Every year, on the eve of International Mother Language Day (IMLD), calls for signatures are made in Iran and abroad to advocate for the teaching and recognition of the mother languages of various ethnic groups. This year (2009), for the first time, thousands of people have signed the petition within the country. Among the signatories are representatives from various sectors, including school students, university students, professors, journalists, and business owners. Experts warn that the government's disregard for the legal demands of these groups could have harmful long-term consequences.
In 2008, UNESCO, the scientific and cultural branch of the United Nations, declared the year as the "Year of Languages." This year marks the tenth anniversary of International Mother Language Day.
Koichiro Matsuura, the President of UNESCO, in his message this year once again requested that governments "include in their formal and informal education systems and their executive activities, programs that ensure the balanced and fruitful coexistence of the languages within each country." He believes that only in this way will efforts to preserve and promote multilingual environments be successful, reflecting full respect for all aspects of cultural diversity.
Iran is a linguistically diverse country, but none of these languages are recognized alongside Persian. International Mother Language Day offers a suitable opportunity for many cultural and linguistic rights activists in Iran to take action for the recognition and preservation of their mother tongue. One such initiative is the petition for the protection of mother languages.
International Mother Language Day in Iran
The petition campaign for mother language education has started in various cities across Iran. In the text distributed by this campaign to gather signatures, it is stated: "Education, as the fundamental structure of human civilization and the foundation of human thought throughout history, has one of its most essential principles in teaching every individual in their mother tongue. According to international human rights laws, UNESCO, and the Universal Declaration of Linguistic Rights, a literate person is someone who can read and write in their 'native' language."
Signatories of this campaign emphasize Article 15 of the Constitution and demand the implementation of the "mother tongue education" principle in schools at all levels of the education system.
Achievements of the Petition Campaign
Yousef Kor, a researcher on the cultural and linguistic rights of Turkmen people in Iran, is one of the petition signatories. He explains his motivation for supporting this movement: "Unfortunately, Turkmen people are still deprived of education in their mother tongue, and this has caused irreparable harm to our language in the context of Iran, leading future generations to drift further away from their native tongue. Radio, television, and all educational and media resources in society are in Persian."
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| Yousef Kor, a researcher on the cultural and linguistic rights of the Turkmen people of Iran. |
Yousef Kor further mentions that while he does not expect a quick reaction from Iranian officials, this campaign can lead to the intensification of cultural, linguistic, and ethnic demands in the country.
Thirty Years of Revolution and Thirty Years of Banning Mother Tongue Education
Dr. Ahmad Omid Yazdani, author of the Comprehensive German-Azerbaijani Dictionary and head of the "Academicians of Germany-Azerbaijan," discusses the petition campaign: "This is a very good civil and social movement, and the people are asking for their basic national and cultural rights, which are also outlined in Articles 15 and 19 of the Constitution. Unfortunately, these articles have not been implemented for thirty years."
Dr. Yazdani explains the consequences of not teaching in mother tongues: "In my opinion, Iran is not only a multilingual country but also a multi-ethnic one. There are various ethnic groups in Iran, each with its own language. Unfortunately, the most basic national and linguistic rights of these ethnic groups, except for the Persian ethnic group, are being trampled, causing significant psychological, cultural, and linguistic harm."
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| Dr. Ahmad Omid Yazdani, author of the Comprehensive German-Azerbaijani Dictionary and head of the "Academicians of Germany-Azerbaijan." |
He adds that the lack of education in mother languages prevents the flourishing of these languages and literatures. "This leads to the perception that we are not equal to others and that we are second-class citizens. Without conditions for the flourishing of languages, over time, these languages may change structurally, with original grammar and vocabulary disappearing and Persian words replacing them. This is a huge blow to the identity and existence of a language."
Dr. Yazdani sees the mother language campaign as a positive step for Iranian society and believes that continued efforts will eventually lead to the recognition of the cultural and linguistic rights of the ethnic groups.
Dual Reactions from Iranian Government Officials
The language campaign has been ongoing for many years. Has it gained the attention of the Iranian government? In response, Saeed Naeimi, a member of the Iran Alumni Association - the Organization for the Advancement of Unity, says: "Some officials occasionally express a willingness to grant this right to citizens, but we also witness strong opposition from certain officials. In fact, we see a dual approach from the government. What is certain is that this is a legal right and a natural demand. A positive sign we’ve seen recently is that political and civil groups, other than Azerbaijanis, Kurds, and national parties, are also acknowledging the legitimacy of this demand. Many student groups have supported this and have joined the campaign for mother tongue education."
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| Saeed Naeimi, a Turkish civil rights activist in Iran |
Saeed Naeimi further mentions that public opinion in Iran is now more receptive to the demand for education in mother tongues and the recognition of ethnic languages.
Presidential Candidates and the Mother Tongue Issue
As Iran approaches presidential elections, it is expected that presidential candidates will include the demands of ethnic groups as part of their electoral programs. Saeed Naeimi comments: "Mr. Khatami, in his previous term, made promises regarding the attention to the cultures and languages of ethnic groups, but unfortunately, he did not fulfill them. I predict that both Mr. Khatami and Mr. Karroubi will include this issue in their campaign promises, and I hope all candidates will address this issue in their platforms."
Some cultural and linguistic rights activists claim that during Khatami's presidency, some ethnic media outlets were allowed to publish.
Celebrating International Mother Language Day in Germany
This year, International Mother Language Day will also be celebrated in Berlin, Germany's capital. Dr. Ahmad Omid Yazdani, head of "Academicians of Germany-Azerbaijan" and one of the organizers of this event, explains in an interview with Deutsche Welle's Persian service: "On February 21, we will hold a meeting with Azerbaijani and Turkmen cultural associations active in Berlin. We plan to send an open letter in German and English to UNESCO, the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and international human rights organizations to call for support in the fight for the freedom of our language and culture."
Many cultural and linguistic rights activists in Iran believe that the official recognition of their mother tongue and education in these languages in schools remains one of their fundamental demands that has not been fulfilled.
International Mother Language Day provides an opportunity for them to raise this demand once again and draw the attention of public opinion and government officials to it.
The link to the original article in Farsi on Deutsche Welle Persian:
روز جهانی زبان مادری: جمع آوری امضا برای حفظ زبان مادری