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| Ibrahim Ramazani |
According to researcher and sociologist Ibrahim Ramazani, “the defining factor in Iranian Azerbaijan is no longer Shi’ism, but the Turkish language. Politicians operating in the region also see this and speak accordingly.”
In an interview with Voice of America, Ramazani commented on the “anti-Turk” policies of both the Iranian government and opposition groups. He believes that by supporting repression against Turks, opposition groups effectively legitimize all the actions of the Iranian government.
Ibrahim Ramazani points out that Turks in Iran are only allowed to rise in state institutions if they present themselves as “Azeri, Iranian, and Shi’a”:
“If a Turk has taken a position in the government in Iran, it has not been as a Turk. Someone who has held power or advanced economically has done so by identifying as Azeri, Iranian, and Shi’a. A Turk who has remained a Turk has been ignored, marginalized, and unable to achieve significant positions.”
He added, “Claims such as ‘Turks are in power’ or ‘the bazaar is controlled by Turks’ are fabrications created to keep Turks complacent. The narrative suggests: you and we are partners. But partners in what? We share the Persian language, the geography of Iran, and the martyrs from the Iran-Iraq war. Beyond these, there is no common ground. For 40 years, the Iranian government has used Shi’ism to create a sense of ‘us’ between Turks and Persians, and they have often succeeded.”
In recent weeks, factions close to the Iranian government, as well as some opposition groups, have called for strict measures against Turkish activists and Tractor football club supporters.
Ibrahim Ramazani argues that the opposition acting in alignment with the government on such matters ultimately benefits the regime:
“When it comes to the Turkish issue, both the Iranian government and opposition groups have acted in the same way against Turks. The important question is: who benefits from this? If the opposition echoes the same rhetoric as the government, the beneficiary is the regime. Whether knowingly or unknowingly, the opposition plays into the government’s hands. When the government acts against Turks, it can point to the opposition’s agreement to justify its actions. In this way, everything the government does becomes legitimized,” he explained.
Ramazani also commented on the slogans in support of Turkey chanted by Tractor football club fans in Tabriz Stadium on November 1. The events in Tabriz Stadium remained a topic of discussion in Iranian media and political circles for weeks.
“In the past, there had been some level of support for Turkey by Turks and Tractor fans in Iran, but not on this scale. This was not a spontaneous outburst. Those people are now defending their future and their identity. They know who they are. Many believe that if we are to have a bright future, Turkey will play a significant role in it,” he said.
Ibrahim Ramazani added that “the defining factor in Azerbaijan and Turkish regions is now Turkish identity and Turkish groups. In Azerbaijan, the defining factor is no longer Shi’ism, but the Turkish language. Even the region’s parliamentary representatives recognize this.”
Link to the original interview in Turkish on the Azerbaijani section of Voice of America:
İbrahim Ramazani: İran Azərbaycanında müəyyənedici ünsür artıq şiəçilik deyil, türk dilidir