any privilege”.20 Article 20 of the Constitution states that “All citizens of the country, both men
and women, equally enjoy the protection of the law and enjoy all human, political, economic,
social, and cultural rights, in conformity with Islamic criteria”. Yet, Arabs, Azerbaijani Turks,
Baluchis and Kurds face targeted discriminations on the basis of their identity and are generally
side-lined from general public services, including education and health care.
For instance, the use of minority languages is effectively restricted under the Constitution,
notably in school where the teaching of a minority language is only permitted for literature
classes. The Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in the Islamic Republic of Iran
raised concerns about reports of Kurdish, Ahwazi Arab and Azerbaijani-Turk (or Azeri-Turk)
individuals lacking access to education in their mother tongues. 21 22 These concerns were echoed
by the U.N Secretary General, 23 24 25 noting reports indicating that members of ethno-linguistic
minorities, including the Azeri community as well as Arabs, were being denied the opportunity
to teach their language in schools. 26 The reported state-imposed ban on teaching Azeri-Turkish
in school would explain such struggles. 27 The Ministry of Education has reportedly circulated
reminders to teachers and school administrators that the use of Kurdish and Turkish languages
inside public schools is forbidden.28 Furthermore, Kurdish language teachers have faced
harassment and persecution.29 Additionally, ethnic minorities are widely underrepresented in
public affairs. For instance, no province governor belongs to an ethnic minority. None of the
provinces that are populated in majority by minority groups, like Kurdistan, Sistan-andBalochistan, Golestan, East and West Azerbaidjan, are run by a person belonging to that
minority.30 Furthermore, provinces in Iran that are predominantly inhabited by ethnic minorities,
20
The Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran, English translation, https://irandataportal.syr.edu/wpcontent/uploads/constitution-english-1368.pdf
21
Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, January 2020,
https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Countries/IR/Report_of_the_Special_Rapporteur_on_the_situation_of_human_rights_in_the_
Islamic_Republic_of_IranA4361.pdf
22
See more : Association for the human rights of the Azerbaijani people in Iran,
https://tbinternet.ohchr.org/Treaties/CRC/Shared%20Documents/IRN/INT_CRC_NGO_IRN_19735_E.pdf
23
IRNA News, www.irna.ir/news/83404283/ (in Farsi).
24
Report of the U.N. Secretary General, January 2020,
https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Countries/IR/Report_of_the_SecretaryGeneral_on_the_situation_of_human_rights_in_the_Islamic_Republic_of_IranA4320.pdf
25
Report of the U.N. Secretary General, January 2020,
https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Countries/IR/Report_of_the_SecretaryGeneral_on_the_situation_of_human_rights_in_the_Islamic_Republic_of_IranA4320.pdf
26
Report of the U.N. Secretary General, August 2019, https://undocs.org/en/A/74/273
27
Center for Human Rights in Iran, https://iranhumanrights.org/2019/03/irans-intelligence-ministry-slaps-azeri-rights-activistwith-new-charges-claim-hes-organizing-protests-from-prison/
28
Minority Groups, https://minorityrights.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Rights-Denied-Violations-against-ethnic-andreligious-minorities-in-Iran.pdf
29
Joint submission to the Human Rights Committee from All Human Rights for All in Iran, Association for Human Rights in
Kurdistan – Geneva, Association for the Human Rights of the Azerbaijani People in Iran, Iran Human Rights Documentation
Center, OutRight International, Siamak Pourzand Foundation, Small Media, Impact Iran, 2020,
https://tbinternet.ohchr.org/Treaties/CCPR/Shared%20Documents/IRN/INT_CCPR_NGO_IRN_42317_E.pdf
30
Joint submission to the Human Rights Committee from All Human Rights for All in Iran, Association for Human Rights in
Kurdistan – Geneva, Association for the Human Rights of the Azerbaijani People in Iran, Iran Human Rights Documentation
Center, OutRight International, Siamak Pourzand Foundation, Small Media, Impact Iran, 2020,
https://tbinternet.ohchr.org/Treaties/CCPR/Shared%20Documents/IRN/INT_CCPR_NGO_IRN_42317_E.pdf
4