Members of the Iranian Parliament have rejected the proposed plan for “Teaching Local Literature” in schools across Iran.
According to state media reports, during the open session on Wednesday, February 26, 2025, the Iranian Parliament voted on the “Plan for Teaching Local Literature” in schools, in accordance with Article 15 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The plan failed to pass with 104 votes in favor, 130 votes against, and five abstentions.
The rejection of this five-article plan once again demonstrates that the Islamic Republic of Iran does not even adhere to the fundamental rights outlined in its own Constitution.
Although Article 15 of the Constitution has fundamental weaknesses in recognizing Iran’s multilingual nature and linguistic rights, it does permit the teaching of other languages alongside Persian. The Parliament’s opposition to this plan is a blatant violation of a fundamental right that has already been legally recognized. However, due to the lack of an effective enforcement mechanism for constitutional provisions in the Iranian legal system, and the absence of a constitutional court, such violations continue unchecked.
Beyond violating the Constitution, this opposition is a continuation of the historical denial of Iran’s multicultural and multilingual reality. This perspective has systematically led to the fundamental denial and violation of the collective rights of national, ethnic, and linguistic minorities in Iran.
Scientific research confirms that the preservation and development of mother tongues is a cultural and human necessity. Linguistic diversity, as one of the most valuable heritages of humanity, is an inseparable part of the cultural and social identity of nations. However, this heritage faces serious challenges, and the linguistic rights of minorities in Iran have been historically denied.
The prohibition of teaching non-Persian languages in schools and universities has had particularly negative effects on the cultural identity of children and young people. These policies have severed the linguistic and cultural connections of new generations with their native history and traditions.
Hana Human Rights Organization warns that the continuation of such policies could lead to the eradication of the languages and cultures of national and ethnic minorities in Iran.
Hana reiterates that linguistic rights are one of the fundamental aspects of human rights, and restricting them constitutes a serious violation of the cultural and social rights of minorities. This organization calls on all human rights institutions and international organizations to take effective action to end these discriminations and to support the linguistic rights of minorities in Iran.
Hana Human Rights Organization
February 27, 2025