By Taher Shir Mohammadi - Deutsche Welle Persian - February 21, 2012
Turkish, Turkmen, Arabic, Baluchi, and Kurdish are among the mother tongues spoken by Iranian citizens. However, teaching these languages in Iranian schools is not permitted. What solutions do experts propose for this issue?
The Global Recognition of International Mother Language Day
The recognition of February 21 as International Mother Language Day is owed to the struggle of the Bangladeshi people to defend their mother tongue. In 1954, the leaders of West Pakistan prohibited the people of Bangladesh from reading, writing, and studying in their mother tongue. The Bangladeshi protests to preserve their identity and mother tongue lasted seven years, eventually leading to the country's independence from Pakistan.
In 1999, the United Nations designated February 21 as International Mother Language Day. On this occasion, many activists from ethnic groups in Iran also collect petitions, hold conferences, and deliver speeches to draw the attention of their fellow Iranians to this significant issue affecting a large segment of Iranian society.
Iranians Observing International Mother Language Day?
Shiva Farahmandrad, a civil activist, told Deutsche Welle:
"This year in Sweden, a ceremony including speeches and poetry readings will be held in honor of Mother Language Day, with the support of ABF, the Workers' Educational Association affiliated with Sweden's Social Democratic Party."
Mr. Farahmandrad added,
"Personally, I do not support collecting signatures or influencing people through this method, as we have not achieved any results from signature campaigns so far. However, I do support holding lectures and speeches."
The State of Mother Tongues in Iran
Has collecting signatures or organizing events in honor of International Mother Language Day yielded any tangible outcomes?
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| Yousef Azizi Bani-Torof: The Issue of Linguistic Diversity Has Been Resolved in Many Countries |
Yousef Azizi Bani-Torof, Secretary of the "Association to Combat Racism in Iran" and a member of the Iranian Writers' Association, responded to this question:
"Writing such letters and taking these actions have had some influence on a portion of our Persian compatriots who are political, civil, or cultural activists. Over the years, we have seen more Persian activists showing solidarity with the language issues of non-Persian nations in the country. However, this influence on the Iranian government remains negligible, and we lack an accurate assessment of its impact."
Mr. Bani-Torof believes that despite its religious facade, the Iranian government, driven by a nationalist perspective, prevents ethnic groups in Iran from realizing their right to be educated in their mother tongue in elementary and secondary schools.
UNESCO's Awareness of Mother Tongue Issues in Iran
Dr. Sedigheh Adalati, an Azerbaijani-Iranian sociologist based in Hamburg, stated:
"In the past decade, numerous letters have been sent to international organizations, including UNESCO, which is now aware of these issues in Iran."
Ms. Adalati believes that the actions of ethnic elites on the occasion of International Mother Language Day have been effective in raising public awareness. She noted that various aspects of the challenges faced by mother tongues in Iran are examined in conferences and speeches held annually on this topic.
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| Sedigheh Adalati: The Right to Education in One's Mother Tongue Is a Fundamental Human Right |
Mother Tongues in Iran: Opportunity or Threat?
Some activists affiliated with ethnic groups in Iran criticize the government's view of mother tongues as a political issue, perceiving these languages as a threat. They argue that sufficient enlightenment has not been achieved in this area.
Dr. Sedigheh Adalati, commenting on this matter, said that this view is reflective of certain Persian intellectuals and elites, whose attitudes towards the importance of the country's mother tongues have yet to change.
Ms. Adalati, who signed a "Call for the Recognition of International Mother Language Day," explained her motivation to Deutsche Welle:
"I signed this call in the hope that one day such actions will lead to results and eventually make a difference."
How Can the Issue of Mother Tongues in Iran Be Resolved?
Yousef Azizi Bani-Torof elaborated on solving the mother tongue issue in Iran:
"This is not an insurmountable problem. In most countries around the world—whether Western, Asian, or African—this issue has been resolved. It is possible to teach mother tongues alongside the national language, which in Iran's case is Persian, starting from elementary school."
Mr. Bani-Torof cited examples such as Afghanistan, Iraq, Switzerland, Canada, and India. Similarly, Mr. Farahmandrad advocated for permitting education in mother tongues as the proper solution to this problem.
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| Students at Sahand University of Tabriz Gathered for Mother Tongue Education |
Interviewees from Deutsche Welle, emphasizing Iran's ethnic, linguistic, and religious diversity, defended the idea that speaking and learning in minority languages are not threats but treasures of cultural heritage. They warned that losing these languages would cause irreparable harm to the shared coexistence of Iranian citizens. According to them, the solution lies in recognizing the right to mother tongue education in schools.
Editorial Team: Jamshid Faroughi
The link to the original article in Farsi on Deutsche Welle Persian:
زبانهای مادری در ایران، فرصت یا تهدید؟