Taher Shir Mohammadi – Deutsche Welle Persian – May 1, 2010
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| Jamshid Faroughi: The Issue of Ethnic Groups Goes Beyond Mocking Their Dialects |
Recently, Ayatollah Khamenei and "Kaleme," a website supporting the Green Movement, expressed views on the mockery and ridicule of ethnic dialects in Iranian society. To discuss this topic, Deutsche Welle spoke with Jamshid Faroughi, the head of Deutsche Welle's Persian section.
Deutsche Welle: Ayatollah Khamenei stated in a Fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) lecture on April 20th that mocking dialects and imitating them for ridicule is forbidden (haram). What impact do you think his remarks will have on Iranian society?
Faroughi: To evaluate the impact of Ayatollah Khamenei's remarks on Iranian society, we must consider the current context. Broadly speaking, such statements are commendable, as they call on Iranian society to avoid belittling the dialects, accents, and cultural traits of minorities and label such actions as reprehensible. However, what we witness in Iran goes far beyond the mere ridicule of dialects or accents.
Ridicule and disdain toward dialects and accents are realities that extend well beyond ethnic minorities; even subsets of the Persian-speaking population are subjected to this behavior. It’s crucial not to overlook this. More importantly, what enables such ridicule in Iran is the violation of the civil rights of minorities.
As long as Iran’s Constitution and its governing systems fail to provide the material conditions necessary for granting equal citizenship rights to every individual, the foundations of ridicule will not disappear. Worse, we will continue to witness egregious violations of these people's rights. For example, Sunni Muslims in Tehran, despite being a significant population, do not have a mosque of their own and are forced to use the Pakistani Embassy for their religious ceremonies. This starkly illustrates the extent of rights violations against Sunni Muslims. The situation is even more dire for Bahá’ís and other religious minorities in Iran, with Bahá’ís being denied even the right to life, let alone citizenship rights.
Deutsche Welle: Ayatollah Khamenei described the imitation and ridicule of ethnic dialects as a relatively recent phenomenon. What, in your view, are the historical roots of this behavior?
Faroughi: The humiliation of ethnic groups is both a chronic and relatively modern phenomenon, emerging with the formation of the modern state in Iran. Ayatollah Khamenei did not explicitly claim that this behavior is entirely new, but it is unprecedented for someone in his position to address it so directly.
In the 31 years of the Islamic Republic’s rule, no leader has spoken so openly about the mockery and insults faced by ethnic minorities. Khamenei seems to want to convey that the Islamic Republic respects minorities and opposes their humiliation. However, as I noted earlier, the issue extends beyond mere words. Unless the Islamic Republic creates the foundations for genuine citizenship rights, any condemnation of such behavior will remain superficial, failing to address the severe and ongoing violations of minorities' civil rights. For instance, it is rare to find governors or local officials in areas like Turkmen-populated regions, Sistan-Baluchistan, or Kurdistan who are natives of those regions. Such positions are typically filled by individuals appointed from the center.
Deutsche Welle: Criticism of the humiliation of ethnic groups has not only come from Ayatollah Khamenei but also from supporters of the Green Movement. The Kaleme website recently called for an end to such behavior on Iranian state radio and television, arguing that such practices foster alienation from one's identity and resentment toward Persians among ethnic and religious minorities. Two questions arise: What is your view on Kaleme’s statements, and why do you think this issue has been raised now by both Ayatollah Khamenei and the Green Movement?
Faroughi: Regarding your first question, the image of minorities presented in Iran—whether ethnic, religious, or cultural—is often unrealistic. Many intellectuals and luminaries from these minorities have contributed significantly to Iranian literature, science, and culture. A realistic image would recognize that these individuals are integral to the nation’s intellectual and cultural fabric, not second- or third-class citizens in need of sympathy or pity.
To build a healthy society in Iran, citizenship rights must transcend ethnic, linguistic, or religious distinctions. All citizens must enjoy equal rights regardless of their background.
As for your second question, the Green Movement’s attention to this issue is a very positive sign. The reason both Ayatollah Khamenei and the Green Movement are addressing it now is that they have recognized the sensitivity and importance of this matter. Iranian society is diverse—a mosaic of ethnic, cultural, linguistic, and religious groups. Any political project in Iran must engage all these groups to succeed.
Ayatollah Khamenei’s remarks aim to demonstrate that the Islamic Republic is not hostile to minorities. However, as I mentioned earlier, this hostility has been systematically exercised for 31 years, and its manifestations can be seen across the country. On the other hand, the Green Movement’s attention to this issue indicates its awareness that broad social reform in Iran is impossible without the inclusion and support of all its citizens.
Editorial Team: Mostafa Malekan
The link to the original article in Farsi on DW Persian:
منع تحقیر اقوام از حرف تا عمل