Voices of South Azerbaijan: The Struggle of Families Choosing Turkish Names for Their Children in Iranian Azerbaijan

The Struggle of Families Choosing Turkish Names for Their Children in Iranian Azerbaijan

Alirza Quluncu & Vüqar Bəhmənzadə, Voice of America, March 14, 2025

In Iranian Azerbaijan, as well as in provinces such as Tehran, Alborz, and Gilan, there are families who have been unable to obtain identity cards for their children for months or even years due to the Turkish names they have chosen.

The Voices of Azerbaijan is dedicated to exploring and amplifying the experiences of marginalized Turkish communities in South Azerbaijan and broader Iran. We examine the intersections of ethnicity, language, power, and marginalization, offering a platform for these communities to share their voices and engage in critical discussions. Our mission is to raise awareness, advocate for social justice, and contribute to both academic and public discourse through diverse perspectives.

We approach ethnicity, language, and politics in their full complexity, viewing linguistic and ethnic communities as social and political actors, language and ethnicity as subjects of politics, and examining their social and political consequences for communities.

Our focus encompasses key issues related to language, education, and society, investigating how language policies and educational practices affect the status of ethnic minorities, particularly Turkish-speaking populations. We aim to reveal the dynamics of inclusion and exclusion in language and education, illustrating how these factors shape these communities' social, cultural, political, economic, and environmental realities.

Through this blog, we aim to provide valuable insights for community members in Azerbaijan and Iran, as well as for those in the diaspora. Our platform serves journalists, writers, academics, and students seeking to understand the social, cultural, economic, and political positions of Iran’s ethnic and linguistic minoritized communities. We critically examine power relations and the marginalization these groups face, focusing on topics neglected by mainstream media and academic research in Iran.

We are committed to promoting dialogue on diversity, inclusion, and justice. Our vision is to contribute to a society where the challenges of all communities are recognized, the socio-historical dynamics of power and privilege are acknowledged, and inclusive, discrimination-free discourses and policies are both envisioned and implemented.

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The Struggle of Families Choosing Turkish Names for Their Children in Iranian Azerbaijan