Iran’s soft power assimilates Kurds
The Iranian state shapes the characteristics of the Kurdish people in the region and uses a policy of “melting” by using its "soft" power.
The Iranian state shapes the characteristics of the Kurdish people in the region and uses a policy of “melting” by using its "soft" power.
Iran's assimilationist policies are applied very delicately. Ecological destruction, cultural genocide, attacks on historical values and Kurdish identity are introduced through assimilationist methods.
Speaking to the ANF, Efruz Feruhzade from the village of Bahramabad said the following on Iran's policies: “The characteristics of the Kurdish people in the region have been studied and a policy of reshaping Kurdish identity with soft power has been followed. Iran's policies are not based on a simple denial. Iran gives some opportunities to people by keeping them under control. For example, they can open courses in their native language. There are publications in different languages at local and national level. Minorities can live their own culture and artistic activities up to a point, but they are not allowed to do politics and are under the control and supervision of the state. In other words, Iran is deceiving the people with prudent politics. It keeps saying to the Kurds: "You have the law, you have every opportunity, so be silent". This situation is an illusion.
PERSIAN IDENTITY IS IDEALIZED
Iran popularizes Persian identity and presents it as an ideal model. There is no official school in the Kurdish language, there is no education in the mother tongue. Kurdish language gradually grows Persian. The Iranian state insidiously makes Kurds prone to Persian identity. Iran does not allow any civil action, willpower and self-expression.
RADIO AND TELEVISION
The Iranian state has been setting up radio and television channels specific to each region to trick the Kurds, who have the strongest opposition power. Although TV channels try to speak with the culture and language of that region, they actually make the propaganda of the state. Kurdish dances are performed, Kurdish songs are sung. News is given in Kurdish. In short, the radio makes all the propaganda of the state in different dialects of Kurdish. In this way, the public reaction is weakened. The main policy of Iran is to try to get results by speaking to its people with a very sophisticated politics. In fact, it destroys the political will.
YOUNG MARRIAGE PROMOTED
A rebellious and resisting youth is always dangerous for Iran. One way to keep the youth away from these thoughts is to make them dependent on the state by paving the way for them to marry at an early age. This makes them dependent on the state. Iran gives loans for marriage. For this reason, it is constantly emphasized in the media that early marriage is a law of Sharia, that marriage should be developed, and if it is not done, it is a sin. Families are putting pressure on their children to get married.
SPECIAL REGIONS
Places such as Sine, Kermanshah and Urmia are among the regions on which the state focuses. Sine has been chosen as the main target. During the Komala resistance, Sine was dominated by the Komala organization. In other words, it is the center of both the revolution and Kurdish literature. The great revolutionaries came out of there, but it is one of the most marginalized places today. Iran tries every way to keep the Sine people away from Kurdishness.
THE STATE IS CONCERNED ABOUT PJAK
The people of Rojhilat (East Kurdistan) are patriotic people. They used to have an emotional patriotism anyway, but now, with the organization of the Kurdistan Free Life Party (PJAK), the political and ideological awareness of the people is increasing day by day. Commitment to PJAK is growing. For this reason, the state is making propaganda against the PJAK organization among the people.”