Siyasət

29.10.07 16:42 To: UNESCO and Human Rights Organization

On behalf of Iranian Azerbaijanis who respect the 21st. of February as the annual International Mother Language Day, and as the believers of UNESCO's intention to achieve global peace through solving cultural differences.
Azerbaijanis had decided to celebrate this day in the city of Tabriz (the central city of Iranian Azerbaijan) in order to help a better understanding, integration and co-operation amongst the ethnic Iranian.
They had obtained proper permit from the special organization within the government of Islamic Republic of Iran for this occasion and had invited 18 linguists and related speakers to participate in this celebration.
In spite of necessary information which was presented to the authorities in Tabriz, assembling permit was denied by police force some hours before the beginning of the ceremony and the participants were obliged to leave the area without any clarification.
Referring to the latest statistics of UNESCO which clearly specifies that "half of the world's 6000 to 7000 languages are in danger of extinction", we the 23,000,000 Azerbaijanis of Iran (UN statistics 1998) composing % 37 of Iranian population against 22,000,000 Farsi speaking population of the country (% 35 as the same statistics) are facing the danger of extinction of our mother language due to the lack of educating our children in our own language.
Although we, Azerbaijanis along with speakers of other languages and dialects are the actual nation of Iran, unfortunately since 1925 our language rights have officially been taken over by Farsi language and we have lost the rights of any development and protection over our own Mother language by forbidding them to educate in schools and other educational organizations, which concluded none Farsi languages to be sacrificed by Chauvinistic Pan-Farsism.
Even after the Islamic Revolution of Iran (1979) in-spite-of articles 15 and 19 of country's constitutional law to protect none Farsi languages, the government has not been able to support none Farsi languages in the country and Iran has become the largest grave-yard of none Farsi mother languages and dialects.
In accordance with the latest verifications and investigations, Iranian nation is facing the danger of extinction of about 130 languages and dialects out of 200 living languages and dialects of the country within next 50 years if immediate actions are not taken to reserve them in proper ways.
We therefore take the opportunity of forwarding our appeal to the UNESCO and Human Rights Organizations to help us with reservation of our mother language within humanitarian bounds and boundaries before it becomes humanitarian disaster.
Sincerely,