Civil Society Response to Parliament's Opposition to Mother Tongue Education

The Azerbaijani Political Prisoners Defense Association (ADAP) condemned the Iranian Parliament's opposition to teaching local and ethnic languages in schools as "shameful" on Wednesday, March 8. Earlier, the Mizan news agency, affiliated with the judiciary, reported that during a parliamentary session on Wednesday, the general framework of the proposal to teach local and ethnic literature in schools was rejected with 104 votes in favor, 130 against, and 5 abstentions out of 246 representatives present. According to the report, a government representative in the parliament also opposed the proposal. ADAP emphasized: "This decision clearly demonstrates the Iranian government's commitment to eliminating linguistic and cultural diversity" and "exposes the hypocrisy of a regime that claims to respect minority rights while systematically suppressing them." The civil association pointed out Article 15 of the Iranian Constitution, which theoretically allows the teaching of non-Persian languages, adding: "However, this regime continues to violate its own laws, let alone adhere to international conventions on linguistic and cultural rights." Article 15 of the Iranian Constitution states: "The official and common language and script of the people of Iran is Persian. Official documents and correspondence and textbooks must be in this language and script, but the use of local and ethnic languages in the press and media and the teaching of their literature in schools, alongside Persian, is permitted." The Azerbaijani Political Prisoners Defense Association, referring to the parliament's opposition, stressed: "This decision is not just an attack on language; it is an attack on the identity, history, and dignity of millions." The rejection of the proposal to teach local and ethnic literature in Iranian schools came less than a week after International Mother Language Day. In this context, Shirin Ebadi, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and head of the Human Rights Defenders Center, stated in a message on the occasion of International Mother Language Day that "linguistic and cultural diversity" is "an opportunity for the elevation of Iran." Ms. Ebadi noted in her Telegram channel that "children from these communities face discrimination in a monolingual educational system, and mother tongue teachers are under security and judicial pressures," emphasizing: "Such a policy is a manifestation of injustice." The Iranian Writers' Association also stated in a statement on the occasion of International Mother Language Day: "Statistics show that the highest dropout rates are among speakers of languages other than the official language." The statement added: "The widespread and increasing wave of arrests among civil and cultural activists and mother tongue advocates in the border provinces indicates the hostile and reductionist view of the government towards civil and cultural activists in provinces where people speak languages other than the official language." February 21 (Esfand 2) has been designated by UNESCO as International Mother Language Day to promote linguistic and cultural diversity. International Mother Language Day was established in 1999 and has been celebrated annually with various programs at UNESCO centers in different countries since 2000.