Iran is a land with a wide range of linguistic and cultural diversity. Mother languages such as Kurdish, Persian, Turkish, Arabic, Balochi, Turkmen, Gilaki, Mazandarani, and others are not only a part of the country’s historical identity, but also serve as a bridge for cultural interaction, scientific development, and regional diplomacy. While some may see this diversity as a threat, it should be recognized as a golden opportunity to strengthen national solidarity, enrich education, and utilize linguistic capacities in economic and international fields. Recognizing and supporting mother languages is a crucial step towards achieving social justice and preserving Iran’s cultural heritage.

On the occasion of Mother Language Day (March 3rd, equivalent to February 21st), we had an interview with Dr. Ardeshir Pashang, a senior researcher in international relations and a freelance journalist. We asked him to sit down with us and discuss the importance of mother language and its impact on society and individual rights. You can read the full transcript of the interview with Ardeshir Pashang below.

What is the importance of International Mother Language Day and why is preserving and promoting mother languages essential in multilingual societies?

Mother tongue is the first language that a child learns to speak and through it, they establish a connection with the world around them. This language carries history, identity, culture, and the way in which societies and diverse cultures develop and thrive. The importance of diversity in mother tongues is equal to the importance of diversity in human societies. Therefore, in the principles of human rights and in the United Nations – which declared 2008 as the year of mother tongue and designated February 21st as International Mother Language Day – preserving and safeguarding mother tongues is considered as preserving and safeguarding a part of the world’s cultural heritage. The more this heritage is preserved and these languages are safeguarded and evolved, the more it will have a positive impact on the diversity and intellectual, linguistic, and cultural progress of individuals, societies, and different groups.

As a social and media activist, why do you think the mother tongue is of great importance for different communities?

The reason for naming this day at the United Nations dates back to the protests of Bangladeshi university students against a form of linguistic dictatorship or fascism imposed by the Pakistani government, which banned the use of the mother tongue and punished those who spoke it. As a result of widespread protests, this issue was eventually resolved and had a positive impact on the independence of Bangladesh. Unfortunately, similar issues have also existed in other societies, including Turkey and other countries, against Kurds and other individuals who spoke a different mother tongue from the official and ruling language. However, the mother tongue is of utmost importance and supporting a language is not just about supporting a language, ethnicity, nation or group, but it is also a part of the world heritage that must be preserved and protected. Any society that can revive common languages or endangered languages is, in a way, showing respect for that society and increasing its soft power, as well as adding to the diversity and beauty of its society. For this reason, any country

In your opinion, what are the reasons for not implementing laws related to mother tongue in Iran? Is this issue more political or cultural and social?

In Iran, fortunately unlike some countries, such as Turkey where the Kurdish language was banned for many years, there has not been a ban on it. However, despite the emphasis on some principles of the constitution to preserve and support other common languages in the country, which are in fact the language of certain parts of Iranian society and various identity groups, there is still some ambiguity and lack of transparency. This ambiguity has become a source of attack, pressure, restriction, and monopolization by a minority group, known as “centrists,” against others, causing pressures on speakers of other languages in Iran and leading to various negative consequences, creating a sense of deprivation, discrimination, and pressure against multiple identity groups in Iran.

Do you think teaching and educating in the native language can have an impact on society? How can teaching in the native language be effective in improving the quality of education for students and students?

In this field, scientific research – regardless of political and ideological biases – has been conducted and the answer to this question is positive: children who start elementary education and schooling in their mother tongue, or whose mother tongue is taught alongside the national language and they learn it, have much better academic performance and achievements. On the contrary, when these conditions are not present – which unfortunately is not the case – we witness a decline in academic performance and a decrease in the abilities of these children. In recent years, positive movements have been made to start education in the mother tongue, but with a significant delay – such as the establishment of the Kurdish Language and Literature Academy, which is planned to be launched in Kurdistan – but there is still a long way to go to reach a normal and ideal situation and ensure the natural rights of individuals. These natural rights require, for example, that in a place like Ardabil, children have the opportunity to learn Turkish alongside the national intermediary language (Persian), which is their

The prohibition of teaching in languages other than Persian in Iran – while English (which is not a mother tongue, but is a university language in some fields) and Arabic (as an Islamic language and not a mother tongue for the people of Khuzestan) are allowed – indicates that apart from the Kurdish language course at the undergraduate and graduate levels at Kurdistan University, there is no fundamental existence of teaching and learning these languages; let alone the existence of a university where teaching is done in Turkish, Balochi, or Kurdish. Unfortunately, a certain reading of national identity influenced by one language (Persian) and the readings of radical individuals who are concerned about territorial integrity and fear of division have pushed more modern, legal, and humane readings of the issue of mother tongue to the margins and created an extraordinary sensitivity in this regard. This problem not only exists in universities, but also in schools, where in areas where there is a majority of a particular language, education in that language is not provided

In your opinion, what challenges exist in the implementation of teaching in mother tongue in Iran and how can these challenges be addressed? Are these challenges more cultural or political?

Naturally, the root of challenges is mostly political. The most important challenges in teaching mother tongue languages include: the need to form a discourse of elitism, between elites of different languages and Persian language elites, as well as creating a political discourse between those who hold a classical nationalist and restrictive view and those who have a more diverse, global, contemporary, and rights-based view, in order to reach a national understanding. This national understanding means that those who have been obstacles to promoting mother tongue languages other than Persian for any reason, come to the understanding (I emphasize this word, because there are still groups who have not reached it) that linguistic diversity in a country will increase its power, not the opposite of what they think; in fact, what they think and do, leads to the disruption of national unity. So we need a serious conversation. On the other hand, the government must also take fundamental steps in creating this conversation and promoting society to accept and respect different mother tongue languages, based

I completely disagree with the idea that linguistic diversity in Iran and support for different languages leads to decentralization, threatens territorial integrity, and promotes separatism. On the contrary, if you respect an individual or group and uphold their rights within the framework of your duties and responsibilities (not out of kindness, because everyone living in this land has rights that should be equal to others), we will naturally see more closeness and convergence. In contrast, policies based on one language and one nation – as we see in Turkey, which has failed and caused great human, financial, and time costs for the people and various governments of Turkey, and also exists in a more subtle form among some individuals in Iran – create division, a sense of discrimination, and exacerbate alienation, wasting the country’s energy.

As a cultural, social, and educational activist, what solutions do you suggest for improving the status of mother tongues in Iran? How can society be made more aware of the importance of this issue?

Important solutions in this field include: holding joint programs between experts in this field for scientific and specialized discussions, away from ideological and political discussions, forming specialized groups for language exchange from linguistic, scientific, legal, and human perspectives, and eliminating political views. Finally, addressing political concerns and worries in the next stages. This proposal is at an elite level, and at a general level, it should also be considered in public programs and in specialized language education in universities, educational centers, and schools in different regions. For example, in areas like Urmia where half of the population is Kurdish and the other half is Turkish-speaking, the establishment of multilingual schools, multilingual educational centers, or special centers for a language, in equal proportions, will lead to increased convergence. Also, paying serious attention to respecting other mother tongues and avoiding any direct or indirect insults to the mother tongues of different individuals (which unfortunately we have witnessed in the past years and have caused serious reactions in society) is necessary.

We appreciate that you have dedicated your time to the peace treaty.