The Lake That Dried Up,

The Identity That Was Ignored

A Critique of Systemic Discrimination, Centralism, and Political Silence Regarding the Urmia Lake Disaster

Introduction:

The Drying Lake, The Wilting of a Nation

Urmia Lake, once one of the largest saltwater lakes in the world, has been steadily drying over recent decades. This is not merely an environmental tragedy, but a bitter symbol of systemic neglect of the demands and identity of the people who live in this region. For many Azerbaijanis, Urmia Lake was more than a source of water and nature — it was a symbol of life, cultural identity, and pride. However, the environmental disaster has become a sign of ethnic, political, and social marginalization, as both the Islamic Republic and much of the opposition have largely ignored it.

Major Contradictions in National Water Policy

In recent years, a massive project has been underway to transfer water from the Oman Sea to Isfahan province at a cost exceeding $500 million annually to revive agriculture. Meanwhile, the total annual agricultural income of Isfahan is estimated at about $150 million.

This project does not appear economically rational or sustainable.

In contrast, Urmia Lake, which plays a vital role in the region’s ecosystem and people’s lives, has received almost no adequate or sustained funding.

The simple question remains:

Why is massive funding devoted to a project with questionable economic justification, while the rescue of a lake of national and international importance is neglected?

The answer is clear: priority in policymaking lies with Persian-speaking central regions, while peripheral, Turkic-speaking regions remain marginalized.

Structural Discrimination and Repression

For years, Azerbaijanis have engaged in civil protests, awareness campaigns, open letters, and symbolic strikes demanding action to save Urmia Lake. But how has the Islamic Republic responded? Arresting and imprisoning environmental activists, suppressing peaceful protests, issuing harsh sentences, and closing civic spaces.

Many Azerbaijani activists are imprisoned solely for defending their rights to life, environment, and cultural identity. This is not only an environmental issue but a blatant violation of human rights and civil liberties.

Meaningful Silence of the Persian-Language Opposition

Despite the urgency of the Urmia Lake crisis, the Persian-speaking opposition outside Iran, claiming to represent the Iranian people, has systematically overlooked this issue. Prominent media such as BBC Persian, Iran International, Radio Farda, and Manoto rarely provide deep, sustained coverage of the crisis.

Many political activists abroad who claim to represent Iran still hold a Persian-centric worldview, treating the problems of ethnic and Turkic-speaking regions as “ethnic issues” separate from Iran’s national crisis. This mindset has further silenced the voices of Azerbaijanis even within opposition circles.

Roots of the Crisis: Identity Denial and Systemic Discrimination

The drying of Urmia Lake is not only an environmental problem but a reflection of decades of uneven development policies, denial of Turkic language and culture, and political and economic marginalization.

Absence of education in the Azerbaijani mother tongue

Minimal representation in political and managerial decision-making

Distorted or negligible representation in national media

Unequal allocation of resources and budgets to Turkic-speaking areas

These factors have fostered feelings of deprivation, distrust, and alienation among the local population, deepening the lake’s crisis.

Legitimate Demands of Azerbaijani People

The Azerbaijani people and environmental activists demand:

1. Immediate release of all political and civil prisoners related to environmental protests.

2. Allocation of real, corruption-free funds for the full restoration of Urmia Lake.

3. Genuine involvement of local and indigenous people in decision-making about their environment and regional development.

4. An end to the securitized and repressive approach to peaceful environmental and cultural protests.

5. Fair and continuous media coverage of the Urmia Lake crisis in both domestic and opposition outlets.

6. Full recognition of the cultural and linguistic rights of Turkic-speaking people, including education and media in their mother tongue.

Disaster Beyond Nature

Urmia Lake can still be saved, but not through hollow promises and superficial plans. Only through real reforms, respect for ethnic identities, and democratic participation can the lake and lost trust be revived.

As long as discrimination and centralism persist, Urmia’s drought will continue — a drought not only of water, but of justice