HINDERING THE ACTIVITIES OF MOTHER TONGUE
Within the framework of the celebrations of
the “International Mother Tongue Day”, demonstrations were
organized by the South Azerbaijanies living in the Western
Azerbaijan and the Southern Azerbaijani provinces.
The officials of the Intelligence Ministry
is learned to have tried to prevent South Azerbaijanies to
meet and even two South Azerbaijanies to come together in
order to prevent the activities for the “International
Mother Tongue Day” on February 21 2007. Despite the pressure
put on the organization committees in the big cities, such
as Tabriz and Urmia, it was said in an announcement
published via internet by Ali Reza Sarrafi on February 19,
21 February was accepted as the “International Mother Tongue
Day” by the UNESCO eight years ago. On May 22, 2006,
shouting “Either Death or Our Language”, our people went out
the street and challenge the enemies of our language all
over Azerbaijan. Long live our presence! Long live our
people! Long live our mother tongue!
Meanwhile, during the demonstrations 7
people were arrested and many more wounded in the
confrontations between the demonstrators and the police in
Tabriz Bazaar, Abresan Square, Rastakuche, Saatfghabaghi
and Bazaraghzi. During the activities, overall 19 people,
including 8 students in Zenjan; 3 in Miyandoab and 7 in
Urmia were arrested. Also, it was learned that approximately
20 thousand people in Sulduz demanded the Azerbaijan
Language to be given an official status.
The issues, such as that South Azerbaijanies
should make their voices heard; more civil rights should be
gained; the obstructions in front of the right for education
in the mother tongue should be abolished, and the issue of
mother tongue should be solved in a peaceful way were given
place in a notice distributed regarding the organized
activity by the students of Azeri origin at Ardabil
University, but 3 students of Azad University were arrested
during distribution of the mentioned notice.
