The Memory Destruction and Reconstruction Games within the Scope of Persianization Politics in Iran

This research examines how collective memory management has influenced the images, symbols, historical artifacts, names, and language of Turkish culture in Iran since 1925 and how Turks for anti-discrimination have responded.

This study employed a qualitative research model, with data collected through a relevant literature review and interviews. The sample was selected from Turks who have expressed reactions to the Persianization process.

The findings were obtained through open and axial coding of the collected data and an inductive inquiry strategy.

The findings revealed that, in line with the assimilation (Persianization) policies implemented in Iran, historiography and memory management practices based on Persian nationalism have been perpetuated against Turkish identity and its collective memory. This process is carried out by erasure, forgetting, amnesia, annulment, obsoletion, abandoning, humiliating, and banning symbolic representations, historical artifacts, names, and the language belonging to Turkish culture. The findings also demonstrated that Turks have not remained passive in the face of these practices but have actively sought to commemorate and preserve their language, names, historical events, artifacts, and heroes through artistic events, ceremonies, sports competitions, new media, legal channels and protests.

From the selective coding of the findings, it can be concluded that the management of collective memory based on essentialist, monist, exclusionary and supremacist Persian nationalism are nowadays being questioned and debated in intellectual discussion, political competition and everyday life scenes. It can be concluded that the attitude of the political authority is not towards recognizing ethnonational diversity and their rights in Iran, but towards maintaining uncertainty.