Taher ShirMohammadi - Deutsche Welle Persian - February 21, 2017
 |
| A poster created by Turkish civil rights activists from South Azerbaijan on the occasion of International Mother Language Day. |
According to this esteemed international organization, students should receive education in their mother tongue as well as other languages. UNESCO views the mother tongue as a gateway for the transmission of cultures, values, and knowledge. The organization designated February 21st as International Mother Language Day in 1999 during the UNESCO General Conference, with the goal of promoting linguistic and cultural diversity.
Linguistic Diversity in Iran
The Islamic Republic of Iran recognizes UNESCO's resolutions. Although Iran's constitution does not officially recognize the mother languages of minorities, and Article 15 of the constitution related to teaching mother tongues in schools has not been implemented for over three decades, teaching the mother tongue of ethnic minorities in schools has not been explicitly banned.
However, there are many individuals who have been imprisoned due to cultural and linguistic demands. One such individual is Habib Sasaniyan, an Azerbaijani political prisoner. He managed to send a video message to the people from the central prison of Tabriz on the occasion of International Mother Language Day. Habib Sasaniyan, a poet and writer from Ardabil, was arrested on the 26th of Ordibehesht, 1395 (May 16, 2016), along with five other Turkish activists in Ardabil.
Babak Shahid, editor-in-chief of the "Araz News" website, told Deutsche Welle that this year’s commemoration of Mother Language Day was different from previous years and was held on a larger scale.
Mr. Shahid connects the broader celebration of Mother Language Day to the upcoming presidential elections and points out, "The lack of honesty from Mr. Rouhani in fulfilling his promises regarding the teaching of mother tongues in schools, the severe repression of Turkish civil activists by the judiciary, and the indifference of various Persian-language media outlets in covering human rights issues related to the Turks and the demands of Azerbaijani Turks are among the reasons for the increase in civil activities and their reflection on social media."
According to Shahid, this year’s International Mother Language Day event was held grandly in Meshginshahr. According to the "Araz News" website, this event took place on the morning of Monday, the 2nd of Esfand, 1395 (February 20, 2017), at the Andisheh Hall of the Islamic Guidance Department of Meshginshahr County, organized by the "Meshginshahr Identity" Cultural Institute. Keyvan Ghorbani, Yahya Hamidzadeh, and Yaghoub Nikzad gave speeches about the mother tongue and recited poetry in its honor.
A Group in Urmia Demands the Teaching of the Turkish Language
In a video published on social media, thousands of citizens in Urmia also demanded the teaching of Turkish in schools in Azerbaijan. During a volleyball match between the Kalleh Amol and Shahrdari Urmia teams on the 1st of Esfand, 1395 (February 19, 2017), the spectators chanted "Türk dilinde mekteb" (school in Turkish) and called for the teaching of Turkish in schools.
Furthermore, some teachers in Urmia took the initiative to distribute children's books in Turkish in schools and kindergartens. Images of children receiving these books were also shared on social media.
Prison and Exile on International Mother Language Day
On International Mother Language Day, a tragic incident occurred for cultural and civil activists from Azerbaijan. Four activists promoting the Turkish language in Iran were sentenced to heavy prison terms by the judiciary of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Revolutionary Court of Baharestan issued sentences based on the commemoration of International Mother Language Day by these individuals.
According to the "Araz News" website, a ruling sent on the 3rd of Esfand, 1395 (February 21, 2017), coinciding with International Mother Language Day, sentenced the following individuals to prison and exile: Mr. Akbar Azad, a journalist and researcher, to 10 years in prison and 2 years of exile in Darreh Shahr, Ilam Province; Mr. Alireza Farshi to 15 years in prison and 2 years of exile in Baghmalek, Khuzestan Province; Mr. Behnam Shikhi to 10 years in prison and 2 years of exile in Masjed Soleiman, Khuzestan Province; and Mr. Hamid Manafi to 10 years in prison and 2 years of exile in Azna, Lorestan Province.
Kurdish Activists Call for the Implementation of Article 15
On the eve of International Mother Language Day, a group of political and civil activists, as well as Kurdish journalists, issued a letter calling on the government and parliament to fully implement Article 15 of Iran's Constitution.
According to the Mokrian News Agency, the signatories of this letter referred to international covenants and agreements that Iran has joined and stressed the importance of the full implementation of Article 15 of the constitution. They requested the President and the parliament, particularly Kurdish representatives, to pursue this matter until its realization.
In part of the letter addressed to the President and MPs, particularly Kurdish representatives, they wrote: "Article 15 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran emphasizes the right to education in the mother tongue alongside Persian in schools. The precise and complete implementation of Article 15 of the Constitution is a crucial step in addressing issues related to nationalities, ethnic groups, and minorities in Iran and recognizing their equality as citizens of this land."
Among the signatories are Abdullah Ramadanzadeh, spokesman for the eighth government, Jalal Jalali-Zadeh, a representative from Sanandaj in the sixth parliament, Hassan Amini, head of the Kurdish Sunni Jurisprudence Assembly, Abdollah Sohrabi, a representative from Marivan in the sixth parliament, Kamal Hosseini, a journalist, and Massoud Kordpour, a human rights activist.
The link to the original article in Farsi on DW Persian:
بازتاب گسترده روز جهانی زبان مادری در ایران