22
Mohammad Kazem Shariatmadari, an influential figure in
Iran. Khomeini went to Turkey and hence France.
18
Another topic to point out was; While Turks in Iran
Azerbaijan were called Turks and Tatars until 1936, Turks
were
called
Azerbaijani
and
Turkish
was
called
Azerbaijanese after 1937. Besides, having many heroes in
their community, Turks in Iran have continued their
struggles to date. Turks published their own newspapers in
Turkish for the first time in 1978 and they took a leading
role in overthrow of shah regime in Iran in 1979. After
Khomeini regime proved successful, drafting and adopting a
new constitution meant that a new dictator would rule Iran.
Leader of Muslim People’s Republic Party Mohammad
Kazem Shariatmadari was one of the leading figures who
opposed it.
In the meantime, he supported Muslim People’s
Republic Party which asked for more rights for Turks of
South Azerbaijan. In his speeches and statements, he
emphasized that Shiites, Sunnis and Alevites believe in the
same holy book, their unity should not be broken due to
sectarian differences and solidarity between Muslim
countries would strengthen their development against non-
Muslim world. He said that he had sympathy for Turks all
around the world, the people rebelled
against the Shah to end
dictatorship but the country was on the verge of going back
to those days. His house was raided on 6th December 1979,
which resulted in eruption of great conflicts in Iran.
Right after the raiding, Turks set up barricades in the
streets of Qom and clashed with Khomeini supporters.
Protests spread to Tabriz where Turks were the majority.
Although Khomeini forces asked him to break ties with
Muslim People’s Republic Party, Mohammad Kazem
Shariatmadari refused to do so. Turks seised government
offices, radio-television and the post office. They demanded
that the Constitution should be revised in line with
Shariatmadari’s requests. However, threatening protestors
with air bombardment of the city and receiving support from
terrorists arriving from Palestine, Iran repressed the uprising
18
Attar,
a.g.e., p.131-139.
23
by killing thousands and arresting hundreds.
19
It can be
argued that Mohammad Kazem Shariatmadari’s goal to
avoid a civil war preventing more casualties but whether or
not it was the right decision is a matter of debate.
In June of 1980, General Mukhtar Karabag who
united South Azerbaijani Turks under Musavat Party
demanded autonomy for Azerbaijani Turks for the unity of
Iran. However, Iran waged war against Iraq, which ended
this movement even before it gained momentum. In April of
1982,
Medari was arrested, tortured and made to confess that
he was an American spy. He finally died on probation on 3rd
March 1986.
20
However, North Azerbaijan in Soviet Union
declared independence in 1991, which led to a boost in
nationalist sentiments in the South.
North and South, in other
words United Azerbaijan nationalists strived for mergence of
the country lands. The great Turkish nationalist Abulfaz
Elchibey declared that he did not recognize Iran’s territorial
integrity, different communities were kept together by force
like in the old Soviet Union, Turks populated a large portion
of the country and North and South would be united sooner
or later. The Islamic Republic of Iran did not stand idle in
the meantime. Since its national unity, territorial integrity
and regime began to be threatened, they helped Armenia
defeat North Azerbaijan national government in cooperation
with Russia and Armenia. Later on efforts for north-south
unity slowed down due to overthrow of the national
government in North Azerbaijan.
Movements against the regime are mostly
administered by Turks today. As a matter of fact, Persian
goverment of Iran considers Azerbaijani Turks and other
Turkmens as a threat. What keeps Iran in unity today is
Shiite Islam. However, nationalist sentiments can erupt from
time to time as in case of Iran. Reaction by Azerbaijani
Turkish mollahs who are loyal to the Islamic regime of Iran
over changing the name of Eastern Azerbaijan province in
1992 is a clear example.
19
Tercüman Gazetesi, newspaper dated 2 December 1979; A.Karaca,
“Türk Ellerinden Azerbaycan”,
Töre, Issue 143, Ankara 1983, p.59; Attar,
a.g.e., p.311, 320;
Güney Azerbaycan Türklüğünün Özgürlük
Mücadelesi…, p.12-13; B.Shahed,
Şeriatmedari, Ankara 2014, p.15-41.
20
Attar,
a.g.e., p.150-151.