2024-02-10 15:08:19
New signs were installed in the historic market by the Municipality and Cultural Heritage Department in Khoy, West Azerbaijan Province, Iran. The names of dozens of historical parts of the bazaar have been translated into Persian and their historical and ancient names have been changed. Farshchi market, Copper market, Panjarachi market, Rasta market and Doshabchi etc. the names were changed and replaced with Persian names.
Last year, in a similar event, Khoy’s cultural heritage administration changed the name of the historical monument of the Castle Gate from the Elkhanli period to “Darvaze Sangi” – a Persian name meaning stone gate.
Built during the Safavid dynasty, Khoy’s historical bazaar was once Iran’s second largest covered bazaar. Since the market was on the Silk Road, it was considered one of the most important trade centers at that time. Although it was later destroyed, it was restored by Abbas Mirza during the Qajar dynasty.
National and cultural activists in Iran-Azerbaijan are protesting the removal of the names of natural and historical places by the authorities and replacing them with Persian names, demanding the return of ancient Turkish names.
In 2015, by the decision of the city council of Urmia, the center of the West Azerbaijan province, the signs showing the Persianized names of the streets and neighborhoods were removed and replaced with signs in Turkish. That decision of the city council was welcomed by cultural and national activists, as well as by the people.
Last year, the Istisu Spring and Moving Chamli Lake tourism places were replaced by Persian names by the Cultural Heritage Department of the city of Tikantep (Tekab) in Iran-Azerbaijan, despite the citizens’ protest. Also, Ardabil Municipality and Cultural Heritage Department last April announced the Turkish names of Ardabil’s historical market, including Demirchi Bazaar, Gyylchi Bazaar, Bashmaqchi Bazaar, etc. it is reported that he changed the names.
Cultural activists in Iranian Azerbaijan say that changing the names of historical and geographical places in Turkish is part of the distortion of the identity of the cities and assimilation policies.
Voice of America