internationally supervised referendum and hold Iran accountable for ongoing human rights violations and acts of cultural genocide Ahwaz is not merely an Arab issue but a universal struggle against occupation and tyranny Understanding the true history of Ahwaz and exposing the oppressive practices of the Iranian regime are essential steps toward justice Arabs and the international community alike must support the Ahwazi people in reclaiming their legitimate rights as enshrined in international law Ahwaz remains a legitimate and enduring cause and its people will persist in their struggle until they achieve full independence
