Abdul Sattar Doshouki, Center for Balochistan Studies — London - February 21, 2022
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| Abdul Sattar Doshouki |
February 21, 2022 marks International Mother Language Day. Today, I watched portions of the UNESCO conference live on the importance of mother languages. United Nations officials and experts from various countries spoke on this year’s theme, which focused on the challenges and opportunities of employing modern technology in multilingual education.
While all experts agree on the right to education in one’s mother tongue, unfortunately, the Islamic Republic not only denies this right but views it as a security threat and a challenge. Sadly, some compatriots align themselves with the Islamic Republic’s discriminatory policies by justifying its exclusionary measures on this important day under titles such as “Iran-centric” and similar ideas, effectively supporting the policies of the Islamic Republic and rejecting international mechanisms. In fact, they become even more extreme advocates for the regime's exclusionary policies.
Interestingly, even last year on this same day, Iran's official news agency (IRNA) wrote:
"The mother language tells us that we cannot confine cultural expanses within political boundaries, nor can territories be enclosed by words. Therefore, the loss of the mother language will signify the destruction of a culture. In many traditions, in history, literature, and mythology, the mother is synonymous with territory, a symbolic mother whose child's development depends upon her. The motherland, mother language, and ancestral patterns of motherhood have historically shaped much of personal identity. This idea, which dates back to the matriarchal era more than 8,000 years ago, remains one of the most important cultural cornerstones of diverse civilizations, even if political borders have tried to disrupt it."
Unfortunately, in Iran, a single voice and monolingual policies suppress the rightful demand to learn and teach one’s mother tongue alongside Persian, the official language of the country. This demand is labeled as “the agenda of the enemy exploiting ethnic fault lines and seeking Iran’s disintegration” with a security-driven and repressive approach. Some “concerned” compatriots fail to grasp this simple truth: one’s mother tongue is their joy, and this joy is not reserved solely for Persian speakers.
Teaching and learning one’s mother tongue is not only a natural and undeniable human right but also the most fundamental tool for communication and interaction with the environment. Education, knowledge acquisition, and intellectual progress depend entirely on a person’s ability to learn and engage in their own language from cradle to grave.
Unfortunately, children from Baloch and other minority groups face systemic inequities. They begin their education not only at a disadvantage linguistically compared to Persian-speaking children but, before even learning reading and writing, must learn a new language, Persian. Moreover, they face additional challenges such as a lack of proper educational facilities, qualified teachers, financial resources, and access to quality schools. This systemic inequity and discrimination lead to unequal competition, compounded suffering, social dissatisfaction, and the fragmentation of national identity.
Most children of Persian-speaking families in Tehran, Mashhad, Kerman, Shiraz, Isfahan, Yazd, and other major cities benefit from superior educational facilities and begin their education in their mother tongues with minimal challenges. However, children in Balochistan and other ethnic regions face the dual burden of learning both the Persian language and basic literacy, such as reading and writing.
According to Article 15 of Iran's Constitution, "The official and common language of the Iranian people is Persian. Official documents and textbooks must be in Persian; however, the use of local and ethnic languages in the press, media, and for teaching their literature in schools is allowed alongside Persian."
I remain puzzled as to why the Islamic Republic and its extrajudicial agents oppose international agreements while simultaneously opposing their own Constitution.
The link to the original article in Farsi from here:
دشمنی جمهوری اسلامی و عوامل آن با روز جهانی زبان مادری/عبدالستار دوشوکی