Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Science and Education Calls on Iran to Uphold Its Constitution and Ensure Mother-Tongue Education for 40 Million Azerbaijanis

“As a result of Iran’s policies, there is not a single school in the country (Iran — ed.) where instruction is provided in the Azerbaijani language.”

This statement was made in a release issued by the Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

The statement also noted that instruction in Azerbaijani is not provided at higher education institutions either:

“Yet approximately 40 million of Iran’s population are ethnic Azerbaijanis with deep historical roots in the country, and they have been deprived of the right to receive education in their mother tongue for decades.

Instead of interfering in the internal affairs of Azerbaijan, Iran’s Minister of Science, Research and Technology, along with other Iranian officials speaking on this issue, would do well to address these matters and take steps to remedy this unprecedented injustice that has persisted for decades.”

It should be noted that Iran’s Minister of Science, Research and Technology, Hossein Simaei Sarraf, has criticized the introduction of a standardized school uniform policy in Azerbaijan. He has also offered to provide a “free educational environment” for girls who claim to have been deprived of their right to education, while stating that Iranian universities are ready to admit Azerbaijani girls.