Iranian parliament rejects proposal to teach literature in ethnic languages

Iran's parliament, the Islamic Consultative Assembly, has rejected a proposal to introduce literature classes in local and ethnic languages in schools.

The decision was made during a public session on February 26, Caliber.Az reports per Iranian media.

The parliamentarians disagreed with the report from the parliamentary commission on education, research, and technology regarding the plan to teach literature in ethnic and local languages.

Out of 246 members present, 130 voted against the initiative to include two hours of native language literature instruction weekly in Iranian schools, while 104 supported it, and five abstained.

One of the vocal opponents, Mohammad Mehdi Shahriari, a member of the parliamentary committee on national security and foreign policy, argued that such a measure would be detrimental to Iran's "territorial integrity."

Article 15 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran grants the freedom to use local and ethnic languages alongside Persian in the media, and allows for the teaching of literature in these languages.

By Aghakazim Guliyev