Alirza Quluncu, Voice of America, November 8, 2015
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| “Fitile” program |
Reactions Widen in Azerbaijan Provinces
Reactions to the insult of Turks on the state television’s children's program "Fitile," aired on November 6, continue to expand and intensify, despite an apology issued by Iranian television officials.
This has been reported in detail by official Iranian news agencies and internet newspapers circulating in the Azerbaijan provinces.
On Friday, November 6, a television comedy aired on the second channel of Iranian TV depicted a Turkish child who didn't know the difference between a toothbrush and a toilet brush, and brushed his teeth with the toilet brush, resulting in a foul smell in his mouth. Although the comedy was in Persian, some segments included dialogues in Turkish.
After the broadcast, protests in the Azerbaijan provinces grew sharply. As a result, politicians and members of parliament protested to the Iranian state television, demanding an apology from the officials.
In this regard, the governor of East Azerbaijan, as well as members of parliament from the cities of Tabriz, Urmia, Ardabil, Khalkhal, Sereskand (Hashtrood), and Marand, along with members of various city councils in Azerbaijan and other prominent figures, issued separate statements and protest declarations.
Following strong reactions from the public, cultural activists, prominent artists, football players, and members of parliament, the public relations office of Iran’s state television announced the suspension of the "Fitile" program. However, protests and reactions have continued to grow and persist.
Tabriz MP Mohammad Ismail Saidi, in an interview with local media, stated that the insult of Turks on Iranian television was intentional.
Southern users of social media argue that the apology from Iranian television officials was insincere, pointing out that in their statement, instead of using "Turk," they used the term "Azari," continuing the insult. Southern activists emphasize that the airing of such programs is part of a systematic policy of racism against Turks in Iran.
Link to the original text in Turkish on the Azerbaijani section of Voice of America:
İran televiziyasında türklərin aşağılanmasına geniş etiraz var