Ahwaz Human Rights Organization (AHRO) Human Rights Statement on the Occasion of World Arabic Language Day December 18, 2025 On the occasion of World Arabic Language Day, the Ahwaz Human Rights Organization (AHRO) affirms that linguistic rights are an integral part of the basic human rights system and are directly linked to the rights of identity, equality, non-discrimination, and active participation in public life. The Arabic language, as the mother tongue of the Ahwazi Arab people, is legally included among the cultural and linguistic rights guaranteed by international conventions, foremost among them the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (Article 15), and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (Articles 26 and 27) which obliges states to respect the rights of national groups to use their language without restriction or exclusion. The Ahwaz Foundation notes with grave concern the continued systematic violations of linguistic rights in the Ahwaz region, including: – Denial of mother tongue education at all levels of schooling. – Restrictions on the use of Arabic in public spaces and official institutions. – Persecution of individuals and activists for exercising their fundamental right to linguistic expression. The organization asserts that these practices constitute discrimination based on national and linguistic identity, contradict the principle of equality before the law, and lead to the exclusion of broad segments of society from full participation in public affairs, thus violating international human rights standards. The commemoration of World Arabic Language Day should be measured by the extent to which countries respect the rights of their speakers, not by the number of celebratory statements issued. From a human rights perspective, language is not a privilege granted by authority, but an inherent right inherent in humankind, which cannot be forfeited through the passage of time or denial. In conclusion, the Ahwaz Human Rights Organization (AHRO) reaffirms its commitment to continuing its documentation and legal advocacy for the linguistic and cultural rights of the Ahwazi Arab people, as an essential part of the broader struggle for human dignity, justice, and equality. Ahwaz Human Rights Organization (AHRO) December 18, 2025
