The Struggle for the Right to Turkish Names in South Azerbaijan

June 1, 2025

Identification document

In South Azerbaijan, the “Balamın Adı” (My Child’s Name) petition campaign seeks to amend Iran’s civil registration laws. Launched by Azerbaijani activists on the karzar.net platform, the campaign calls for reforms to Article 20 of the "Civil Registration Law" to strengthen the right of parents to freely choose their child’s name. As the petition states, many parents face restrictions they “have never encountered in their lives,” leaving them unable to obtain birth certificates for their children.

Iran’s Systematic Denial of Identity Documents for Children with Turkish Names

March 19, 2025

The Iranian identity booklet, also known as the Shenasnameh

In a blatant violation of human rights, Iran’s Civil Registration Office continues to deny identity documents to children with Turkish names, leaving them stateless and deprived of essential services. Several families in Azerbaijan and beyond have been subjected to bureaucratic discrimination simply for choosing names that reflect their ethnic and cultural heritage.

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.

Turkish Family Wins Legal Battle to Name Their Child 'Manas' in Iran

Hamid Melikoglu, Voice of America, January 26, 2025

Iranian ID card

In Iranian Azerbaijan's Ardabil province, a Turkish family managed to obtain an ID card for their child with the name "Manas" after a 70-day legal struggle. This result came after the family filed a lawsuit against the Germi Civil Registration Office.

The "My Child's Name" campaign's Instagram page shared the court ruling and a photo of the ID card issued with the name "Manas," announcing that the Turkish family's legal battle, which lasted more than two months, had been successful.

After a 5-Month Struggle, a Family in Urmia Successfully Obtains an ID Card for Their Child Named AlpAslan

 Alirza Quluncu, Voice of America, January 25, 2025

Identity Card of the Islamic Republic of Iran

Another family in Iranian Azerbaijan has successfully obtained an ID card for their child named AlpAslan through a legal battle. The Babapur family, living in Urmia, won the legal struggle they began approximately 5 months ago.

The Instagram account "Dan Dergisi" and Southern Azerbaijan Television (Günaz TV) have shared a copy of the ID card issued for AlpAslan Babapur, who was born on August 31 of last year.

On Instagram, a copy of the court ruling in favor of the Babapur family has also been shared.

Iran's Registration Office Refuses to Issue ID Cards for Triplets from Tabriz with Turkish Names

Alirza Quluncu, Voice of America, December 25, 2024

Islamic Republic of Iran Identity Card

The Safari family from Tabriz has been unable to obtain ID cards for their triplets, born about four months ago, with the chosen names Elshan, Elnur, and Sevgi.

According to sources such as Southern Azerbaijan Television (Günaz TV) and Araz News, the registration office refuses to issue ID cards despite a court ruling in the family's favor.

The sources state that the Tabriz registration department refuses to register the names because they do not conform to the Persian language's spelling rules.

In Iranian Azerbaijan, a Child Named "Çağrı Manas" Has Been Without a Birth Certificate for Over 4 Years

 Alirza Quluncu, Voice of America, December 18, 2024

The Identity Card of the Islamic Republic of Iran

In Iranian Azerbaijan and Tehran, many families have been unable to obtain birth certificates for their children with the Turkish names they have chosen, even after months or even years.

According to information obtained by Voice of America from Turkish language rights defenders, while some families are trying to make their voices heard through social media because they are unable to obtain a birth certificate for their children with a Turkish name, many families prefer not to publicize the issue, hoping for a resolution through further applications to various authorities.

Tabriz Registration Office Refuses to Issue an Identity Card to a Child Named “Emre” Despite Court Decision

Alirza Quluncu, Voice of America, December 13, 2024

The Identity Card of the Islamic Republic of Iran

It has been reported that the Iranian Civil Registration Office in Tabriz has refused to issue an identity card for a child named “Emre,” chosen by the "Khansari" family, despite a court ruling in their favor. The child has been without an identity card for more than 5 months.

According to information shared by various sources, citing an Instagram account called "Dan Dergisi," the Tabriz Registration Office is refusing to register the name "Emre," despite a court ruling that supports the family.

Iranian Azerbaijani Child Sevgi Receives Birth Certificate After Five-Month Struggle Over Turkish Name

November 26, 2024

A Turkish child named Sevgi, born five months ago, has finally received a birth certificate bearing her Turkish name following a months-long struggle by her parents.

Sevgi had initially been denied official registration because Iran’s civil registration authorities objected to the Turkish name chosen by her family. After five months of efforts by her father, Vahid Pourmostafaei, her mother, and their lawyer, Asgar Mohammadi, the authorities eventually agreed to register the child under the name Sevgi.

Urmia Civil Registration Office Refuses to Issue ID for Baby Named AlpAslan

 Alirza Quluncu, Voice of America, November 13, 2024

Iran's civil registration authority in Urmia has refused to issue an ID card for a baby born approximately 75 days ago to the Babapur family, named AlpAslan.

This was reported by the Instagram account "Dan Dergisi," which shared an audio file from the baby's father, Salar Babapur.

According to Babapur, the registration office refused to issue an ID card with the Turkish name they had chosen for their child before birth. He stated that the office rejected AlpAslan because it was not included in the Iranian civil registration online portal’s list of approved names.

Turkish Activist Secures Identity Card for Child After Year-Long Struggle with Iranian Authorities

Hamid Melikoglu, Voice of America, October 18, 2024

Iran National Identity Card

Azerbaijani Turk civil activist Murtaza Nurmahammadi has announced that, after nearly a year and one month, he could finally obtain a national identity card for his child, Hunay. The Iranian Registration Office had previously opposed issuing an identity card under the name Hunay.

Murtaza Nurməhəmmədi shared on his Instagram page last September that his electronic application for his child's name had been registered, but the office had opposed the name and sent him a message. He had applied to the Sufiyan Registration Office to obtain an identity card for his baby, but the application was unsuccessful.

Ten days later, security forces contacted Nurmahammadi through the office's phone and called him in for a meeting to resolve the issue. However, when he went to the office, he was arrested and taken to the Tabriz Intelligence Department's detention center.

Official: Baby Naming Trends Change in Ardabil, Religious Names No Longer Preferred

 Alirza Quluncu, Voice of America, September 5, 2024

Ardabil Province - Iranian Azerbaijan

The head of Ardabil Province's civil registration authority, Vahid Kholusi, highlighted that the model for naming children in the province has “strangely” changed.

Speaking to the semi-official Tasnim agency, Vahid Kholusi expressed concern over the preference for “strange names,” many of which are Turkish or of Turkish origin, in Ardabil. He pointed out that this shift in naming trends had raised alarms.

After Six Years, Huntay Finally Receives ID Card Amid Legal Struggles

Hamid Melikoglu, Voice of America, September 01, 2024

Iran Identity Card

After living nearly six years without an ID card since birth, a child named Huntay and his family were finally able to obtain his ID card yesterday from the Registration Office in the city of Julfa, East Azerbaijan Province.

Huntay’s father, Taymaz Mehralibeyli, posted a picture of his son's ID card on Instagram, writing, “Finally, today, the Iranian Islamic Republic Registration Organization was forced to issue Huntay’s ID card after our resistance.”

"Alien" Names and Undocumented Children

Milad Balisini / Asgar Akbarzadeh - Radio Zamaneh - 5 March 2024

In this article, Milad Balsini and Asgar Akbarzadeh use available data to show that there has been no change in the longstanding refusal of Iran's Civil Registration Organization to issue birth certificates for children with Turkish names.

For many years, the Civil Registration Organization has prevented the issuance of birth certificates for children whose parents choose Turkish (Türki) names, labeling these names as "foreign." Officials, however, claim there are no restrictions or prohibitions against issuing birth certificates with Turkish names, yet parents often have to navigate the bureaucratic system for weeks, sometimes years, before the Civil Registration Organization finally agrees to issue a birth certificate with a Turkish name.

Iran Grants ID to Child Named Duyğu After Family's Struggle Over Turkish Name

 Hamid Melikoglu, Voice of America, February 9, 2024

National Organization for Civil Registration of Iran

After the family of a child named Duyğu insisted on their rights, they were finally able to obtain an ID card for their child.

As a result of numerous requests from an Azerbaijani family living in Germi, Ardabil Province, the family was eventually granted an ID card for their child with the name they had chosen.

Duyğu's father, Adil Delir, shared a picture of his child's ID card on his Instagram page, informing the public of the news.

A Family in Tabriz Obtains ID Card for Son Named AlpAslan After 27 Months of Legal Struggle

Alirza Quluncu, Voice of America, February 04, 2024

Identity Card of the Islamic Republic of Iran

The Avazpur family from Tabriz has successfully obtained an ID card for their son named AlpAslan after 27 months of legal struggle.

The family had initially applied to the registration office in October 2021 for an ID card with the Turkish name they had chosen for their child, but their request was rejected, leading them to take the matter to court.

A copy of the ID card, shared by Abbas Lisani’s Telegram channel, shows that AlpAslan Avazpur's date of birth is listed as October 30, 2021. The ID card was issued on January 27, 2024.

Iran's Civil Registry Refuses Identity Card for Newborn Named 'Duyğu' Due to Turkish Name

 Alirza Quluncu, Voice of America, January 24, 2024

Baby

In the city of Germi, located in Ardabil province, the Civil Registration Department has refused to issue an identity card for a newborn girl named "Duyğu," chosen by her family.

Sources such as Araz News and South Azerbaijan Television (Günaz TV) have reported this, citing the parents of the child, the Delir family.

One week after Duyğu's birth, her father, Adil Delir, posted on his Instagram page that he had contacted the Civil Registration Office in Germi but was unable to obtain an identity card for his daughter due to the Turkish name they had chosen.

Popular Turkish Names on the List in East Azerbaijan Province

Hamid Melikoglu, Voice of America, December 28, 2023

Tabriz Registration Office

In an interview with local media outlet Tabriz-e-Bidar, the head of the Registration Office of East Azerbaijan Province, Reza Imani, revealed the list of the most popular names in the province. What stands out in the list is the inclusion of Turkish names.

According to Imani, in the past 9 months, the most popular names chosen by families for girls included Zahra, Nafas, Fatima, Mahlin, Aylin, Nura, Deniz, Selin, Anya, and Helma.

For boys, families in East Azerbaijan Province most commonly chose names like Ayhan, Ali, Amir Ali, Abulfazl, Alisan, Araz, Muhammad, Elvin, Orhan, and Mehdi.

Turkish names like Aylin, Selin, Deniz, Ayhan, and Orhan are listed among the most popular names chosen by families in East Azerbaijan.

Tabriz Twins Finally Receive ID Cards After Year-Long Struggle Over Turkish Names

Hamid Melikoglu, Voice of America, December 15, 2023

Tabriz Registration Office

After more than a year of delay, the twin children from Tabriz, İlkay and Türkay, were finally able to obtain their ID cards from the Tabriz Registration Office.

Human rights defender Sina Yusifi shared the news on his X (formerly Twitter) account, posting a copy of the twins' ID cards.

He also pointed out that "Most of the names in the Turkish language of the Turks in Iran face restrictions at the Registration Office, and parents are forced to go through a lengthy legal process by appealing to the courts."

İlkay and Türkay were born on November 15, 2022, and their ID cards were issued on December 4 of the current year.

Family Succeeds in Securing Identity Card for Child Named 'Dolunay' in Ardabil

Hamid Melikoglu, Voice of America, December 14, 2023

Iran Identity Card

The Civil Registration Office in Ardabil has agreed to issue an identity card for the Turkish name "Dolunay." This was reported by Abbas Lisani’s Telegram channel, referencing Said Sadigifar's Instagram page.

Said Sadigifar, the father of Dolunay, stated on his Instagram page that the Ardabil Civil Registration Office decided on December 14 to finally issue an identity card for their child. The issuance of the identity card with the name Dolunay was completed within 16 days.