Abstract:
Ahwazi people in Iran identify with their own ethnicity, language and culture rather than the Iranian national identity. They rely on history to demonstrate their peoplehood, nationality and entitlement to the right to self-determination. While Ahwazi history is highly contested, this research aims to frame the discussion on the Ahwazi people’s long-standing historical claims to territory by offering an Ahwazi perspective. This research delves into the historical dynamics between the Ahwazi Sheikhs and the Shah of Persia, assessing the extent of the Sheikhs’
autonomy and the Shah’s dominion over the Ahwaz region. It provides an overview of the geography, natural resources, ethnic composition, political history, and claims over the Ahwaz region. It also demonstrates how colonial interests led to the occupation of the last Ahwazi emirate and influenced the origin of the Iranian nation-state, encompassing a centralised political system with no room for diversity and inclusion.
Keywords: Ahwaz Political History, Iran, Military Occupation, Colonialism, Territorial Claims.
Abdulrahman Hetteh* PhD, Visiting Lecturer, City University of London, abdulrahman.hetteh@city.ac.uk
Full article: Political History of Ahwaz by Abdulrahman Hetteh 2023
