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| Siyamek Mirzayi, Civil and Language Activist |
“The so-called legal gatherings in Iran are only those held by the government and serve the regime’s interests,” says Southern Azerbaijani activist Siyamek Mirzayi, criticizing the charge of “holding illegal gatherings” against Turkish language rights activists in Iranian Azerbaijan. In an interview with Voice of America, the activist from Southern Azerbaijan discussed the events that occurred in Tehran and Ardabil provinces on International Mother Language Day.
“Last year, many people who participated in Mother Language Day events were arrested and accused of attending illegal gatherings. This year, those who attempted to obtain permission to hold events, including Alireza Farshi, were detained,” said the activist from the Mughan region of Ardabil province.
“The Iranian constitution allows people to gather freely, provided it does not go against Islam. However, they find various excuses to prevent this,” Mirzayi remarked, adding that some articles in the Iranian constitution exist only for show.
“There are certain articles in the constitution that are merely written for appearances and are not implemented in practice. These provisions are included only to present to the international community,” he added.
Siyamek Mirzayi also shared his thoughts with Voice of America regarding the constitutional article on non-Persian languages:
“Article 15 mentions the issue of teaching in the mother tongue in a very limited way. From the activists’ perspective, that article is insufficient. Yet, despite more than 30 years having passed since the regime's establishment, no steps have been taken to implement that article.”
Mirzayi stated that in Iran’s Kurdistan and Khuzestan (Ahvaz) provinces, permission has been granted to hold Mother Language Day events. According to him, the lack of such permission for the Azerbaijani provinces is perceived by activists as an act of ignoring and demeaning Turks.
“We are pleased to see non-Persian ethnic groups in Iran being allowed to hold events in their mother tongue. However, the fact that this permission is not granted to us is perceived by activists as an act of ignoring and demeaning us,” he noted.
In Mirzayi’s view, “In Iran, the cultural sphere considered most powerful by the Persian system is that of the Turks, who live in Azerbaijan and other regions. They aim to destroy this strong sphere, to ban our mother tongue, and, by doing so, to eradicate our nation. If a nation’s mother tongue is lost, its identity is lost as well. They know this.”
Commenting on activities related to Mother Language Day in Ardabil province, the activist reported the persecution and threats faced by many activists from security forces, as well as the arrest of language rights activist Aydin Zakiri during those days.
Link to the original interview in Turkish on the Azerbaijani section of Voice of America:
Siyamək Mirzayi: İranda türk kültür hövzəsini məhv etmək istəyirlər