Language & cultural rights
Azerbaijani Turkish is the first language of millions of people in Iran, yet it is absent from classrooms, courts and public administration.
Article 15 of Iran's constitution allows regional languages in the press and in teaching literature in schools, and article 19 guarantees equal rights regardless of language. In practice, these provisions have never been fully implemented. Publishing is restricted, teachers of the language are harassed, and peaceful cultural gatherings are dispersed.
We defend the right of Azerbaijani Turks to use their language in education, media, culture and public life, and to celebrate their history and heritage without fear.
The law is on their side
- International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ratified by Iran in 1968)
- International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, article 27
- UN Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities (1992)
What we document
- Absence of mother-tongue education in public schools
- Censorship of publications, music and media in Azerbaijani
- Prosecution of language teachers and cultural activists
- Restrictions on cultural gatherings and commemorations
- Discriminatory portrayals of Azerbaijani Turks in state media
What we do
- Monitor implementation of articles 15 and 19 of the constitution
- Document the prosecution of teachers, writers and artists
- Report to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
- Publish every resource we produce in Azerbaijani, in Latin and Arabic script
One signature, one message, one shared report can be the difference between a name that is forgotten and a person who is freed.