March 19, 2025
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| The Iranian identity booklet, also known as the Shenasnameh |
Dumrul and Yaratan: Nine Years Without Legal Recognition
According to information obtained by IranWire, a family in Tabriz has been struggling for over five years to secure identity documents for their two children, Dumrul and Yaratan, solely because of their Turkish names.
Dumrul, now five years old, was born on February 2, 2020. His name originates from the Dede Korkut epic, one of the oldest mythological tales of the Turks, which has been published multiple times in Iran. The epic was even adapted into a film in 1993 with official approval from the Ministry of Culture. Yaratan, born on April 6, 2021, has also been denied legal documentation for four years. His name, meaning “creator” in Turkish, has been deemed unacceptable by Iranian authorities.
The children’s mother, Nahid Mohammadi, described the dire consequences of this bureaucratic discrimination:
“We have encountered numerous problems in obtaining medical treatment for our children. Because they do not have identity documents, medical centers have even refused to administer vaccines to them.”
She questioned the selective nature of the restrictions:
“Why is it that choosing the legendary names of other ethnic groups is not a problem, but when it comes to Turkish names, it becomes an issue?”
Arka: Legal Battle Over a Name
Another Azerbaijani Turk family in Tabriz has been fighting a legal battle for six months to obtain an identity document for their child, Arka, born on August 30, 2024. The Civil Registration Office refused to register the name, prompting the family to file a lawsuit. While the initial court ruling was in their favor, an appeals court later overturned the decision, leaving the child without legal recognition.
Sevgi: A Common Name, Still Rejected
In Rasht, the Civil Registration Office has denied an identity document to a newborn named Sevgi, even though this name has been registered for other children in the past. Sevgi, meaning “love and affection” in Turkish, was chosen by her parents, Nemat Abbasi and his wife, to reflect their cultural heritage.
Sevgi's father, Nemat Abbasi, stated:
“Our daughter was born on January 1, 2025, and my wife and I chose the name Sevgi for her. In Turkish, Sevgi means 'love and affection.' The officials at the Rasht Civil Registration Office have declared that since this name is not listed in their 'Name Selection System,' they will not issue an identity document for her. Even though we explained that we are Turkish and that this is a Turkish name, they refused to accept it.”
He added:
“We have formally objected to the Civil Registration Office and requested that an identity document be issued for our child with the same name. However, the seven-member Name Committee in Tehran rejected our objection within a day and opposed the registration of this Turkish name. We intend to continue pursuing this matter legally because choosing a child's name is a fundamental right of parents, and they should not be deprived of this right.”
Systematic Discrimination and Violation of Rights
Iran’s Civil Registration Organization publishes a list of approved names and pressures citizens to choose from this list. If a name falls outside the registry, it must be reviewed by the Name Committee, which frequently rejects non-Persian names. This discriminatory policy particularly targets Turkish names, systematically erasing the linguistic and cultural identities of millions.
By denying identity documents, the Iranian government deprives children of basic rights, including access to healthcare, education, and legal protections. Such policies violate international human rights conventions, including the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which guarantees every child the right to a name and nationality.
Families affected by these discriminatory policies continue to resist, taking legal action and raising awareness about the systematic suppression of non-Persian identities in Iran. However, without systemic reform, countless children remain vulnerable to the same bureaucratic injustices in the future.
Sources:
Dumrul and Yaratan Have Been Denied Identity Documents for 9 Years Due to Their Turkish Names (دومرول و یاراتان تورک آدلارینا گؤره توپلام ۹ ایلدیر کیملیک آلا بیلمهییبلر) – IranWire
Arka Has Been Denied an Identity Document for 6 Months Due to His Turkish Name (آرکا تورک آدی اولدوغونا گؤره ۶ آیدیر کیملیک آلا بیلمهییب) – IranWire
The Civil Registration Office in Rasht Refuses to Issue an Identity Document for a Child Named Sevgi (رشت قئیدیات ایدارهسی سئوگی آدلی اوشاغا کیملیک وئرمیر) – IranWire