Araz News: Iranian government sources say president Rouhani has plans to give education in mother tongues to non-Persian peoples of Iran.

Mr. Younesi, president’s aid on ethnics and minorities’ affairs and governors of West Azerbaijan and East Azerbaijan provinces have announced government’s plan in separate statements. Iranian officials do not give date or details about the plan.

Iran is a multinational country. More than 50% of Iran’s population consists of non-Persian peoples. Turkic nation (South Azerbaijani Turks and other Turkic oriented peoples) is second biggest nation with about 40 percentage of entire population. Kurds, Arabs and Balochs are other major communities.

While education in mother tongues is recognized by 15^th item of Iranian constitution, there is no official education in mother tongues. There is a de facto ban on non-Persian langues in Iran.

Increasingly growing demands for national rights by non-Persian peoples force Iranian authorities to take action. Education in mother tongue is one of main demands of non-Persian peoples.

However, some experts say that announcing such a plan is a populist maneuver of president Rouhani and Iranian regime does not have necessary capacity to carry out such a structural reform.

Mr. Rouhani gave several promises to Azerbaijani people during his electoral campaign. Saving Lake Urmia, education in Azerbaijani Turkish and establishing Azerbaijani Turkish institution were the three promises Mr. Rouhani gave to Turkish nation in Iran. Critics say president Rouhani have taken no practical steps to implement these promises, except populist speeches.