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| President Khatami |
The following letter, written on May 5, 1998, was sent to President Khatami of the Islamic Republic of Iran and signed by 54 Azerbaijani intellectuals residing in Iran, in defence of the Turki language. It is estimated that 25 to 30 million Turks live in Iran, comprising nearly half of the country’s population and at least three times the population of the Republic of Azerbaijan. In Iran, the language is commonly referred to as "Turki" by ordinary people and the general population. However, in elite Azerbaijani-Turkish intellectual writings, it is also called "Azerbaijani-Turkish" to emphasize the region's Azerbaijani identity and geographical significance.
Your Excellency,
Azerbaijani-Turki-speaking Muslims and compatriots makeup nearly half of Iran's population. They have courageously participated in pivotal moments in the nation's history, such as the Constitutional Revolution (1905), the Islamic Revolution (1979), and the Iran-Iraq War (1980–1988). Like other Iranians, their youth have shed their blood to protect the independence and honor of this country.
The Turki language and its literature are integral parts of Iran's cultural heritage and deserve the same protection and preservation as any other cultural asset. Like Persian, Turki extends beyond Iran's borders, spoken and written in various regions around the world.
As is well known, Islam spread globally through three major languages—Arabic, Persian, and Turkish—making Turkish one of the languages of Islam. The Azerbaijani-Turki spoken by the majority of Turk Iranians is essentially the same as the Azerbaijani Turkish used in the Republic of Azerbaijan. Historically, these lands were part of Iran until the Gajar period when, due to the unjust Golestan and Turkmenchai treaties (1813 and 1828), Northern Azerbaijan became part of the Russian Empire.
All Azerbaijanis view Persian as a cultural bridge, connecting them to other Iranians. Throughout history, Azerbaijanis have produced numerous literary masterpieces in Persian, with an identifiable Azerbaijani style in Persian literature.
However, a remnant of the Pahlavi era is the cultural prejudice against the Turki language. This bias has led to official indifference toward one of the country's key cultural elements. Outside Iran's borders, thousands of books are published in the Azerbaijani Turkish language, yet in Iran, the language is not taught in a single educational institution. For instance, at the University of Tabriz, students can study degrees in Persian, Arabic, English, French, German, Russian, Kurdish, and even Esperanto, but not a single course is offered in the native language of the people of Tabriz.
In contrast, other religious minorities, such as the Armenian community, have Armenian language and literature programs at universities in Isfahan and Tehran, and their children are permitted to study in Armenian schools in their own language.
Furthermore, public discourse, media (radio, television, press), commercial signage, wedding and funeral announcements, and even gravestones are all in a language other than our mother tongue. When something is occasionally presented in Turki on local radio or television, it is often incomprehensible due to the lack of language proficiency of the producers, who, though well-meaning, are not specialists in Turki.
As a result, these programs are more of an embarrassment than a service, as they distort the grammar of our language. In short, our language is spoken more correctly on foreign radio stations than on our own. Iran is, in fact, the only country in the world where the mother tongue of millions of people is neglected.
Some argue that Azerbaijanis themselves are indifferent to their language, with some even teaching their children exclusively in Persian. While this may be true for a few, it mirrors how some Persians encourage their children to prioritize English. Nevertheless, the majority of Azerbaijanis, along with their intellectuals and clergy, passionately support the preservation of the Turki language. Across Azerbaijan and other Turk regions of Iran, clergy often address their congregations and lead prayers in Turki. Turki is one of the oldest languages in the world, with deep roots in Iran.
In conclusion, we apologize for the length of this letter but ask our honorable brother to consider our concerns. We request your authority to eliminate the unfair and non-Islamic cultural discrimination and to pursue justice on this issue. Ignoring our language and literature violates Article 15 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which addresses ethnic languages. We trust that, with your support, the following legitimate requests will be addressed:
The official endorsement of a compulsory educational program for the Turki language in all schools and high schools in regions with a Turki-speaking population. This program should run parallel to Persian language instruction.
The production and airing of radio and television programs in Turki, produced by language specialists, alongside Persian language programs.
The establishment of departments for Turki Language and Literature in universities.
The encouragement of children's literature in Turki, supported by the Center for the Development of Children and Youth.
Respectfully,
Signed by 54 leading Azerbaijani intellectuals in Iran, including:
Dr. Mohammad Taghi Zehtabi
Dr. Javad Heyat (1)
Dr. Gadi Golkariyan
Professor Hamid Mohammadzadeh
Karim Mashrootehchi
Manoochehr Azizi
Behzad Behzadi (2)
Mohammad Farzaneh
Samad Sardarinia
Nooshin R. Moosavi
(1) Dr. Javad Heyat is a surgeon and editor of the "Varlig" journal, which has been published in Turki (Arabic script) for nearly 20 years, focusing on Azerbaijani-related topics.
(2) Dr. Behzad Behzadi is an attorney and the compiler and editor of the first extensive Azerbaijani-Persian dictionary (Arabic script), 1,144 pages, Tehran, 1990.
Source: https://www.azer.com/aiweb/categories/magazine/64_folder/64_articles/64_readersforum.html