THE DEMOGRAPHIC STRUCTURE OF SOUTH AZERBAIJAN
Today the number of the Turkish nobles in the Iranian
population is not exactly known. The reason for this is the
fact that Turks have spread all over the country called
Iran, and at the same time there is no official census based
on ethnic origin. We should also add that the censuses on
the Turkish population in Iran are generally unreliable.
South Azerbaijani agencies claiming that there are
unofficial and unapproved 35 or 40 million Turks on one hand
and the lower figure (18 million) sent by the Iranian state
to official circles and the UN on the other cause suspicion.
Such contradictory figures point to the necessity for a
census in order to reach the most accurate figure.
The
surface area of Iran is 1,648,195 sq km; the population of
Iran is 68,278,826 and the population rate is determined to
be 0.83 % as of 2003. Over 90 languages, pronunciations,
accents and dialects are spoken in Iran. However, Persian is
declared to be the official language of Iran in line with
the state policy. The language groups in Iran are divided
into three main groups as those speaking Persian, those
speaking Turkish and those speaking Semitic.
Persian, Turkish (Azerbaijan, Ghashghyi and Turkmen),
Arabic, Kurdish, Lor, Lek, Beluchi, Gilek and Mazenderan as
well as the languages of a number of small communities are
spoken in Iran. Actually, Iran is divided into 11 ethnic
regions:
1-
Region of the Persians
2-
Region of the Azerbaijani Turks
3-
Region of the Lors
4-
Region of the Leks
5-
Region of the Kurds
6-
Region of the Lars
7-
Region of the Beluchis
8-
Region of the Turkmen Turks
9-
Region of Gilan
10-
Region of Mazenderan
11-
Region of the Arabs
In
addition, again Turks are living in the majority of these
regions.
Mazanderan is the region with the highest population, and
the ethnic region of Beluchestan in the Southeast is the
region with the lowest population.
Approximately 36 people/km2 live throughout Iran
according to the figures of 1989. Meanwhile, the Turkish
population is scattered in every region of Iran.
The
Turks living on the Iranian territories are actually living
in three regions. These regions are
1.
the region of the Northwest Turks (South Azerbaijan)
2.
the region of the Northeast Turks (South Turkmenistan and
Horasan Turks)
3.
the region of South and Central Turks of Iran.
Azerbaijan Turks are living on the territories starting at
the borders of Turkey and North Azerbaijan and extending to
the Iranian geography. The actual historical name of these
territories is Azerbaijan. The region of South Azerbaijan
starts at the borders of Turkey and North Azerbaijan and
extends to the internal regions of Iran. This region covers
an area of 170,000 km2. Compared to the other
Turks, they are much more developed in Iran in terms of
history and economy. This region basically involves the
provinces of South Azerbaijan (Tabriz), West Azerbaijan (Urmiye),
Erdebil (Erdebil), Zenjan (Zenjan), Hemedan (Hemedan), and
Kazvin (Kazvin).
The
majority of the Turks in Iran consist of Azerbaijani Turks.
Azerbaijani Turks are concentrated in the northwest, center,
south and northeast. In Iran, which is the second country
after Turkey with the highest number of Turks; Azerbaijani
Turks make up almost all the Turkish population after
Turkmen, few Kazakhs and Halachs (Khalach).
South Azerbaijani Turks have emerged with the gathering and
merge of various tribes and communities such as the former
Turkish tribes like Afsar, Bayat, Baghdili, Bayindir,
Ghepchagh, Khalach, Ak Ghoyunlu, Ghara Ghoyunlu, Rumlu,
Ustacli, Tekeli, Shamli, Zolghadir, Varsak, Capani, Turgutlu,
Ecirli, Kachar, Bayburtlu, Ispirli, Karagozlu and Burcali.
Most
of the Halachs (Khalach) and Kipcaks (Ghepchagh), having
historically lived in Azerbaijan, have been melted within
the Oguz (Oghuz) Turks. However, the words and idioms
remaining from their accents have led to the formation of
various accents in the region. Today, the Turks speaking
with the former Khalach dialect are generally made up of
small groups consisting of 50-60 villages in towns such as
Qum, Tefres and Selefcegan.
Most
of the Turks living in South Azerbaijan are Muslims or
Jafari Shiites. There are also Sunnis though few in number.
Also a very few number of Bahayi, Christian, Zoroastrian and
Jewish Turks and minorities are living in the region.
Turks, who wanted to work in places other than the center
during 1954-1978 and the years following due to the land
reform, socio-economic problems and unemployment, rushed
into the business centers in the islands in the south of
Iran, harbor cities, Mazenderan, and the region of Khorasan
in the east of the country. The migration of this young and
working population increased during Iran-Iraq wars.
Subsequently, the Turks in Iran, in more correct words, the
South Azerbaijani Turks constitute the largest Turkish
community after Turkey. However, this Turkish population is
unfortunately undergoing a dangerous period in line with the
centralist and assimilation policy prevailing in the
country. This situation is more evident in the central,
southern and internal parts of Iran. In the 21st
century, the Turkish population in the country is
experiencing a distortion in language day by day, being
deprived of reading and writing in the mother tongue. The
oppressive Persian nationalism is continuing the
assimilation policy in the country by keeping all the
educational mechanisms in their hands although they are few
in number.
