Pirouz Dilanchi (
Azerbaijani: Piruz Dilənçi; born Ali Ismayilfiruz, علی اسماعیل فیروز; May 1965 in
Tehran, Iran) is an Iranian-Azerbaijani separatist leader.
He was purportedly arrested and tortured for his views and for participating in left-wing organizations by the Iranian government after the revolution. He then fled to the
Azerbaijani SSR in 1990 to escape persecution.
In 1991, he created a section in the newspaper "
Literature and Art" named "Literary Tabriz", which was included in every issue for a year. Later, at the initiative of Pirouz Dilanchi, a number of programs with names such as "Araz-South literature"” and "Shahriyar-South literature"[12] were shown on
Azerbaijan State Television.
He brought the idea of separation of "South Azerbaijan" from Iran to the attention of government officials in Azerbaijan. Because of this, Pirouz Dilanchi became the most dangerous political figure for the Iranian Government between the years 1994-2001.[16] He has been a victim of different attacks by the Iranian government since he became very popular[citation needed] and important[17] political figure acting against Iran. Even once a special terrorist group from Iran attacked him midnight in his apartment in Baku trying to kill him. After the attack terrorist group were able to escape before
Azerbaijan Intelligence Officers came to the place of incident along with Azerbaijan Police.[18][19][20]
Dilanchi collected about 3000 signatures in 2000 and suggested his candidacy to the
Azerbaijan Republic Parliament in order to participate in the next election.[21][22] His candidacy was officially registered but was denied before the elections by pressure from the mafia responsible for elections.[23] Central Elections Committee ignored the registered candidacy of Dilanchi, citing unfair and contradicting pretexts.[24]
Kidnapping
Dilanchi was kidnapped by an unknown group in front of his house on 5 December 2002. As a result of pressure, the media kept his location secret for 21 days, however, the Press Secretary of the Internal Affairs Ministry declared that he was in jail. After being kept some weeks in the cold underground in inhumane conditions, Dilanchi was sent to Shuvalan prison. After 38 days in prison, having been arrested without reason, he was allowed to be transferred to house arrest. After three months, he was freed.[25][26][27][28]
^http://www.ecoi.net/local_link/180962/298257_de.html Liberation Army of Azerbaijan (Liberation Army of Southern Azerbaijan) (January 1998 - August 2001) believed to have been formed in 1993 in Iran [IRN37710.E] - IRB - Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada