Who is minority?
Those ethnic, religious and linguistic communities, who may not necessarily be numerical
minorities but their rights, are denied by state rulers and they are non-dominant. Those
indigenous people, tribal, and migrant nomadic people (Ashayer), who do not wish to be
classified as minorities for various reasons but nationalities, are also non-dominant.
Why should people be discriminated against because they are minority? Everybody has
something positive to contribute; working together and respecting each other, we all learn
from one another in favor of prosperity and progress for a better life.
Iranian rulers should come clear firstly; to recognize all minorities of Iran constitutionally, and
secondly; to consider their lingual/cultural & civil rights, political demands and human rights
and implement them on the ground in practice.
Minorities of Iran
Iran is an ethno-linguistically and religiously diverse country. Shia majority amounts about
82% and Sunni minority about 13% of the state total population and the other religions are
about 5%. The Sunnis includes; Baluchis, Turkmen, and large number of the Kurds, Talyshis
and some Fars and Arabs.
Minorities of Iran are not homogenous, most of them are from different nationalities; they
face further oppression and marginalization due to religious, cultural & linguistics, illiteracy,
politic affairs, poverty, gender and some other factors. Government has also implemented a
systematic and organized policy of integration of all minorities, and assimilation of their
culture and languages.
Minorities in Iran are the poorest and most marginalized people in the society. They lack
access to political power, with no political parties and no cultural forums, face discrimination
and severe human rights abuses, and there is development policies imposed upon them.
What they want is: their basic rights to be protected and promoted by international
community. It is crystal clear that recognition of minority and indigenous peoples' rights is
crucial to establishing and maintaining just, stability and peaceful societies.
There are 11 main ethno-linguistic minorities in Iran, which is as following:
1. Persian (Fars or Pars)
2. Azeri Turks
3. Kurds
4. Lor & Bakhtiyari
5. Mazendarani
6. Gilaks
7. Baloch
8. Arab
9. Turkmen
10. Talyshi