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| Historical bazaar |
In the city of Khoy, located in Iran's West Azerbaijan province, the Municipality and Cultural Heritage Department have installed new signs in the historic bazaar. The names of dozens of historical sections of the bazaar have been translated into Persian, changing their original and ancient Turkish names. Names such as "Farshchi Bazaar," "Miskar Bazaar," "Panjerechi Bazaar," "Rasta Bazaar," and "Doshabchi" have been replaced with Persian names.
Last year, the Cultural Heritage Department of Khoy similarly changed the name of the historic Qala Qapısı (Fortress Gate), which dates back to the Ilkhanid period, replacing it with a Persian name, "Darvaze Sangi" (meaning "Stone Gate").
The historical bazaar of Khoy, built during the Safavid dynasty, was once Iran's second-largest covered bazaar. Being located on the Silk Road, it was considered one of the most important trade centers of its time. Though it was later destroyed, it was rebuilt during the Qajar dynasty under Abbas Mirza.National and cultural activists in Iranian Azerbaijan are protesting the erasure of the names of natural and historical sites by the government and their replacement with Persian names, demanding the return of ancient Turkish names.
In 2015, by decision of the Urmia City Council, signs displaying the Persianized names of streets and neighborhoods were removed, and signs with the original Turkish names were reinstated. This decision was welcomed by cultural and national activists, as well as the public.
Last year, despite protests from citizens, the Cultural Heritage Department of Tikantape (Tekab) in Iranian Azerbaijan replaced the names of the Istisu Spring and the Movable Chomli Lake tourist sites with Persian names. Similarly, the Municipality and Cultural Heritage Department of Ardabil reportedly changed the Turkish names of several sections of the historic Ardabil Bazaar, including "Demirchi Bazaar," "Qizilchi Bazaar," "Bashmaqchi Bazaar," etc., in April of the previous year.
Cultural activists in Iranian Azerbaijan argue that the changing of Turkish names of historical and geographical sites is part of a policy of distorting the identities of cities and assimilation.
Link to the original text in Turkish on the Azerbaijani section of Voice of America:
İran Azərbaycanının Xoy şəhər bazarlarının türk adları dəyişdirilib