By Dr. Abdul Sattar Doshouki - February 21, 2015
Today, February 21, is International Mother Language Day, designated by the United Nations. There are numerous international treaties and charters to which the Iranian government is committed, obliging it to fully support and safeguard the linguistic and cultural heritage within the country. Article 15 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran explicitly states that the use of ethnic and local languages in the press and mass media, as well as the teaching of their literature in schools alongside Persian, is permitted.
In his third statement regarding the rights of ethnicities, religions, and sects, issued on June 9, 2013, Hassan Rouhani promised the official teaching of the mother tongues of Iranians at schools and universities and the full implementation of Article 15 of the Constitution. In the same statement, he pledged to strengthen the cultures and literatures of Iran's ethnic groups and prevent their decline (Clause 5) and to shift the security-focused view of ethnic groups and their cultures (Clause 8). These promises earned him overwhelming votes from ethnic regions such as Baluchistan, Turkmen Sahra, and Kurdistan.
Despite international treaties, constitutional provisions, and Rouhani’s electoral promises regarding the freedom of mother tongues alongside the country's official language, last week, the Press Supervisory Board rejected the requests of several Baluchi cultural activists and journalists operating within the framework of the Islamic Republic in Zahedan to publish three Baluchi-Persian periodicals named Umit, Verna, and Avaye Makran. The board opposed publishing in Baluchi and denied all requests from Baluchi activists in its February 10 meeting, preventing them from obtaining licenses. Meanwhile, the Sistani community has enjoyed multiple publications in the province for years, while the Baluchis have been deprived—illegally—of any media, newspapers, or periodicals, whether in Persian or Baluchi.
The Baluchi language ranks 97th among the world’s living languages. From a linguistic perspective, more than two-thirds of the world's countries have populations smaller than that of the Baluchis. However, in Iranian Baluchistan, teaching and publishing in Baluchi are prohibited, unlike in Pakistani and Afghan Baluchistan. This discriminatory policy against Iranian ethnic groups fosters hatred, exacerbates dangerous ethnic-cultural rifts, and creates strategic fault lines in Iranian "unity." The Islamic Republic regime, which considers itself a “chosen exception,” demonstrates no practical commitment to its own constitution and disregards its international treaty obligations. Moreover, Rouhani’s promises have proved hollow, as he neither could nor wanted to alter the security-focused view of mother tongues. This security-driven and chauvinistic approach has often been exploited to provoke mass sentiments under the guise of “national pride.”
While all Iranians recognize Persian as their shared language, in many unified yet multilingual countries like Switzerland, India, Belgium, and Spain, a single official language is not the defining factor of national identity and unity.
According to UNESCO, language is the most prominent cultural marker and collective identity of any ethnic group or nation. Teaching and learning in one’s mother tongue is not only a natural human right but also the most fundamental means of communication and interaction with the environment. The progress and development of individuals and societies are directly linked to their ability to acquire knowledge and education from cradle to grave. Unfortunately, Baluchi children, along with other ethnic minorities, face linguistic disadvantage compared to Persian speakers when starting primary education. They must learn a new mother tongue before mastering reading and writing. Even worse, they grapple with numerous deficiencies, including a lack of educational facilities, proper schools, qualified teachers, and financial resources. This imbalance and widespread discrimination create unequal competition and exacerbate compounded oppression.
Mother tongues are essential pillars of personal identity, and education in one’s mother tongue is a highly effective method for combating discrimination and ensuring societal well-being. Many education experts believe that mandatory education in a language other than one’s mother tongue is a primary cause of educational decline and school dropouts from the very beginning. Unfortunately, a culture of discrimination and denigration, particularly among Persian-speaking centrists, is deeply ingrained in Iran. Influenced by internal and external propaganda, such as “Art belongs solely to Iranians!” and “Persian is sweet like sugar,” many fail to grasp the simple truth that everyone's mother tongue is “sweet” to them; this sweetness is not exclusive to Persian. Consequently, we must value and protect all Iranian languages.
Dr. Abdolsattar Doshouki
Director, Center for Baluchistan Studies (London)
Saturday, February 21, 2015
The link to the original article in Farsi:
روز جهانی زبان مادری: فارسی را پاس بداریم بقیه زبانها را زاپاس