In Northern Khorasan, Iranian intelligence service Itlaat launched an investigation on author Ebas Ismaili for preparing an educational book on the Kurmanci dialect of Kurdish in the Latin alphabet.

According to the Rojhilat Human Rights and Democracy Center, Ismaili is being investigated by the Iranian intelligence for preparing an educational book in the Latin alphabet and has been called in to give a statement.

Ismaili is being investigated by the Meshet city Itlaat office and has been told: “The Latin alphabet is the alphabet of terrorist groups. These groups are targeting the Islamic Republic of Iran. Publications in this alphabet are banned.”

Emû Elewî Publishing has published 8 children’s books and 30 books on literature in Kurmanci using the Latin alphabet, and is now facing the threat of being shut down.

Khorasani intellectuals and authors state that the Kurmanci dialect of Kurdish is the spoken native tongue of the region and demand the obstacles for using it in education be lifted. Intellectuals and authors demand Article 15 of the Iranian Constitution that states non-Persian peoples can receive education in their own language to be instated.

Some years ago, the Bicnûrd Baxçiq village assembly changed the street names to Kurdish using the Latin alphabet, but in a couple of days a state of emergency was declared in the village, the Kurdish signages were removed and replaced with street signs in English.