The West Failed Secularism in Karabakh. Can It Redeem Itself in Peace?

 Ali Rıza Kuluncu - Aug 17, 2025

Ana Kasparian — Host at The Young Turks

In recent years, I’ve come to doubt how secularism is truly understood in the West. The Second Karabakh War offered a revealing example. While both pro-Armenia and pro-Azerbaijan diasporas in the West were active, their narratives diverged sharply. Armenians framed the conflict as a Christian nation resisting Muslim Turks, whereas pro-Azerbaijan voices emphasized the country’s secular identity, portraying Azerbaijan as one of the least religious Muslim-majority societies. The contrast was deliberate. During the Karabakh conflict, global powers backed Christian Armenia despite UN resolutions, enabling its diaspora to weaponize religious identity while forcing Azerbaijan’s to overcompensate with secular claims. For Western thinkers committed to secular ideals, this should raise a clear concern: the “good guys” in Western eyes are either Christian (or at least non-Muslim) or secular.

The Memory Destruction and Reconstruction Games within the Scope of Persianization Politics in Iran

 Aug 05, 2025

Dr. Artum Dinç

The article, titled “The Memory Destruction and Reconstruction Games within the Scope of Persianization Politics in Iran” by Dr. Artum Dinç, published in the Journal of Nationalism, Memory & Language Politics, explores how the Iranian state’s Persianization policies since 1925 have deliberately manipulated collective memory to marginalize Turkish ethno-national identity. Focusing on cultural symbols, historical artifacts, names, and language, the study reveals the systematic erasure and rewriting of Turkish heritage within Iran’s nation-building efforts. It also highlights the active resistance of Turks through various cultural and political means to preserve their identity and memory in the face of official efforts to forget and assimilate non-Persian communities.

Read the full article from here. 

Pezeshkian Brought Hope to Iranian Azerbaijanis — But What Next?

  BBC Azerbaijan – July 29, 2025

From left to right, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan arrive at the 17th Summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) in the city of Khankendi, Azerbaijan, on Friday, July 4, 2025.

“I have said this unequivocally: I am a Turk. My father is a Turk, and so is my mother. I am proud to be a Turk.” These words from Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian have been among the rare moments that have emboldened Iranian Azerbaijanis, who have been gradually pushed out of the political sphere over the past 40 years.

Journalist Alirza Quluncu says, “We can see the protest vote of Turks—who have been sidelined from centers of power since the Pahlavi era, and whose region, Azerbaijan, has been weakened and fragmented—in the support given to Pezeshkian.”

July 30 marks one year since Masoud Pezeshkian assumed the presidency in Iran.

However, his failure to fulfill the promises made during his campaign has not sat well with many Azerbaijanis.

Lake Urmia "Could Completely Evaporate Within a Week"

 BBC News Azerbaijan – July 24, 2025

The northern part of Lake Urmia could completely evaporate within a week.

This warning was issued by Hojjat Jabbari, the head of the Environmental Protection Department of West Azerbaijan Province.

He stated that if current water management practices, as well as the policies of the Ministries of Agriculture and Energy, continue, the restoration of the lake will not be possible.

The Ethnicization of Crime: A Sociological Reading of Elahe Hosseinnezhad’s Murder

Etek Yazı – 9 June 2025

The Murder of Elahe Hosseinnezhad and the Ethnicization of Crime in Iran

The murder of Elahe Hosseinnezhad has exposed deep fractures in Iranian society, where mourning can quickly give way to marginalization. As public outrage swelled, so too did a troubling shift in discourse—one that placed ethnicity, rather than the root causes of violence, on trial. From media headlines to social media commentary, the focus turned toward the ethnic identity of the alleged perpetrator, evoking long-standing stereotypes about Turks and other non-Persian communities. In this context, sympathy for the victim became a vehicle for scapegoating, and the crime itself was reframed through a lens of racial and regional prejudice. This article interrogates how media narratives and public discourse reproduce Orientalist logics within Iran’s internal borders, constructing “monsters from the periphery” and obscuring structural violence behind ethnic blame. Ultimately, it raises critical questions about who is allowed to be mourned, who is allowed to be demonized, and how national identity is policed through moments of collective grief.

The Struggle for the Right to Turkish Names in South Azerbaijan

June 1, 2025

Identification document

In South Azerbaijan, the “Balamın Adı” (My Child’s Name) petition campaign seeks to amend Iran’s civil registration laws. Launched by Azerbaijani activists on the karzar.net platform, the campaign calls for reforms to Article 20 of the "Civil Registration Law" to strengthen the right of parents to freely choose their child’s name. As the petition states, many parents face restrictions they “have never encountered in their lives,” leaving them unable to obtain birth certificates for their children.

Tractor SC complete journey to upset Iran’s establishment and claim historic title

John Duerden -  The Guardian -  Wed 14 May 2025 

The pre-match show before Tractor’s home game against Nassaji Mazandaran in May. Photograph: Mehrvarz Ahmadi/Anadolu/Getty Images

The club’s success has brought hope, unity and a voice to millions of Azerbaijani- Turks, the largest minority in Iran

The league title was won with games to spare by a coach in his first season, leaving fans in the north-west of the country to wait for the official presentation of the trophy. Jamie Carragher said on Sunday that “Liverpool as a city feels like it is ‘us against the world” but that is nothing when compared to those who follow Tractor SC, a club that brings hope, unity and a voice to millions of Azerbaijani Turks, the largest minority in Iran. Now they have a first Iranian championship to celebrate.

Iran’s Systematic Denial of Identity Documents for Children with Turkish Names

March 19, 2025

The Iranian identity booklet, also known as the Shenasnameh

In a blatant violation of human rights, Iran’s Civil Registration Office continues to deny identity documents to children with Turkish names, leaving them stateless and deprived of essential services. Several families in Azerbaijan and beyond have been subjected to bureaucratic discrimination simply for choosing names that reflect their ethnic and cultural heritage.

The Struggle of Families Choosing Turkish Names for Their Children in Iranian Azerbaijan

 Alirza Quluncu & Vüqar Bəhmənzadə, Voice of America, March 14, 2025

In Iranian Azerbaijan, as well as in provinces such as Tehran, Alborz, and Gilan, there are families who have been unable to obtain identity cards for their children for months or even years due to the Turkish names they have chosen.

A Call for Linguistic Justice: Professors in Iranian Azerbaijan Demand Mother Tongue Education

Hamid Melikoglu, Voice of America, March 6, 2025

Tabriz University

University professors from Azerbaijan’s provinces have sent a letter to the president, urging the government to take immediate steps to ensure the teaching of their mother tongue in schools and universities.

Among the 196 signatories of the letter are faculty members from universities in Tabriz, Ardabil, Urmia, and Maragheh. They have called on the president to introduce a bill in parliament for the teaching of their native language.

Iranian Parliament Rejects Bill on "Teaching Ethnic and Local Literature" in Schools

February 26, 2025

Islamic Republic of Iran Parliament

With a majority vote of its members, the Iranian Parliament has rejected the "Teaching of Ethnic Literature" bill, which was proposed by the Education Commission and consisted of six articles.

According to Iran’s official news agency IRNA, the bill titled "Teaching of Ethnic Literature" was discussed in today's parliamentary session on February 26. Out of 246 participating deputies, the bill was rejected with 104 votes in favour, 130 against, and 5 abstentions, failing to gain approval for its general principles.

"At Sea" (Dənizdə) Play Performed in Turkish at Tabriz City Theater

Alirza Quluncu, Voice of America, February 26, 2025

The poster of the play Dənizdə (At Sea).

The Turkish-language play At Sea (Dənizdə), directed by theatre arts instructor and director Ali Fotouhi, has been on stage at Tabriz City Theater since Sunday.

According to reports from Nasr News and various social media channels, the play is being performed at the Ustad Sadiqi Hall within the Tabriz City Theater complex and will run for 10 days.

Originally written by renowned Polish playwright Sławomir Mrożek, the play has been translated from English into Turkish by Mehdi Velizadeh.

Vahid Qarabagli: Growing Anti-Racism Discourse in Iran May Spark Awareness and Change

Alirza Quluncu, Voice of America, February 23, 2025

Vahid Qarabaghli

Sociologist and activist Vahid Qarabagli discussed the recent debates surrounding "racist chants" that have been prominent in Iranian Azerbaijan and Tehran's sports and political circles in an interview with Voice of America.

Qarabagli expressed his hope that with the strengthening of the "anti-racism discourse" in Iranian Azerbaijan, there will be an increase in awareness about racial slurs in Iranian society.

According to Qarabagli, racist chants in stadiums should be seen as a reflection of broader racist discourses, policies, and practices within mainstream society, and addressing these societal issues is key to eliminating racism.

Arrest of an Activist in Iranian Azerbaijan for Distributing Turkish Books on International Mother Language Day

Hamid Melikoglu, Voice of America, February 23, 2025

Mohammad Asadi

Turkish activist Mohammad Asadi has been summoned and arrested by security forces in Maragheh, a city in East Azerbaijan Province, Iran, for distributing Azerbaijani Turkish storybooks in schools.

Human rights activist Sina Yousifi reported the incident on his X (formerly Twitter) account. According to the information, Asadi was detained on Saturday, February 22, and transferred to the city's prison.

Turkish Language Books Distributed in Iranian Azerbaijan for International Mother Language Day

 February 21, 2025 

Ardabil

Ahead of International Mother Language Day on February 21, national activists in Iranian Azerbaijan have distributed books in Azerbaijani Turkish, particularly among schoolchildren.

According to reports shared on social media, activists in Tabriz, Ardabil, Urmia, Khiyav, Parsabad (Mugan), Qoshachay, Bostanabad (Ujan), and other cities distributed books teaching the grammar of  Turkish, as well as fairy tale books for children. This initiative aims to raise public awareness about the importance of the mother tongue.

The Struggle for Language in Iran and the Caucasus: A Caricature from the Molla Nasraddin Journal

February 20, 2025

 The caricature on the cover of the 38th issue of Molla Nasraddin journal, published in 1906, depicts a man labeled "Turk of Azerbaijan" lying down while three individuals, dressed in distinct attire, attempt to force tongues inscribed with the Farsi, Russian, and Arabic languages into his mouth.

Accompanying the image is the text: "…Oh brothers, I was not created as a langualess nation — why are you shoving these languages into my mouth?"

This satire humorously critiques the imposition of foreign languages and cultures on the Azerbaijani Turks of the time—a policy that has persisted in Iran for over a century.

Founded by Jalil Mammadguluzadeh, Molla Nasraddin was a pioneering satirical magazine that played a key role in early 20th-century Azerbaijani literature and culture. Renowned for addressing significant social and political issues, the magazine actively engaged with topics such as language and alphabet reforms.

Environmental Pollution from the Varzeghan Gold Mines

Narges Rezaie / Anadolu Agency / February 19, 2025

Environmental destruction driven by unsustainable resource exploitation.

According to environmental experts in Iran, the extraction of gold through cyanidation has polluted the water and soil resources of the Varzeghan region in East Azerbaijan, and a water structures expert, in an interview with Anadolu, calls it a serious threat to the survival of wildlife.

Teoman Aktan: Systematic Discrimination Prevails in Iran

Alirza Quluncu, Voice of America, February 18, 2025

Teoman Aktan, political scientist

Political scientist and activist Teoman Aktan, in an interview with Voice of America, analyzed the events that took place on January 26 during the match between Tractor Azerbaijan and Persepolis in Tehran, which remains a topic of heated debate.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian Interrupted for Reciting Turkish Poetry

 February 16, 2025

During the closing ceremony of Tabriz Cultural Week, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian was interrupted and warned by an official while reciting lines from the famous poem Heydar Baba’ya Salam by Mohammad Hossein Behjat Tabrizi (Shahriar).

Before reciting the poem, Pezeshkian noted that he intended to read two lines from Shahriar’s poetry but mentioned that some officials and ministers in the audience did not understand Turkish, so he would continue his speech in Persian. He then began to recite:

"Tractor" Club Owner: The Federation's Decision Encouraged Those Who Shouted "Racist Chants," We Will Pursue the Issue in FIFA

Alirza Quluncu, Voice of America, February 15, 2025

The owner of Tabriz's "Tractor Azerbaijan" club, Mohammad Reza Zonouzi.

Despite the Iranian Football Federation’s announcement, the heated debate surrounding the events of the January 26 match between "Tractor Azerbaijan" and "Persepolis" continues.

The owner of the Tractor club, Mohammad Reza Zonouzi, sharply criticized the decision of the Federation’s disciplinary committee. Zonuzi emphasized that the decision was more of an encouragement than a punishment for the Persepolis supporters who shouted "racist chants."