Hamid Melikoglu, Voice of America, October 12, 2024
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| Tabriz Businessman Mohammad Reza Zonouzi |
Recently, there has been widespread discussion on social media about the Turkish language being used to welcome passengers on ATA Airlines flights, with claims that this is against the country’s official language policy. In response, Mohammad Reza Zonouzi, the owner of Tractor Club and ATA Airlines, commented on this issue.
According to Iranian media reports, Zonouzi confirmed that on ATA flights departing from and arriving in Tabriz, passengers are greeted in Turkish alongside Persian and English. In response to criticisms of this practice, he said, “Someone wrote on social media and in some media outlets that separatism has started with ATA. Why are you labeling people like this and causing them distress?”
Zonouzi addressed the backlash against the use of Turkish at the airport and asked, “Can’t we speak Turkish in our own city?” He emphasized that those who view this move as separatism are mistaken, adding, “Iran is shaped by various ethnic groups. We are not separatists. On the contrary, by making such claims, you are enabling the exploitation of some people.”
The debate started when a user on X (formerly Twitter) shared a post labeling the use of Turkish on ATA flights as separatism. The post stated that passengers have been welcomed in Azerbaijani Turkish for the past two weeks. However, Zonouzi firmly rejected these accusations and responded harshly, saying, “Separatism is your father.”
The owner of ATA Airlines also criticized the national media and the Iranian Football Federation. He claimed that there is discrimination against his team, Tractor Club. Zonouzi had previously criticized the failure to broadcast Tractor's matches live on national television and the unjust decisions made by the Football Federation.
Mohammad Reza Zonouzi, the owner of Tractor Club, accused the Iranian Football Federation and media organizations of discrimination against his team. “Why don’t you accept that a city’s team [Tractor] is currently the most popular team in Iran? Why are you trying to oppose this reality? Instead of doing this, join us and make use of this potential. I don’t know why you are doing this, but I’m sure you don’t have a logical reason,” he said.
The Azerbaijani businessman, who is originally from Tabriz, also criticized the approach taken by the football federation and the media towards his team, stating, “From the federation to the radio, television, and other media outlets, they have all the resources, whereas we do not. No matter how much we spend and how many quality players we recruit, they still undermine our team.”
He further suggested that experts on official radio and television shows “give opinions in a pre-determined manner,” adding, “We spend money, and these gentlemen produce the results they want.”
Zonouzi, an Azerbaijani businessman with several companies, expressed his serious dissatisfaction with how Tractor Club is treated by the country's official and unofficial media, as well as by the football federation, accusing these institutions of not giving the club the recognition it deserves.
Link to the original text in Turkish on the Azerbaijani section of Voice of America:
Traktor klubunun sahibi: Öz şəhərimizdə öz dilimizdə danışa bilmirik?