The Ethnicization of Crime: A Sociological Reading of Elahe Hosseinnezhad’s Murder

Etek Yazı – 9 June 2025

The Murder of Elahe Hosseinnezhad and the Ethnicization of Crime in Iran

The murder of Elahe Hosseinnezhad has exposed deep fractures in Iranian society, where mourning can quickly give way to marginalization. As public outrage swelled, so too did a troubling shift in discourse—one that placed ethnicity, rather than the root causes of violence, on trial. From media headlines to social media commentary, the focus turned toward the ethnic identity of the alleged perpetrator, evoking long-standing stereotypes about Turks and other non-Persian communities. In this context, sympathy for the victim became a vehicle for scapegoating, and the crime itself was reframed through a lens of racial and regional prejudice. This article interrogates how media narratives and public discourse reproduce Orientalist logics within Iran’s internal borders, constructing “monsters from the periphery” and obscuring structural violence behind ethnic blame. Ultimately, it raises critical questions about who is allowed to be mourned, who is allowed to be demonized, and how national identity is policed through moments of collective grief.

The Struggle for the Right to Turkish Names in South Azerbaijan

June 1, 2025

Identification document

In South Azerbaijan, the “Balamın Adı” (My Child’s Name) petition campaign seeks to amend Iran’s civil registration laws. Launched by Azerbaijani activists on the karzar.net platform, the campaign calls for reforms to Article 20 of the "Civil Registration Law" to strengthen the right of parents to freely choose their child’s name. As the petition states, many parents face restrictions they “have never encountered in their lives,” leaving them unable to obtain birth certificates for their children.

Tractor SC complete journey to upset Iran’s establishment and claim historic title

John Duerden -  The Guardian -  Wed 14 May 2025 

The pre-match show before Tractor’s home game against Nassaji Mazandaran in May. Photograph: Mehrvarz Ahmadi/Anadolu/Getty Images

The club’s success has brought hope, unity and a voice to millions of Azerbaijani- Turks, the largest minority in Iran

The league title was won with games to spare by a coach in his first season, leaving fans in the north-west of the country to wait for the official presentation of the trophy. Jamie Carragher said on Sunday that “Liverpool as a city feels like it is ‘us against the world” but that is nothing when compared to those who follow Tractor SC, a club that brings hope, unity and a voice to millions of Azerbaijani Turks, the largest minority in Iran. Now they have a first Iranian championship to celebrate.

Iran’s Systematic Denial of Identity Documents for Children with Turkish Names

March 19, 2025

The Iranian identity booklet, also known as the Shenasnameh

In a blatant violation of human rights, Iran’s Civil Registration Office continues to deny identity documents to children with Turkish names, leaving them stateless and deprived of essential services. Several families in Azerbaijan and beyond have been subjected to bureaucratic discrimination simply for choosing names that reflect their ethnic and cultural heritage.

The Struggle of Families Choosing Turkish Names for Their Children in Iranian Azerbaijan

 Alirza Quluncu & Vüqar Bəhmənzadə, Voice of America, March 14, 2025

In Iranian Azerbaijan, as well as in provinces such as Tehran, Alborz, and Gilan, there are families who have been unable to obtain identity cards for their children for months or even years due to the Turkish names they have chosen.

A Call for Linguistic Justice: Professors in Iranian Azerbaijan Demand Mother Tongue Education

Hamid Melikoglu, Voice of America, March 6, 2025

Tabriz University

University professors from Azerbaijan’s provinces have sent a letter to the president, urging the government to take immediate steps to ensure the teaching of their mother tongue in schools and universities.

Among the 196 signatories of the letter are faculty members from universities in Tabriz, Ardabil, Urmia, and Maragheh. They have called on the president to introduce a bill in parliament for the teaching of their native language.

Iranian Parliament Rejects Bill on "Teaching Ethnic and Local Literature" in Schools

February 26, 2025

Islamic Republic of Iran Parliament

With a majority vote of its members, the Iranian Parliament has rejected the "Teaching of Ethnic Literature" bill, which was proposed by the Education Commission and consisted of six articles.

According to Iran’s official news agency IRNA, the bill titled "Teaching of Ethnic Literature" was discussed in today's parliamentary session on February 26. Out of 246 participating deputies, the bill was rejected with 104 votes in favour, 130 against, and 5 abstentions, failing to gain approval for its general principles.

"At Sea" (Dənizdə) Play Performed in Turkish at Tabriz City Theater

Alirza Quluncu, Voice of America, February 26, 2025

The poster of the play Dənizdə (At Sea).

The Turkish-language play At Sea (Dənizdə), directed by theatre arts instructor and director Ali Fotouhi, has been on stage at Tabriz City Theater since Sunday.

According to reports from Nasr News and various social media channels, the play is being performed at the Ustad Sadiqi Hall within the Tabriz City Theater complex and will run for 10 days.

Originally written by renowned Polish playwright Sławomir Mrożek, the play has been translated from English into Turkish by Mehdi Velizadeh.

Vahid Qarabagli: Growing Anti-Racism Discourse in Iran May Spark Awareness and Change

Alirza Quluncu, Voice of America, February 23, 2025

Vahid Qarabaghli

Sociologist and activist Vahid Qarabagli discussed the recent debates surrounding "racist chants" that have been prominent in Iranian Azerbaijan and Tehran's sports and political circles in an interview with Voice of America.

Qarabagli expressed his hope that with the strengthening of the "anti-racism discourse" in Iranian Azerbaijan, there will be an increase in awareness about racial slurs in Iranian society.

According to Qarabagli, racist chants in stadiums should be seen as a reflection of broader racist discourses, policies, and practices within mainstream society, and addressing these societal issues is key to eliminating racism.

Arrest of an Activist in Iranian Azerbaijan for Distributing Turkish Books on International Mother Language Day

Hamid Melikoglu, Voice of America, February 23, 2025

Mohammad Asadi

Turkish activist Mohammad Asadi has been summoned and arrested by security forces in Maragheh, a city in East Azerbaijan Province, Iran, for distributing Azerbaijani Turkish storybooks in schools.

Human rights activist Sina Yousifi reported the incident on his X (formerly Twitter) account. According to the information, Asadi was detained on Saturday, February 22, and transferred to the city's prison.

Turkish Language Books Distributed in Iranian Azerbaijan for International Mother Language Day

 February 21, 2025 

Ardabil

Ahead of International Mother Language Day on February 21, national activists in Iranian Azerbaijan have distributed books in Azerbaijani Turkish, particularly among schoolchildren.

According to reports shared on social media, activists in Tabriz, Ardabil, Urmia, Khiyav, Parsabad (Mugan), Qoshachay, Bostanabad (Ujan), and other cities distributed books teaching the grammar of  Turkish, as well as fairy tale books for children. This initiative aims to raise public awareness about the importance of the mother tongue.

The Struggle for Language in Iran and the Caucasus: A Caricature from the Molla Nasraddin Journal

February 20, 2025

 The caricature on the cover of the 38th issue of Molla Nasraddin journal, published in 1906, depicts a man labeled "Turk of Azerbaijan" lying down while three individuals, dressed in distinct attire, attempt to force tongues inscribed with the Farsi, Russian, and Arabic languages into his mouth.

Accompanying the image is the text: "…Oh brothers, I was not created as a langualess nation — why are you shoving these languages into my mouth?"

This satire humorously critiques the imposition of foreign languages and cultures on the Azerbaijani Turks of the time—a policy that has persisted in Iran for over a century.

Founded by Jalil Mammadguluzadeh, Molla Nasraddin was a pioneering satirical magazine that played a key role in early 20th-century Azerbaijani literature and culture. Renowned for addressing significant social and political issues, the magazine actively engaged with topics such as language and alphabet reforms.

Environmental Pollution from the Varzeghan Gold Mines

Narges Rezaie / Anadolu Agency / February 19, 2025

Environmental destruction driven by unsustainable resource exploitation.

According to environmental experts in Iran, the extraction of gold through cyanidation has polluted the water and soil resources of the Varzeghan region in East Azerbaijan, and a water structures expert, in an interview with Anadolu, calls it a serious threat to the survival of wildlife.

Teoman Aktan: Systematic Discrimination Prevails in Iran

Alirza Quluncu, Voice of America, February 18, 2025

Teoman Aktan, political scientist

Political scientist and activist Teoman Aktan, in an interview with Voice of America, analyzed the events that took place on January 26 during the match between Tractor Azerbaijan and Persepolis in Tehran, which remains a topic of heated debate.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian Interrupted for Reciting Turkish Poetry

 February 16, 2025

During the closing ceremony of Tabriz Cultural Week, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian was interrupted and warned by an official while reciting lines from the famous poem Heydar Baba’ya Salam by Mohammad Hossein Behjat Tabrizi (Shahriar).

Before reciting the poem, Pezeshkian noted that he intended to read two lines from Shahriar’s poetry but mentioned that some officials and ministers in the audience did not understand Turkish, so he would continue his speech in Persian. He then began to recite:

"Tractor" Club Owner: The Federation's Decision Encouraged Those Who Shouted "Racist Chants," We Will Pursue the Issue in FIFA

Alirza Quluncu, Voice of America, February 15, 2025

The owner of Tabriz's "Tractor Azerbaijan" club, Mohammad Reza Zonouzi.

Despite the Iranian Football Federation’s announcement, the heated debate surrounding the events of the January 26 match between "Tractor Azerbaijan" and "Persepolis" continues.

The owner of the Tractor club, Mohammad Reza Zonouzi, sharply criticized the decision of the Federation’s disciplinary committee. Zonuzi emphasized that the decision was more of an encouragement than a punishment for the Persepolis supporters who shouted "racist chants."

Pezeshkian Proposes Provincial Presidents, Sparking Debate on Iran's Future

Alirza Quluncu, Voice of America, February 14, 2025

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has stated that he will seek permission from the Supreme Leader to increase the powers of provincial governors. He said, "Each province should have its own president."

Masoud Pezeshkian made these comments on Thursday during a meeting with intellectuals in Bushehr province.

This news, along with a video recording, was shared by Iranian media.

Ilqar Ulusoy: “Tractor” Fans Play a Major Role in Civil Organization

Alirza Quluncu, Voice of America, February 12, 2025

Ilqar Ulusoy, political activist

Political activist Ilqar Ulusoy discussed the controversy that arose after the racist chants directed at Turks during the January 26 match between "Tractor Azerbaijan" and "Persepolis" in an interview with Voice of America.

East Azerbaijan Lawyers Demand Action Over Racist Chants Targeting Turks in Iranian Football

Hamid Melikoglu, Voice of America, February 8, 2025

"Tractor" fans have previously protested against racist chants being shouted in the stadium, but the issue has still not been resolved.

The Human Rights Commission of the East Azerbaijan Bar Association has issued a statement condemning the racist chants heard during the match between "Tractor" and "Persepolis." The commission denounced such slogans and demanded strict measures against those responsible for these actions.

The statement was published on the Instagram page of the East Azerbaijan Bar Association and the Vokalapress website.

Social Pathologist: The Increase of Racist Chants in Iranian Stadiums is Linked to General Policies

Narges Rezaie / Anadolu Agency - February 5, 2025

The supporters of Tractor Azerbaijan

Following the "racist" chants against Turkish people during the recent match between Persepolis and Tractor teams, which sparked widespread reactions and led to a warning in the Iranian parliament yesterday, Ali Jafari Azar, the representative of Tabriz in the parliament, explicitly criticized the "various forms of rudeness, immorality, disorder, and racial and ethnic insults by some fans and certain officials of the host team and event organizers at Azadi Stadium in Tehran." He added that the matter is being examined from a legal perspective, and discussions about escalating it to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and FIFA are underway if domestic authorities and the Iranian Football Federation fail to address it. Anadolu evaluated this issue from a social perspective.