Alirza Quluncu, Voice of America, May 27, 2014
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| Firuz Saeidi |
According to Firuz Saeidi, Sunni Turks lack legal and economic security in Iranian society. In an interview with Voice of America, the Southern Azerbaijani researcher discussed the social lives of Sunni Turks, particularly the Kuresunni community in Iran's West Azerbaijan Province. He elaborated on the social, political, and economic pressures and discrimination faced by this community at the hands of both the authorities and society.
Citing international human rights organizations, Saeidi pointed out that the Kuresunni Turks experience both ethnic and religious discrimination in Iran due to their Sunni faith. The researcher also noted the absence of any official statistics on the population of the Kuresunni community in West Azerbaijan:
“There may be information on religious minorities within Iran’s political institutions, but such statistics are not publicly released. The Kuresunni community generally resides between Khoy and Salmas, in an area known as the Kuresunni district. However, we also refer to Sunni Turks living in Urmia and other cities of West Azerbaijan as Kuresunnis.”
Saeidi further argued that the term “Kuresunni” is often misunderstood by the local population. “Kuresunni Turks are Sunni Muslims, but the word ‘Kuresunni’ is not related to the term ‘Sunni.’ It is sometimes pronounced as ‘Kuresinli,’” he explained.
According to the Kuresunni researcher, the Islamic Republic of Iran does not allow Sunni Turks to celebrate their religious holidays freely. For instance, those who celebrate Eid al-Fitr on the same day as Sunni-majority countries like Turkey and Saudi Arabia face government pressure. In addition to state-imposed restrictions, Saeidi mentioned that Sunni Turks have also been subjected to insults from society. However, he noted that these insults have decreased in recent years as national consciousness has risen.
He explained, “Within West Azerbaijan’s population, there is often confusion between national (ethnic) identity and religious affiliation. Some people lack the ability to separate ethnicity from religion.”
“These insults were particularly visible during the mourning ceremonies of Muharram. They used to call us ‘Children of Omar.’ However, as national awareness has grown, the situation has improved. Now, many people understand that, regardless of our religious affiliation, we are all Turks, and this realization holds significant value,” he added.
Currently residing in Finland as an expatriate, the Southern Azerbaijani blogger addressed questions about the challenges and discrimination faced by the Kuresunni community in Iran’s judicial system. He referred to the case of Ahmad Jangali, a Kuresunni man executed for drug trafficking, claiming that the death sentence was issued by an “anti-Sunni” judge.
Saeidi also explained why Sunni Turks, despite facing injustices, are hesitant to connect with the media or international organizations. He argued that Kuresunnis have been compelled to adopt conservative behavior due to the social conditions they live in.
“A lack of trust rooted in history, as well as the societal environment, forces Sunni Turks to act this way. They try to coexist with Shia Turks, who share the same language and national identity, and Sunni Kurds, who share the same religious beliefs,” he concluded.
Link to the original interview in Turkish on the Azerbaijani section of Voice of America:
Firuz Səidi: Sünni türklərin İran toplumunda yüksəlmə şansı yoxdur