Religious minorities in Iran
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Other religions practiced in Iran by Iranians include
Sunni Muslims (about 9% of the population) and Sufi groups like Ahl-e Haqq, Sheikhi, Naqshbandi can also - depending on the definition of the term - be seen as religious minority, though some will deny this, arguing that these are valid expressions of the Iranian state religion Islam.
The constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran recognizes Islam, Christianity, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism as official religions. No other religious practice is legally accepted in Iran. Conversion from Islam to any other religion is considered apostasy and can under the current government result in harassment and religious persecution. Apostasy still retains a death sentence but in recent years this has not been used.
It is worth noting that during the previous regime in Iran only the above mentioned religions were considered officially accepted religions in Iran and adherence to any one of those religions was a requirement for any government or state position (at least in the application form).
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Legally Sunni Muslims are accepted as fellow Muslims, while Christians, Jews, and Zoroastrians are recognised as People of the Book and have certain legal rights insofar as members of these religions are born and brought up within their religion.
Many Sufi sects are active within Iran. Examples are the Ahl-e Haqq of Kurdistan, the Sheykhi centred around Kerman and Naqshbandi mostly in the Kurdish and Azeri regions of Iran. Sufism has long been quite prevalent among Iranians and it is often impossible to draw a line between Islam and Sufism as Sufism by definition does not adhere to cut-and-dried religious structures and the variation between a Sufi and a strict Muslim can be from very minute to quite substantial. While being considered Muslims in principle by the government, divergent practices, teaching and secretive organisation have for several of these orders lead to governmental distrust and harassment.
The persecution of members of the Bahá'í Faith has been common since the Iranian Revolution as their faith has been declared heretical. More than 200 Bahá'ís have been executed or killed, hundreds more have been imprisoned, and tens of thousands have been deprived of jobs, pensions, businesses, and educational opportunities. All national Bahá'í administrative structures have been banned by the government, and holy places, shrines and cemeteries have been confiscated, vandalized, or destroyed.
For adherents of not-recognised religions or converts from an Islamic background who are considered heretics enrollment in University programs or work in government agencies or judiciary is not permitted and can only be achieved by wrongly identifying oneself, which for many (e.g. Christians or Bahá'ís) is not acceptable.
Due to these restrictions on dissident religious faiths and practices and due to the persecution of some minorities, the Iranian government has been severely criticised on multiple occasions by international human rights organisations, foreign governments and the United Nations.
See also
External links
- Persia (Iran) religion (http://www.religiousbook.net/Books/Online_books/Sh/Heart_18.html) Article about history of Iranian religions.
- Iran's Baha'is Kept Out of University in Human Rights Breach (http://www.wfn.org/2004/08/msg00057.html)