The first rally began at 7pm (local time) in Tabriz the provincial capital of Iran’s Eastern Azerbaijan Province. Thousands gathered in Darayi Street, chanting slogans which defended the rights of the Azeri community and decried the disrespect shown to them by the regime.

In Orumieh (Urmia), the provincial capital of Iran’s Western Azerbaijan Province, hundreds gathered and marched from Atai Street towards Imam Khomeini Street.

The regime responded to these peaceful protest by dispatching a scourge of anti-riot troops armed with water cannons and rubber bullets. Many protesters were subsequently arrested.

Reports emerged that students at the University of Orumieh began begun a protest on campus against the regime’s lies.

Shahin Gobadi of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) said: “This is another sign of growing discontent in Iran which manifests itself in different forms and different places. The Iranian people use every possible opportunity to manifest their loath and hatred towards this regime which doubly suppresses ethnic and religious minorities.”