Sevil Suleymani stated that, in the context of the religious laws existing in Iran, women from all ethnic groups are exposed to the economic and social impacts of these laws.
She further explained that, as an ethnic Turkish minority, Azerbaijani women face additional pressures, including the denial of the right to receive education in their mother tongue. "So, Azerbaijani women are always under pressure psychologically from women of other ethnic groups, especially from Persian women. They can never see themselves as equal to Persian women, not only in terms of legal rights but even in terms of citizenship."
Sevil Suleymani discussed the impact of the lack of the right to receive education in their mother tongue on women’s educational opportunities.
"Because Azerbaijani women cannot study in their mother tongue when they go to school, they fall behind Persian women. They carry this psychological burden with them for years, and they carry it with them throughout their education."
Sevil Suleymani explained the consequences of Azerbaijani women’s inability to receive education in their mother tongue using the case of Sakineh Ashtiani.
"Sakineh Ashtiani had been sentenced to stoning. She goes to court, and when the sentence is read to her, she doesn’t understand it because she doesn’t speak the language. She thinks she has been acquitted and that she has been given a good judgment. So, for Azerbaijani women, the language issue always stays with them when it comes to education."
Link to the original interview in Turkish on the Azerbaijani section of Voice of America:
Sevil Süleymani: Ana dili güneyli qadınların əsas məsələsidir