The Memory Destruction and Reconstruction Games within the Scope of Persianization Politics in Iran

 Aug 05, 2025

Dr. Artum Dinç

The article, titled “The Memory Destruction and Reconstruction Games within the Scope of Persianization Politics in Iran” by Dr. Artum Dinç, published in the Journal of Nationalism, Memory & Language Politics, explores how the Iranian state’s Persianization policies since 1925 have deliberately manipulated collective memory to marginalize Turkish ethno-national identity. Focusing on cultural symbols, historical artifacts, names, and language, the study reveals the systematic erasure and rewriting of Turkish heritage within Iran’s nation-building efforts. It also highlights the active resistance of Turks through various cultural and political means to preserve their identity and memory in the face of official efforts to forget and assimilate non-Persian communities.

Read the full article from here. 

Artum Dinc: "The 'Hey, Hey, I am a Turk' Slogan is Practical and Functional"

Əlirza Quluncu (Alirza Quluncu) - April 28, 2017

South Azerbaijani Turk Student Activists Rallying at Tehran University with Banner "We are Türk"

"‘New’ is not inevitably the rejection of ‘old’ in any situation. Just because something is ‘new’ doesn’t necessarily make it more innocent or superior to what is ‘old,’" says Artum Dinc, emphasizing the slogan "Hey, Hey, I am a Turk!" [“Haray haray mən Türkəm] in South [Azerbaijan] has not become outdated. On the contrary, it is functional, practical, effective, and lively. In a conversation with the Voice of America, the sociologist shares his thoughts on recent national identity debates and the slogans Turk activists [in Iran] voiced.

Artum Dinc: "Tarhe No" Newspaper Propagated Racism, Sexism, and Violence

Alirza Quluncu, Voice of America - August 07, 2016

Artum Dinc, sociologist

Artum Dinc emphasizes that it is wrong to present the article published in the Tarhe No newspaper, which caused protests by Turks in Iran, Azerbaijan and other regions of the country, as mere "obscenity." Speaking to the Voice of America, the sociologist assessed that article as a product of a racist, anti-women and working-class worldview. 

The Impact of Terrorist Attacks on Interethnic and Interreligious Relations

 Əlirza Quluncu (Alirza Quluncu) - March 31, 2016 

Artum Dinc

Artum Dinc argues that terrorist attacks against civilians constitute crimes against humanity, irrespective of the perpetrators' identity or their ethnic-sectarian affiliation. In an interview with Voice of America, the sociologist highlights the inaccuracy of "labelling the groups responsible for the attacks, as well as the communities targeted by the attacks, solely based on their perceived ethnic or sectarian identities." He underscores that terms like "Kurdish terrorist" or "Muslim terrorist" utilized in certain media outlets are wrong.

"When someone in Iran calls themselves 'Turk,' it is perceived as a threat."

Əlirza Quluncu (Alirza Quluncu) - August 01, 2015

Artum Dinc

In a conversation with Voice of America, sociologist Artum Dinc discussed imperialism and post-colonial studies. He commented on the policies implemented and propagated by colonial powers in modern history. He shared his thoughts on the evolution of national identity and the terminology used in this direction. Artum Dinc evaluated how similar mechanisms operate on Turks in South [Azerbaijan] and other regions of Iran.

Artum Dinc: There is no Turk-Fars confrontation, but there is a movement against the policy of Persianization and Persian supremacy

 Əlirza Quluncu (Alirza Quluncu) - October 09, 2014

Artum Dinc

Artum Dinc argues that Iranian officials deny the Turkish identity, language, and socio-historical background of the Turkish population, opting instead to employ the term "Azeri," which was coined by Persian nationalists, as a tool in their politics of Turkophobia. This deliberate misrepresentation of Turkish elements within Iran is often obscured under labels like 'Azeri,' which do not necessarily align with how ordinary people perceive themselves. In an interview with the Voice of America, Dinc, a sociologist, discusses the position of the Islamic Republic of Iran's officials, who deny the existence of ethnic discrimination in the Azerbaijan region of Iran. Additionally, Dinc analyzes the government's identity policies in Azerbaijan and their impact on the region.

Artum Dinc: The May 2006 Uprising in Iranian Azerbaijan Went Beyond a Cartoon Protest

Əlirza Quluncu (Alirza Quluncu) - May 24, 2014

Artum Dinc

Artum Dinc views the May 2006 protests as a powerful manifestation of the enduring grievances of marginalized ethnic Turks in Iranian society. These protests were initially sparked by a derogatory cartoon published in an Iranian newspaper, leading to widespread outrage and demonstrations across Iranian Azerbaijani cities, including Tehran and other areas with sizable Turkish populations.

Artum Dinc: 'Mankurtization' and Persianization as Power Practices and Control Mechanisms

Əlirza Quluncu (Alirza Quluncu) - July 24, 2013

Artum Dinc

In an interview with Voice of America, Artum Dinc, a sociologist and doctoral student in the sociology department at Ankara University, discussed the reasons why some members of assimilated communities engage in activities against their own language and culture and the sociological and socio-psychological meanings and functions of the commonly used term "mankurt" in Iranian Azerbaijan.

Artum Dinc: Iranian Government's Policy of Persianization Prohibits Turkish

Əlirza Quluncu (Alirza Quluncu) - February 21, 2013

Artum Dinc

Artum Dinc, a researcher and doctoral candidate in the Department of Sociology at Ankara University, commented on the role and importance of the mother tongue factor in ethnic movements in an interview with Voice of America on International Mother Language Day. "Today, in Iran, there is a systematic, planned, and programmed policy of Persianization and cultural genocide against non-Persian ethnic groups. Non-Persian peoples' languages, cultures, and histories are being erased, and they are being forced to adopt Persian language, history, and identity under the guise of Iranian identity," said Artum Dinc, evaluating the policies pursued by the Iranian government.