Voices of South Azerbaijan: Reaction to “Persian Lions’ Roar” in the Media of Iranian Azerbaijan

Reaction to “Persian Lions’ Roar” in the Media of Iranian Azerbaijan

Voice of America, January 13, 2015

The headline from the Fars news agency, "The Roar of the Persian Lions."

The labeling of the Iranian national football team as the “Persian Lions” in Tehran’s press has sparked a reaction from the media in various cities of Iranian Azerbaijan.

In particular, newspapers and websites in the cities of Urmia and Tabriz have criticized this description of the national football team, considering it as the “erasure of millions of non-Persian Iranians.”

In recent days, news agencies and newspapers in Iran have been referring to the Iranian national team, which is currently competing in the 2015 Asian Cup in Australia, by the nickname “Persian Lions.”

Internet newspapers managed by journalists from Urmia, including Durna News and Urmia News, have harshly criticized the use of the term “Persian Lions” by the state-funded media, pointing out that such reports “focus on the Persian ethnicity” when preparing news.

"Introducing the Iranian national team, which consists of players from various ethnic communities such as Turks, Persians, Kurds, and Lurs, with the term ‘Persian Lions’ not only ignores non-Persian Iranians but also serves the interests of those who seek to divide Iran's unity," the article on Durna News stated.

The Iranian football team’s slogans in past World Cups and Asian Cups include “Persian Stars” in the 2006 World Cup, “Persian Princes” in the 2011 Asian Cup, and “Pride of Persia” in the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Link to the original text in Turkish on the Azerbaijani section of Voice of America:
Güney mediasında “Fars Aslanlarının Kükrəyişi”nə təpki

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