International Mother Language Day 2025: Ahwaz as a Stark Example of Language Rights Violations

On the 25th anniversary of International Mother Language Day, observed annually on February 21st, the Arab people of Ahwaz continue to endure the harshest forms of linguistic oppression under Iranian occupation since 1925.

A Systematic War on Identity

While countries around the world celebrate their achievements in preserving mother languages, Ahwazis face a systematic war aimed at erasing their Arab identity through forced “Persianization” policies that have become a daily tool of repression.

Ahwaz, which has been under occupation since 1925, stands as a stark example of violations against the principles of International Mother Language Day. In this region, home to an estimated 10 to 12 million Arab citizens, the teaching and use of the Arabic language face unique challenges.

Human rights reports indicate that 90% of Ahwazi children are forced to abandon their mother tongue by the third grade. Social media posts from Ahwazi activists reveal shocking practices, including severe corporal punishment for students who speak Arabic in schools, while they are compelled to chant Persian slogans.

These systematic efforts to erase their identity have resulted in 62% of Ahwazi students dropping out before completing high school. The lack of official Arabic-language education in schools makes it difficult for Arab students to maintain proficiency in their mother tongue.

Moreover, restrictions on the use of Arabic in government offices have fostered feelings of discrimination and discontent among the Ahwazi people.

Creativity Under Oppression

Despite these challenges, efforts to preserve and promote mother languages continue in Ahwaz. Cultural and linguistic activists work to maintain their language through training courses, publishing books and magazines, and utilizing social media. In response to stringent restrictions, Ahwazis have devised unconventional methods to protect their linguistic heritage. Recently, “secret schools” have emerged in private homes, where children receive Arabic education through locally developed curricula.

Social gatherings have also become opportunities to reinforce the use of Arabic, reviving Arab poetry and musical traditions. The social media campaign #MyLanguageMyIdentity, launched by Ahwazi activists, attracted more than two million participants globally in 2024, drawing attention to linguistic cleansing crimes.

Attempts to Erase Identity

Efforts to erase the Arab identity of Ahwaz date back to 1925 when the Iranian occupation changed the names of 78% of historical cities. Documents from Iran’s National Archives reveal a systematic plan that began with altering place names and culminated in the complete ban on Arabic publications in 1979.

Ahwazis also suffer from deliberate environmental pollution caused by Iranian petrochemical plants, with the region recording some of the highest cancer rates globally. Despite mounting human rights campaigns, international organizations deliberately overlook Iranian violations due to geopolitical interests.

Ahwaz accounts for 90% of Iran’s oil resources, which explains the media blackout surrounding the crisis. Leaked documents reveal the cooperation of foreign companies with Iran in exploiting Ahwaz’s wealth while its people remain deprived.

The plight of Ahwazi Arabs on International Mother Language Day 2025 is a true test of humanity’s conscience. While the UAE invests $500 million annually to protect the Arabic language, Tehran continues to spend billions to eradicate it from its roots in Ahwaz.

Human rights organizations call on the international community to pressure Iran to implement Arabic-language education in Ahwaz, halt forced displacement policies, and protect linguistic activists.