and discriminatory practices and denial of employment and restrictions on access to education
and other basic services.12
Article 19 of the Constitution guarantees that all people enjoy equal rights, “whatever the ethnic
group or tribe to which they belong” and that “color, race, language, and the like, do not bestow
any privilege.”13 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,
Balochis and Kurds face targeted discrimination on the basis of their identity and are generally
sidelined 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)
lacking access to education in their mother tongues. 14 15 These concerns were echoed by the U.N
Secretary General, 16 17 18 noting reports that indicate members of ethno-linguistic minorities,
including the Azeri community as well as Arabs, were being denied the opportunity to teach their
language in schools. 19 This struggle can be explained by the reported state-imposed ban on
Azeri-Turkish being taught in school. 20 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.21 Furthermore, Kurdish language teachers have been facing
harassment and persecution.22
12
Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, 18 July 2019,
https://undocs.org/Home/Mobile?FinalSymbol=A%2F74%2F188&Language=E&DeviceType=Desktop
13
The Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran, English translation, https://irandataportal.syr.edu/wpcontent/uploads/constitution-english-1368.pdf
14
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
15
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
16
IRNA News, www.irna.ir/news/83404283/ (in Farsi).
17
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
18
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
19
Report of the U.N. Secretary General, August 2019, https://undocs.org/en/A/74/273
20
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/
21
Minority Groups, https://minorityrights.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Rights-Denied-Violations-against-ethnic-andreligious-minorities-in-Iran.pdf
22
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
3