The Iranian Administration is Uneasy with the
Cultural Activities of South Azerbaijanis
The
pressure and intimidation policy of the administration,
which has been disturbed by the cultural activities of South
Azerbaijanis, regarding the matter is continuing
increasingly. As for the final event, it is found out that
the “Association of Folk Singers” which functioned to
protect Turkish culture in Tabriz, has been exposed to
pressure on the ground that “some poets spread propaganda of
Turkish nationalism by using terms Turk, Azerbaijani, Babak
and Koroghlu”. In this context, it is known that
participation to the activities of around 200 poets, who
came from Tabriz and the neighboring cities only with an
intention of participating in the activities of the
association, were banned. Besides, it is noted that the
Association of Home of Turkish Literature, which has been
making research in the city of Ghom on Turkish folk dancing,
language and literature for three years, and the Cultural
Centre which functioned in the body of Urmia University,
were closed down on the same grounds.
In the
meantime, it is stated that director of Zeyneb Pasha
Publishing House, Zohreh Vefayi; columnist of Ardabil
Journal, Vahid Dergahi; lecturer in Tabriz University,
Mostafa Avezpoor; students who received education in a
university in the city of Khoy, Salmas Abulfazl Zeyali and
Mohammad Taghi Muini were arrested by the intelligence unit
of the Revolutionary Guards charging them with engaging in
Turkism activities. Publishing of journals and magazines
called Ulus (Nation), Oyanish (Awakening), Yashil has been
banned since July.
On the
other hand, discontent of the administrative ranks, which
stemmed from the obligation to speak Persian in government
offices, continues due to the resolution adopted in previous
months in Maragheh and Maku. In the same month, it was
banned to give Turkish names to the commercial enterprises
in Ardabil. Molla Mirahmadi Musavi Rendi, the Friday Imam of
Maku, who criticized the application, said that “It was the
most natural right of Azerbaijanis to speak in their native
language and that it could not be changed.”
