BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 26. Azerbaijani NGOs
have addressed an open letter to Iranian President Masoud
Pezeshkian.
“Dear President!
We, the representatives of civil society organizations of the
Republic of Azerbaijan, first of all express our deep respect to
you.
We highly appreciate your visit to the liberated native
Khankendi and the city of Shusha, which is dear to every
Azerbaijani, your goodwill towards Azerbaijan, the importance you
attach to the friendly neighborhood between Azerbaijan and the
Islamic Republic of Iran, as well as your relations based on mutual
respect, trust, and sincerity with the President of the Republic of
Azerbaijan, the Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev.
The fact that you, as a doctor, operated on dozens of
Azerbaijani patients, treated them with great attention and care,
served people, as well as your civic position as a public figure,
increased the sym
Your love and respect for the Azerbaijani language, the
national-spiritual values of the Azerbaijani people, and the rich
literary heritage are commendable. It’s invaluable that you recite
poems in your native language, refer to Azerbaijani proverbs,
communicate with your family members in your native language, and
proudly demonstrate your commitment to this language in your
various speeches.
All this shows that for you the Azerbaijani language is not only
a means of communication, but also an integral part of spiritual
identity, historical memory, and national belonging.
In this regard, we believe that as a head of state who
appreciates the exceptional importance of the mother tongue in
human life, you will be especially sensitive to the desire of
millions of Azerbaijanis living in Iran to study in their native
language.
We believe that the time has come to take historical steps in
the direction of providing educational opportunities in the native
language of Azerbaijanis, who always play an important role in the
life of Iran in socio-political, economic, cultural, and other
fields.
Today, expanding the opportunities of millions of people who are
worthy successors of that historical heritage to protect, develop,
and pass on their mother tongue to future generations is both a
matter of moral responsibility and historical justice.
We ask you to personally take the initiative to take decisive
and practical steps in the direction of providing educational
opportunities for Azerbaijanis living in the Islamic Republic of
Iran in their mother tongue, as stipulated in the Constitution of
the country.
We believe that for this purpose it is necessary to organize the
systematic teaching of the Azerbaijani language in schools, to
establish secondary and higher educational institutions that
provide education in the Azerbaijani language, to train relevant
pedagogical personnel, to develop textbooks and educational
programs, as well as to form the necessary legal and institutional
mechanisms in this direction.
We are sure that such an initiative will not only serve to
fulfill the long-standing dream of millions of people, but will
also become a shining example of the high value given to Iran's
cultural diversity and commitment to justice and equality.
Creating the opportunity to study in the mother tongue is the
respect shown to the past of a nation, the value given to its
present, and the most valuable investment in its future.
We believe that historical steps in this direction during your
presidency will leave an indelible mark in the memory of millions
of Azerbaijanis and will always be remembered with gratitude.
We, the representatives of the civil society of Azerbaijan,
declare that we are ready to provide all possible support to the
implementation of this noble mission, the development of education
in the mother tongue, and the expansion of scientific-pedagogical
and cultural cooperation.
While writing this letter, we remember with deep emotions the
immortal verses dedicated to our mother tongue by the mighty master
of words of Azerbaijan and Iran, Mohammad Hossein Shahriyar, whom
you always remember with great love and respect.
We believe that as a President who has great love for his mother
tongue, you will not spare your worthy contribution for the
realization of this historic mission.
With deep respect and esteem,
Representatives of non-governmental organizations of
Azerbaijan:
- Ramil Iskandarli – Chairman of the Board of the National NGO
Forum of Azerbaijan - Fuad Mammadov – Chairman of the "Simurq" Azerbaijan Cultural
Association - Sevda Tahirli – Head of the Mirza Alakbar Sabir Foundation
- Varis Yolchiyev – Head of the Azerbaijan Literature
Foundation - Sevinj Alizade – Chairperson of the "Zafar" Public Union for
Support to Families of Martyrs - Zaur Ibrahimli – Chairman of the "Prioritet" Center for
Socio-Economic Research Public Union - Dilgam Ahmad – Chairman of the "Chapar" Center for the Study of
National Heritage Public Union - Seyfaddin Huseynli – Chairman of the "Center for Cultural and
Ethnic Diversity" Public Union - Saadat Mammadova – Chairperson of the "Maarifchi" Media Center
Public Union - Gamar Baghirova – Chairperson of the "Jafar Jabbarli Public
Union for Assistance to the Development of Culture, Science, and
Education" - Farida Mirishova – Chairperson of the "Iz" (Trace) Public Union
for Support to Cultural Development - Sevinj Abdullayeva – Chairperson of the "Support for the
Education of Women and Children" Public Union - Alimammad Nuriyev – Head of the Constitution Research
Foundation - Konul Behbudova – Chairperson of the "Families of the Missing
from Karabakh" Public Union - Shabnam Safarova – Chairperson of the Public Union "For the
Progress of Karabakh" - Umud Mirzayev – Head of the International Eurasia Press
Fund - Mubariz Asgarov – Chairman of the "Objective" Public Union for
Supporting the Promotion of National Values - Shahin Rahmanli – Chairman of the "Irali" Public Union
- Irada Rzazade – Chairperson of the "For the Social Welfare of
Citizens" Public Union - Lala Sardarli – Chairperson of the Public Union for "Assistance
in the Preservation and Promotion of Applied Art Samples" - Magsad Sariyev – "YENISI" Center for Literary and Cultural
Expressions Public Union - Tukazban Suleymanova – Chairperson of the "Learning by
Teaching" Public Union for Supporting the Intellectual Development
of Youth - Fariz Khalilli – Chairman of the "Miras" Public Union for
Assisting in the Study of Cultural Heritage - Mushvig Alasgarli – Chairman of the Public Union for
"Supporting Innovative Initiatives in Media" - Khatira Valiyeva – Chairperson of the "Khankendi" Public Union
for Supporting Internally Displaced Persons - Saltanat Gojamanli – Chairperson of the "Human Rights and
Protection of Legality" Public Union - Novella Jafarova – Chairperson of the "D. Aliyeva Society for
the Protection of Women's Rights in Azerbaijan" Public Union - Saadat Bananyarli – Chairperson of the "International Society
for Human Rights – Azerbaijan National Section" Public Union - Agil Jamal – Chairperson of the "Common Values" Public
Union - Amir Aliyev – Chairperson of the "Center for the Promotion of
Human Rights" Public Union - Samad Vakilov – Chairman of the "Authorized Rights Center"
Public Union - Elshad Eyvazov – Chairman of the "Impartial Journalists" Public
Union - Shalala Hasanova – Chairperson of the "Support for the
Development of Public Relations" Public Union - Ayaz Mirzayev – Chairman of the "Azerbaijan Journalists
Network" Public Union - Shahla Naghiyeva – Chairperson of the "Unquenchable Torch"
Cultural Relations Public Union - Jasarat Huseynzade – Chairman of the "Support for Information
and Social Initiatives" Public Union - Vusala Huseynli – Chairperson of the "Reformist Women and
Innovations" Public Union - Ahmad Abbasbayli – Chairman of the "Center for Societal
Development" Public Union - Aytan Hasanova – Chairperson of the "Support for Azerbaijani
Cultural Heritage Crafts and Creative Industries" Public
Association - Fuad Huseynzade – Chairman of the "Journalists' Support for
Diaspora Activities" Public Association - Anar Khalilov – Chairman of the "Healthy Development and
Awareness-Raising" Public Association - Javid Abdullayev – Chairman of the "Yeni Yol" Youth Education
Public Association - Turana Orujova – Founder and Chairperson of the "Support for
the Advancement of Art" Public Association - Khalid Kazimov – Chairman of the "Regional Human Rights and
Media Center" Public Association - Elshad Mammadli – Chairman of the "Civic Education" Public
Association - Narmin Karimova – Chairperson of the "Goyarchin” Public
Association for Support to Educational Development - Afsaladdin Aghalarov – Chairman of the "Assistance to the
Socio-Economic Development of Youth" Public Association - Yadigar Mammadli – Chairperson of the "League of Democratic
Journalists of Azerbaijan" Public Association - Tunzala Abdulalimova – Chairperson of the Public Association
for Support to Families of Martyrs "For the Sake of the
Homeland" - Jeyran Hasanova – Chairperson of the "Support for Mothers of
Martyrs" Public Association - Vugar Gadirov – Chairman of the "Youth for Return and Revival"
Public Union - Karamat Ismayilov – Chairman of the "Center for Economic and
Social Development" Public Union - Fikrat Yusifov – Chairman of the "Economics" International
Economic Research Public Union - Ilgar Huseynli – Chairman of the "Social-Strategic Studies and
Analytical Research" Public Union - Jamila Isbandiyarova – Chairperson of the "In the Light of
Intellect" Public Union for the Promotion of National Values,” the
letter reads.
