Akbar Pashayi Reports on Arrests During International Mother Language Day

Alirza Quluncu, Voice of America, February 21, 2014

Akbar Pashayi spoke to Voice of America regarding the wave of arrests that took place in South Azerbaijan around International Mother Language Day. The activist, based in Southern Azerbaijan, reported that over 100 activists were detained during a ceremony held on February 20 in the city of Ahar.

“This year, activists from various cities in Azerbaijan gathered in Ahar to mark International Mother Language Day. The meeting was held at the home of Ahar resident Akbar Abolzadeh. According to eyewitnesses, before the ceremony concluded, security forces entered the home to detain the host. However, since they failed to present a court order, a conflict arose between the officers and the activists,” said Pashayi.

He noted that officers arrived at the scene in approximately 20 police vehicles and detained all participants. Some of those arrested were released a few hours later.

“The detainees were taken to Police Stations 11 and 12 in Ahar. Several prominent activists, including Abbas Lisani, Ibrahim Savalan, Ruzbeh Saadati, Mohammad Rahmanifar, Vahid Faizpur (Kiyaksar), Meysam Azadi, and Asgar Akbarzadeh, may currently be under the control of security forces,” Pashayi added.

Akbar Pashayi 

Pashayi emphasized that the individuals he named are well-known writers, Turkish language teachers, and cultural activists who have faced previous arrests and persecution. Among the detainees, writer and Turkish language teacher Ruzbeh Saadati had recently given an interview to Voice of America.

According to reports from Azerbaijani websites, other arrests linked to International Mother Language Day ceremonies took place in recent days in other cities. Activists Said Husseini and Nasir Abdulhusseinzadeh were detained in the Mughan region of Ardabil province, while Sajad Afruzian and Karim Fayazi were arrested in Malikandi (Malekan) in East Azerbaijan province.

This wave of arrests is reportedly the most extensive related to International Mother Language Day ceremonies since February 2007.

In a report published on March 9, 2007, Amnesty International noted that during protests related to International Mother Language Day that year, approximately 50 people were arrested in Urmia, 25 in Sulduz, 20 in Ardabil, 25 in Zanjan, and many others in Oshnavieh (Qoshachay).

Activists view these arrests as evidence of insincerity on the part of the Hassan Rouhani government, which had made promises regarding the right to education in one’s mother tongue. Akbar Pashayi also shared his thoughts on this issue with Voice of America. According to him, Rouhani’s pledges about language rights were merely a ploy to present a positive image of Iran to the international community.

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Link to the original interview in Turkish on the Azerbaijani section of Voice of America:
Əkbər Paşayi Ana Dili Günündə həbs dalğasını şərh edir