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| Alirza Ardabili |
Alireza Ardabili rejects the existence of any group or movement representing Pan-Turkist ideology in Iran. In an interview with Voice of America, the well-known writer, journalist, and political activist stated that the term, frequently used in the rulings of Iran’s Revolutionary Courts against South Azerbaijani national activists, is not applied to those seeking to establish a Turan state but rather to individuals striving to preserve their national identity.
The South Azerbaijani writer pointed out that national activists are facing Pan-Turkist accusations more than ever, emphasizing that such accusations change depending on the political climate of the time:
"There was a time when those engaged in the national cause in Azerbaijan were labeled as Communists or Pishavari supporters. As political conditions evolve, pro-Iranian groups update their accusations against national activists accordingly."
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| The Gathering of Turkish Student Activists from Azerbaijan in Tehran Universities |
According to Alireza Ardabili, it is incorrect to classify the interactions and cultural exchanges of Azerbaijani writers, poets, and national-cultural activists with other Turkic nations as Pan-Turkism:
"In today's world, this is normal—globalization brings nations closer together. It’s not just among Turks; Persians and Kurds also experience the same phenomenon. Turks living in different countries influence each other and incorporate new words into their languages. Calling this Pan-Turkism is not accurate."
"South Azerbaijani activists emphasize their Turkic identity because that identity is currently under the most pressure and attack. This is a logical reaction. In Saudi Arabia, women are forbidden from driving, so it is natural that women there place a high priority on their right to drive," he added.
The spokesperson for the South Azerbaijan National Democratic Union also shared his thoughts with Voice of America regarding the upcoming Kurdish National Congress, scheduled to take place on August 24 in Erbil, Iraq, with the participation of Kurdish organizations from Iraq, Iran, Turkey, and Syria. He also discussed international media programs aimed at Persian-speaking communities, including Persians from Iran, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan.
South Azerbaijani lawyers argue that the Pan-Turkism charges frequently brought against national activists by Iranian courts are not defined in the country’s criminal code.
Amnesty International, in its statements regarding Iranian Azerbaijan, has described the Pan-Turkism accusations as "vaguely worded" charges.
Link to the original interview in Turkish on the Azerbaijani section of Voice of America:
Əlirza Ərdəbilli: Güney hərəkatı pantürkizm yox, türkçülük üzərində qurulub