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| Musa Barzin |
According to Musa Berzin, the fact that non-Persian members of parliament in Iran demand their cultural rights through a religious approach highlights both the deficiencies in Iranian laws and the lack of legal supremacy in the country. In an interview with Voice of America, the Tabriz-born lawyer discussed the legal barriers faced by non-Persian communities regarding their language and culture in Iran.
Musa Berzin considers the rejection of the name "Ana" (Mother) for a bridge in Zanjan—despite its compliance with Iranian laws—as a violation of human rights.
Recently, in a survey regarding the naming of a newly built bridge in the Gulshahr neighborhood of Zanjan, the name "Ana" was the most favored. However, the spokesperson of the City Council stated that the name could not be used because it was in Turkish, claiming it was against the law.
Regarding this incident, lawyer Musa Berzin points to a legal provision issued by the "Supreme Council of Cultural Revolution," which mandates that names of public spaces and crossings must be in Persian.
He states:
"From a legal standpoint, one could argue that this is correct because the law states that names must be in Persian. However, on the other hand, the Iranian constitution claims that all nations are equal and have equal rights. Here, we see a contradiction between the constitution and the law."
Musa Berzin emphasizes that, in general, the rights of non-Persian communities are not secured under Iranian law:
"The Iranian constitution does not clearly state that non-Persian nations have the right to use their own culture and traditions. As a result, millions of people’s cultural rights are violated through legal means. The name ‘Ana’ was not allowed for this bridge. Whether it was prevented through legal or illegal means, the outcome is still a violation of human rights."
He further adds:
"My assessment is that Iranian laws themselves are a major obstacle for non-Persian nations... These laws are truly a stain on justice. The problems of non-Persian nations cannot be solved within the framework of Iranian laws."
After the rejection of the name "Ana," Iranian news agencies reported that the bridge in Zanjan was named "Imam Hasan Mujtaba."
A Twitter user commented on the new name:
"By naming the bridge after Imam Hasan, they are, as in the past, trying to portray those who want names in their mother tongue as people opposed to religious beliefs."
However, some members of parliament from various cities in Iranian Azerbaijan also bring up cultural demands for Turks alongside Shiite religious symbols. They present the Azerbaijani population as protectors of Shiism and appeal to the Supreme Leader, requesting permission for Turkish language education.
Musa Berzin asserts that this approach will not have a long-term impact:
"This shows us two things. Either there is a deficiency in the law, which is why these MPs try to make their case through religious means, or it shows that there is no legal supremacy in Iran. If legal provisions existed, there would be no need to appeal to imams or the Ahl al-Bayt. It seems even members of parliament in Iran do not believe in the law."
"As someone who has studied law, I believe that rights should be demanded through legal and judicial means. I do not consider appealing to religious figures or the Ahl al-Bayt to be the right approach. I do not believe in such methods. These methods may work in some regions for the short term, but they are not a long-term solution to the issue," he concluded.
Link to the original interview in Turkish on the Azerbaijani section of Voice of America:
Musa Bərzin: İranda qanunlar qeyri-farsların mədəniyyətinə maneədir