Protests rock Iran’s Azerbaijan over ethnic slur

Iran Focus: Tehran, Iran, May 23 – Tens of thousands of Iranian Azeris demonstrated on Monday in the north-western city of Tabriz against the publishing of an insulting cartoon in the official state daily Iran. Iran Focus

Tehran, Iran, May 23 – Tens of thousands of Iranian Azeris demonstrated on Monday in the north-western city of Tabriz against the publishing of an insulting cartoon in the official state daily Iran.

Angry Azeris poured in the streets of Tabriz, attacking state-owned buildings and banks. In the nearby city of Orumieh furious people set the daily’s office on fire.

Police used teargas to disperse the protesters.

Following the violent demonstrations, the press supervisory board issued a ban on the daily and its editor and the cartoonist were summoned to court.

The following photos of the demonstrations were taken by local and foreign news agencies:

http://iranfocus.com/uploads/img44733431afc8f.jpg” />

http://iranfocus.com/uploads/img4473347cb239e.jpg” />