Toğrul Atabay: In 1945-46, a "Language Revolution" Similar to Turkey's Took Place in Iranian Azerbaijan

Alirza Quluncu, Voice of America, December 17, 2023

Toğrul Atabay, Turkologist

Turkologist and writer Toğrul Atabay spoke to Voice of America about the language reforms carried out by the Azerbaijan National Government, centered in Tabriz, during the years 1945-46, and the characteristics of Turkish used in the government institutions, press, and education during that period.

Many Turkish language rights activists in Iranian Azerbaijan commemorate the anniversary of the establishment of the Azerbaijan National Government as the "Day Turkish Became Official." The government was overthrown in December 1946 when the Iranian army attacked Tabriz and other cities. During this period, Turkish-language books and magazines published were burned by the Iranian army in schools and city squares.

Toğrul Atabay: Reza Baraheni Belonged to the School of Writers Who Thought in Turkish and Wrote in Persian

Alirza Quluncu, Voice of America, April 02, 2022

On the left, Reza Baraheni, on the right, Togrul Atabay.

Writer and Turkologist Toğrul Atabay, in an interview with Voice of America, describes the recently deceased Reza Baraheni, who passed away at the age of 86, as a multifaceted personality, an activist, and one of the sharpest representatives of critical thinking. Atabay believes that Baraheni was an intellectual ahead of his time.

Toğrul Atabay: Language Policy in Iran is Guided by Political Motives

Alirza Quluncu, Voice of America, October 04, 2015

Toğrul Atabay

Toğrul Atabay states that the naming of languages and dialects around the world is not based on linguistic science, but is rather driven by political interests. In an interview with Voice of America, the Turkologist explains the differences between terms like "language," "dialect," and "accent," and draws attention to the incorrect naming of languages that arise due to the assimilation policies pursued by states against ethnic minorities, as well as the presentation of some dialects as independent languages with the emergence of new nation-states.

Persian Language and Ethnic Minorities in Iran

Alirza Quluncu, Voice of America, February 12, 2014

Toğrul Atabay

“The Persian Language Academy is part of Iran’s nation-state structure, built on the foundation of one language and one nation,” says Toğrul Atabay. In an interview with Voice of America, the Azerbaijani writer and Turkologist described the nature of the Persian Language and Literature Academy, emphasizing that its stance on the right to education in other languages is not an academic approach.

Toğrul Atabay: "There is no 'Azeri' language, there is Turkish!"

Alirza Quluncu, Voice of America, July 31, 2013

Toğrul Atabay

Recently, in response to the insults directed at Azerbaijani Turkish in a well-known Iranian magazine, Southern Azerbaijani Turkologist and writer Toğrul Atabay spoke to Voice of America, discussing the history of the Turkish language and literature, the situation and development of Turkish in Iranian Azerbaijan, and the necessary steps to create a modern language in the South. According to him, the regular insults to Azerbaijani Turkish in the Iranian press are part of the government’s discriminatory policies towards Azerbaijanis.