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Yasir Ranjbari, a student activist from Urmia University speaks to Voice of America |
Yasir Ranjbari, the director of the Turkish-Persian student magazine "Deniz," which was recently shut down by the University of Urmia's Publications Monitoring Committee, explained the accusations that led to the magazine's closure in an interview with Voice of America. Ranjbari also provided information about the activities of Turkish students, student associations, and the Turkish-Persian magazines published at universities in Iranian Azerbaijan and other regions of the country.
The Publications Monitoring Committee announced that the decision to shut down "Deniz" magazine was made because it had committed "errors such as raising ethnic issues and harming national unity," and had used the Latin alphabet in its 14th issue.
Ranjbari also stated that university authorities had previously issued warnings about "publishing a picture of Atatürk on the magazine's cover," "disseminating writings about Seyid Jafar Pishevari," and "protecting the interests of foreign powers" in the magazine.
"The foreign powers they are referring to are Turkey and the Republic of Azerbaijan," the student activist notes.
He further emphasizes that the accusations against the magazine are unfounded and that the magazine was actually shut down due to the intervention of external entities instructing the university committee in charge of publications.
"Many of the accusations directed at 'Deniz' magazine are unfounded. For example, there is no ban on using the Latin alphabet in Iran's publication regulations... The closure of the magazine occurred because external and unrelated entities directed the university's committee overseeing publications," he says.
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| Deniz Magazine |
The Turkish activist also highlights that President Hassan Rouhani had promised during his election campaign that security oversight in universities would be reduced, but this promise has not been fulfilled.
In addition to Urmia, Yasir Ranjbari provided information about the magazines published by Turkish students, the associations they have established, and Turkish language courses at universities in cities such as Tabriz, Ardabil, Zanjan, Hamadan, Maragheh, and Qazvin.
He also drew attention to the difficulties faced by students running these associations and magazines, particularly at Urmia University, and the pressure they are subjected to.
"Activist Turkish students are threatened by the university's security forces. While student groups aligned with the state are given all kinds of opportunities, Turkish students working for the legitimate and natural rights of the Azerbaijani people are faced with threats of expulsion from the university," the student from Urmia University adds.