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| Mehdi Neimi |
Recent news about the establishment of a Turkish Language and Literature department at Tabriz University, along with a parliamentary representative’s request to President Rouhani for the teaching of Turkish in primary and secondary schools, has been considered a significant development in the demand for mother-tongue education in Iranian Azerbaijan.
In an interview with Voice of America, Turkish language teacher Mehdi Neimi shared his thoughts on these developments. He described the establishment of a Turkish language department at the university not as a major event but as "better than nothing." He believes that national activists should not settle for these steps or promises but must continue working towards their primary demands, particularly the recognition of Turkish as an official language and its use as a language of instruction in schools.
Mehdi Neimi downplayed the significance of this event, stating:
"In the first phase, they will accept 24 students, and in the second phase, 14 students. This is not a very big event. Perhaps it is better than nothing."
Neimi continued:
"The Turkish nation living in Iran has been demanding education in its mother tongue for years. They want to learn all subjects in Turkish while also studying other languages such as Persian, Arabic, and English. This is the main demand. However, neither the Pahlavi regime nor the Islamic Republic has given a positive response to this demand. Today, they are responding, but only by opening a single department at Tabriz University. This is good news because it is better than nothing, and it should be welcomed. But we should not just hear this news, rejoice, and then sit idly by."
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| "Let the Turkish language be official." |
Neimi, who has taught Turkish language classes organized by students at universities in Iranian Azerbaijan and other parts of the country, does not rule out the possibility that the Turkish language department could be a deception.
"The government might be using a deceptive strategy here. It is possible that this move is aimed at gaining votes in the upcoming presidential elections and that no further steps will be taken," he said.
Currently living in Turkey, the activist highlights that these steps and promises are mostly a response to increasing public demands. According to him, particularly with the widespread use of social media, people have become more united and stronger in their demands.
At the same time, he stresses the necessity of continuing the struggle for the primary goals rather than settling for these promises:
"Our main demand is for our language to be recognized as an official language and taught in all schools. Actions should be taken with this goal in mind. Iranian Azerbaijan and other Turkish regions should not settle for a small plan."
Mehdi Neimi also commented on the recent confrontation between Urmia’s parliamentary representative Nader Ghazipour and a reporter from Iran newspaper. According to news agencies, the dispute escalated into a confrontation after the reporter expressed opposition to the formation of a Turkish Faction in Iran’s parliament.
Link to the original interview in Turkish on the Azerbaijani section of Voice of America:
“Universitetdə türk dili bölümü heç nədən yaxşıdır.”