Preserving and Promoting the Mother Tongue: A Cultural and Human Necessity
Linguistic diversity, as one of humanity’s most valuable heritages, is an inseparable part of cultural and social identity. However, in many countries, including Iran, this heritage faces serious challenges, and the linguistic rights of minorities—particularly the Kurdish people—are often ignored.
According to Article 15 of the Iranian Constitution, ethnic groups have the right to teach their language and literature in schools. However, this article has never been fully implemented, and the teaching of Kurdish and other minority languages remains prohibited in Iran’s educational system. Hana Human Rights Organization emphasizes that these discriminatory policies are in clear violation of Iran’s international obligations, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Cultural and linguistic activists in Iranian Kurdistan who strive to promote the Kurdish language are frequently subjected to severe repression. This includes arbitrary arrests, heavy prison sentences, and security threats. Hana has documented numerous cases of prominent linguistic and cultural activists being detained solely for their efforts to preserve and expand the use of their mother tongue.
The use of the Kurdish language in public spaces is also severely restricted. In many cases, speaking in one’s mother tongue at official events, in the media, or even in daily conversations in certain environments has led to interrogations and security pressures. These restrictions have had a profound impact on individual morale and cultural identity, hindering the transmission of language and heritage to future generations.
The ban on teaching mother languages in schools and universities has had particularly harmful effects on the cultural identity of children and young people. These policies have resulted in a disconnect between new generations and their linguistic and cultural history. Hana warns that the continuation of such policies could lead to the erosion of minority languages and cultures in Iran.
Hana Human Rights Organization has presented specific recommendations and demands to the international community and the Iranian government, emphasizing the need for policy changes. These include the full implementation of Article 15 of the Iranian Constitution, support for cultural activities of minority groups, the removal of security restrictions on linguistic and cultural activists, and adherence to international commitments.
Hana stresses that the right to one’s mother tongue is a fundamental human right, and restricting it constitutes a serious violation of the cultural and social rights of minorities. The organization calls on all human rights institutions and international bodies to take urgent action to end these discriminatory practices and support the linguistic rights of minorities in Iran.