Happy Yalda

Monday, 30 Azar, 1388 AP

I wish every one of you, my beloved countrymen, as well as the lovers of Iranian culture, a happy Yalda.

Our ancestors believed that the night of 30 Azar to 1 Day (Iranian calendar), which is the longest night of the year, is the birthday of Mithra – the goddess of sun. This is the night of the strongest battle between light and dark and between good and evil, where good wins over evil, and light wins over darkness. After 1 Day, the days grow longer once again, and the amount of sunlight increases every day.

The fact that Christmas is celebrated on December 25 in the Roman Catholic Church, and consequently in the Protestant branches of Christianity, has roots in Mithra’s birthday. The worship of Mithra seems to have become popular within the Roman military. However, due to the miscalculation of the solstice, Christmas was placed on December 25.

I hope that the dark days of our nation and our country is the “Yalda Night,” and that a bright future is awaiting us. With God’s grace and providence, our great nation will come out of this “Yalda Night,” and the evil forces will all be destroyed.

Saadi, a 13th century Iranian poet, has said:

همه بر آن همه دردم امید درمان هست
که آخری بود آخر شبان یلدارا

Hamah bar ân hamah dardam omid-e darmân hast
Keh âkhari bovad âkhar şabân-e yaldâ-râ

There is hope that all my aches will be cured
Because there will finally be an end to the yalda nights

May you always be victorious!!!

Anti-Iranian Sentiment & Tajikistan

Originally published in Jaam-e Jam in Persian on Monday, 30 Ordebehesht, 1387 AP/19 May, 2008 AD

A few weeks ago, I came across an article on Tajikistan from the New York Times, which was published in 1993 AD. The article talked about the Tajikistan civil war. After I read the article, a feeling of interest appeared in me, and I was interested to see what the newspaper has written about Tajikistan since independence and during the civil war. After seeing the articles, I came to a conclusion that it is not far fetched if the United States has also played a role in the imposed Tajik civil war.

On February 7, 1992, the newspaper reports that the Bush administration (Bush senior) wants to speed up the process of appointing ambassadors to the Caucasus and Central Asia, in order to block Iranian “ambitions” in the region. The article notes that Iran is a sponsor of terrorism in the world, and is a danger to the world. According to the United States government information, Iran is shopping for missiles and nuclear bombs in the area, where there are left over ones from the Soviet Union. The article also mentions that it is fortunate that most of these countries are linguistically and culturally Turkic, and not Persian; and from the religious perspective they are Sunni and not Shi’a. Approximately a week later, on February 13, President Bush meets with the Turkish Prime Minister, Süleyman Demirel, to discuss Iraq and the regime of Saddam Hussein. During this meeting, the sides also discuss Central Asia. The United States wants to promote Turkey as a model of development to Central Asia. Mr. Demirel says that Central Asia will not turn to Islamic fundamentalism, because “They are Turkic-speaking countries. Historically, culturally, they see Turkey as an example.” He also views the decision by some of these countries to go to Latin script as an important step.

A day before this article, a report is published about Secretary of State, James Baker’s trip to Tajikistan. Based on this report, the United States is worried that Tajikistan may sell its uranium to Iran. President Rahman Nabiev assures that Tajikistan will not sell its uranium to any country. Mr. Baker also declares his worry about the relations between Tajikistan and Iran, and says that creation of an Islamic state would be a great mistake. Mr. Nabiev assures Mr. Baker that Iran’s geographical proximity to Tajikistan demands good relations with them. However, neither him, nor the mostly Russian-speaking élites like the fundamentalist message. Mr. Baker is also pleased to see that despite independence, the business language remains Russian, and not Persian. On February 22, an article is published in the newspaper, which states that it would be better if Saudi Arabia has influence in Central Asia, as opposed to Iran. It is interesting that today the Wahhabis are a danger to the world, who are supported by the Saudis. Such anti-Iranian sentiment is felt in all the New York Times articles. After a few more articles we see that the war has broken out in Tajikistan. Finally, a letter to the editor is published December 1, from Dr. Richard N. Frye, from Harvard, who is one of the greatest Iranologists. A part of the letter says, “I am dismayed by the constant refrain of the great danger that Iran and Islam pose for the world, especially now in articles on Afghanistan and Central Asia, particularly Tajikistan. Having lived for years in all of these countries, I believe that neither the peoples nor the governments wish to spread their influence or that of Islam. What they want, above all, is peace and stability, and Shiite Persians are not about to convert Sunni Muslims in Central Asia. …rather than indict Muslims or Iranians, we should cooperate…”

Another letter to the editor is written by a Ralph Groves, which is published on February 1, 1993. The author says that he has studied Afghanistan in Columbia University, and is not only worried about Iran getting influence among the Farsiwans, Hazaras, and the Tajiks, but even on the other side of the river – in the former Soviet Republic of Tajikistan. He says that this Iranian chain can go from Iran to the west and north-east of Afghanistan, and up to Tajikistan. It can create a cultural, social, and political coöperation. On November 7, an article is published – “THE WORLD: Playing Dominoes in Central Asia; Why All Eyes Are on a Place Called Tajikistan.” The article notes that Islamism in this country is worrisome for the whole world. The United States is also worried about Iran’s influence in this country, according to the article.
These articles showed once more that the superpowers are after Iran’s destruction. The United States knew from the beginning that Tajikistan has Iranian language, culture, and ethnicity. The United States and the West are worried about Iran, because they know that Iran has the ability to become a power. Iran today is the only country in the Middle East that has an independent policy and the close relations of such a country as Tajikistan to Iran is worrisome for the United States.

Tajiks of “Uzbekistan”

Thursday, 12 Ordebehesht, 1387 AP/1 May, 2008 AD

I would like to write about the issue of Tajiks, who live in the lands under the control of the Occupational Regime of Uzbekistan. This issue is very important to all Iranians, and requires attention. In the past two-three days that I was researching on the issue, I came across very disturbing information, and it became clear to me that the thoughts and the emotions that I have are not baseless. Tajik people do not have their basic rights.

According to the information by the Independent Human Rights Organization of Uzbekistan, published Novoye Pokolenie newspaper (Almaty, Kazakhstan), textbooks in Cyrillic Persian (a.k.a. Tajik) language were destroyed in 2001 in Samarqand and Bokhara, based on the order of the Ministry of Education of Uzbekistan. Only in Samarqand over 2 thousand textbooks on technical and natural sciences were destroyed. This trend continues to date throughout the lands under the control of this Regime. Jamal Mirsaidov, a representative of the Independent Human Rights Organization of Uzbekistan says, “There is not a single book in the Tajiki in the library next to my house. The worst thing is that great books from Avicenna, Saadi, Shakespeare, Byron, Pushkin, and others are being destroyed,” all of which were in Persian. According to this information, only one educational institution exists today in Samarqand, where education is in Persian; it is the Persian Department of the Samarqand University. Moreover, the Occupational Regime of Uzbekistan has done ethnic cleansing. According to the Tajikistan official sources, the Occupational Regime of Uzbekistan has removed approximately 5 thousand Tajiks from their homes in Sorkhandarya Province to other locations under the charges of terrorism and Islamic radicalism.

The most hurtful thing is that the Tajiks, who live under the Regime, are silent about all the setback of their rights. This is because the Regime has done its best to break the backs of the people. This is part of the long-term “Uzbekization” policy of the Regime. Since the Turkestan Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic was created, whose main leaders were Pan-Turkists, the Uzbekization of the Tajiks began. Based on the 1915 AD census, the Tajik population of Samarqand was 59,991 and Uzbek was 819. In 1920 AD, the Tajik population becomes 44,573 and Uzbek – 3311. Finally, in 1926, 10,716 Tajiks are registered in Samarqand, while the Uzbek population reaches 43,304. Moreover, the Tajik (or Iranians) are divided up even further; those who were Shi’a, are registered as “Fars” (which means Persian), while they did not have any difference form each other; they were and are one nation. Are non-Shi’as who lives within the borders of current-day Iran not Iranian?

In 1989 AD, with the national awakening, especially among the intelligentsia, throughout the former Soviet Union, including the lands under the control of the Occupational Regime of Uzbekistan, nationalistic movements appeared. This group wanted to create an Autonomous Republic of Soghd (Sogdiana), which would include all these territories. However, this organization was destroyed by the force of the Regime under the leadership of Islam Karimov. In order to disperse the nationalistic feelings in the Occupied Territories, imposed a war on Tajikistan. He was able to shut down the border between Tajikistan and Uzbekistan under the pretext of war and “Islamism.” He crushed the groups that wanted freedom under the pretext of fighting terrorism and Islamic extremism. One of the leaders of the Tajik population in Samarqand, Hayat Ni’mat, was arrested and was tortured. The same was Mr. Bikmohammadov’s fate, who was arrested by the Regime’s secret services in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan. The leaders and members of the group were arrested and tortured.

The President of the Occupational Regime of Uzbekistan, Islam Karimov, always announces that Tajiks and Uzbeks are one nation that speaks in two languages. This is the continuation of the Pan-Turkist policies, which claimed that Tajks are the Turks, who have become Iranicized. When the national republics were being created in Central Asia, in 1926, a representative of Uzbekistan, Ali Khajaev, notes that there is no difference between the Tajiks and the Uzbeks, and they should unite under the name of Uzbek.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=FUEo8MeDrWQ

Russia will not give up Its "Property"

Thursday, 5 Ordebehesht, 1388/24 April, 2008

Georgia announced on Monday that Russia has struck its jet without a pilot within the Georgian territory – the separatist republic of Abkhazia.

In 1992, Russia supported the separatist Abkhazia, and helped the destruction of Georgian forces. If we take a closer look, we will notice that almost all of the conflicts of the former Soviet Union took place around the same time, and Russia had a hand in all of them. Now that Georgia wants to defend its independence, Russia, “the Lord of all the lands between the Black Sea and the Pacific Ocean, and from the Baltic Sea to the Amu Darya” does not want to give up “its property.”

After the fall of the Soviet Union, Russia created war and conflict in all the corners of its former empire. Georgia was only one of Russia's objectives. The Russia secret services created separatist sentiment in Abkhazia, and then this region declared its independence with the support of Russia. When Georgia defended its territorial integrity, it lost due to Russian military assistance. Russia also supported South Ossetia. While North Ossetia is within the Russian territory, they help South Ossetia to become “independent.” If Russia is so interested in the Ossetian independence, then why do they not give independence to North Ossetia? Russia’s only aim is to keep Georgia within its domain and nothing else. However, we will leave the Ossetian issue aside, because Ossetians are actually Iranian (Iranic) people, who came under Russian rule in the 19th century AD, and are different from the Georgian people. The issue of Abkhazia is different however. This land has been one with Georgia for the course of history. It is true that they do not speak Georgian, but their language has the same root with Georgian. Just as the Badakhshanis and the Persian speakers, and Kurds and others are the same and are all Iranian, Abkhaz people are also the same with the Georgians. The Abkhaz people have played a major role in the process of building Georgia and later in the process of its reunification. According to Encyclopedia Iranica, even the term Abkhazia “often comes to denote the whole land of Georgia.”

I must note that I respect the proud people of Georgia. These people are not giving up their independence despite all the pressure and bullying by Russia. These people kept their script even during Soviet times. According to some researchers, they did not defend their script, but Stalin, who was a Georgian, did not do anything. However, the study of Stalin’s personality shows that while he was a Georgian, he was very uncompassionate towards the Georgians as well.

Russia tried to create a revolution in Georgia a few months ago, but the Georgian people, despite all the economic hardships, supported their government. We, Tajiks, did not defend our government in 1992 AD, and allowed for someone who Russia wanted to come to power. I am afraid that a revolution can be organized by Russia in Tajikistan. The people of Tajikistan should have a government that they want, and a one that is truly national, but we should be careful that a “doll of Moscow” (or any other country) is not put in the Presidential Palace, and take us further away from our roots.

Our Language and Alphabet

Thursday, 22 Farvardin, 1387/10 April, 2008


According to the information of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s Tajikistan service, Nurmohammad Amirshahi, a specialist of the Institute of Oriental Studies of Tajikistan, has asked the President, Emamali Rahman, to return to the Persian script. This issue was also raised during the annual meeting of the President with the Tajik intelligentsia.

It should be noted that this issue first came up in 1989 AD. Based on the Language Law, which was approved by the Shura-ye Ali (Supreme Council – Legislature of Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic) in that year, Tajikistan was supposed to return to the Persian script in 1997 AD. Although I was young, I do remember the days after the Law was approved. I remember that all signs in the city were written in Cyrillic and Persian scripts. However, start of the imposed civil war in Tajikistan and the coming of a new government to power, anti-Persian sentiment increased in Tajikistan, and all the Persian writings were removed from the avenues and streets of Dushanbe. Let us remind that Tajikistan turned away from the Persian script in 1930 AD by the wish of the Soviet government, turning to Latin script; and then turned to Cyrillic in 1939 AD based on the new decision.

According to Mr. Amirshahi, Cyrillic script has “separated Tajikistan from the world and kept it without any information about the world. World achievements are not available to us in this script.” Mr. Amirshahi also notes that “all of the world literature is available in Iran in Persian script.” It is true that today the people of Tajikistan receive world literature and the latest scientific and technological achievements in Russian. This process does not only not support the reduction of the Russian language’s influence and lifting the status of the official, national language and bringing it to its rightful place, but it increases the influence of the Russian language.

Some analysts believe that turning to the Persian script will make the Tajik people illiterate. As they say, learning of the Persian script has many difficulties, and in order to write correctly in this script, the knowledge of the Arabic language is necessary. In this case, the Ministry of Education will have to enter Arabic language into the curriculum. Without question, knowledge of Arabic helps improve Persian (also referred to as “Tajiki”); just as the knowledge of Latin helps an English-speaker. However, it is not necessary at all. Writing in Persian script has no difficulty and it is not more difficult than writing, for instance, in English and Russian. When a person normally reads in that script, they get used to it. Russian, European, and American scholars of Persian literature are all able to write and read in this script, while almost none of them have learned Arabic.

The other concern is that changing the script will create problems for Tajikistan's current economy. This is surely an important issue, and it should be considered. However, changing the script is not impossible. Countries like Iran and perhaps even Arab countries are interested that Tajikistan returns to Persian script. Even today Iran is providing textbooks for learning Persian script free of charge to the schools of Tajikistan. I am sure that Iran will help as much as it can. The government officials of Tajikistan should look into it more.

The issue of script pulls us to another hurtful question, which is the issue of our language. The goal of forceful change to Cyrillic was to separate the people of Tajikistan from Afghanistan and Iran with whom we speak the same language. The government of the Soviets creates a story based on which the word “Tajiki” appears. In other words, the language of the Tajiks of Central Asia is “Tajiki,” while the language of Iran and Afghanistan is Persian. The word “Tajiki” does not appear anywhere until the 20th century AD. If our language is not Persian, then what is it? What is the “Tajiki” language? When one person from Tajikistan, one from Iran, and one from Afghanistan speak to each other, do they need a translator? The Language Law of Tajikistan used to say that “The official language of the Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic is the Tajiki (Persian) language.” However, the Constitution that was passed in 1994 AD, states: “The official language of Tajikistan is the Tajiki language.” Of course, some people say that it is only a name, and what does it matter. However, in the times of Globalisation, is it better if we speak a language spoken in Greater Tajikistan (meaning today’s Tajikistan and our lands in Uzbekistan), or a language spoken by the people of Greater Tajikistan, Afghanistan with 30 million population, and Iran with 70 million population? Our language is our identity, and loosing our identity will lead to the disappearance of our statehood.