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Secretary of Global Dialogue Prize
Dear Jacob Bock
On Wednesday we learned from Iranian newspaper that former Iranian president Mr Mohammad Khatami has been awarded the "Global Dialogue Prize" by the Global Dialogue Project Group in collaboration with Arhus university. According to the news, the award includes a 100.000 USD and the ceremony will take place in January at the university of Aarhus.
We azerbaijanis in the south part of Sweden, Azerbaijani Association AZER, feel very sad that the first winner of such important prize does not fullfill the main criteria of the award. As far as we understand the aim of this prize is to make a contribution for the advancement of intercultural understanding. Furthermore, it is meant to improve understanding of different cultures. However, considering those criteria we do not believe that Mr Khatami deserves such a significant awards. Also we are willing to bring evidence for our statement.
As you know Mr Khatami, president of Iran from 1997 to 2005, become elected by promising a reform policy such the rule of law and civil society as piller. In some extent he also succeeded in shaking the major institution of clerical power, but yet he could not make many signifcant concrete gian. And even though he lost several rounds to the Leader and conservative Ayatollahs, yet he had possibility to solve most problems of Iranians ethnic groups by recognising the human rights of minorities by respect to their culture. Ironicaly, he advocated a dialogue between civilizations but he was not intrested in intercultural understanding at homeland. Instead, he was discriminated the minorities more than ever by financing and active supporting the persian culture as only valid culture in the country. And in line with his racist attitude he was entertaining his fellowduring pro-election with racist jokes against Azerbaijanis. A video showing him telling a bad joke about azerbaijanis in Iran during the last president election led to mass protests by azerbaijanis in several cities including Tehran, Orumyeh, and Tabriz (Please see the video in Radio Free Europe).
The protests called for a public apology from him but he said that the video was a fake.
Since we believe that this award would be a recognation of his ignorance of other cultures in Iran we call you to reconsider your decisions if you have awarded him with the "Global Dialogue Prize"
Chairman of Azerbaijani Association, AZER
Manaf Sababi Ph.D
Jordabalksv 42
22557 Lund, Sweden
Tel: +46 703591315