Voices of South Azerbaijan: Azerbaijani Turkish Language Courses Shut Down in Karaj, Iran

Azerbaijani Turkish Language Courses Shut Down in Karaj, Iran

Voice of America, January 27, 2016

Authorities in Karaj, the capital of Iran's Alborz Province, home to a significant Azerbaijani Turkish population, have reportedly shut down a Turkish language course organized by cultural activists and volunteers.

The news was shared by websites citing Hasan Rashidi, a volunteer teacher for the course.

According to the reports, the courses had been operating since October 29 of the previous year at the Provincial Cultural House in the Ferdows district of Karaj, with the necessary permits obtained from relevant government institutions.

Hasan Rashidi, a well-known writer and Turkish language instructor, took to social media to express his frustration, stating, "Alongside Persian language and music classes, and other courses, this class was attended not only by Turkish citizens but also by several interested Persian citizens."

Rashidi questioned the reasoning behind the closure, asking, "In this class, which was held under the supervision of the Guidance Patrol, what were we teaching other than the rules and grammar of our language that they shut it down with only four sessions left? Is the Turkish language really that frightening?"

Link to the original text in Turkish on the Azerbaijani section of Voice of America:
İranın Kərəc şəhərində Azərbaycan türkcəsində dil kursları qapadılıb

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