Ethnic-based Discrimination In Iran

Iran is a multi-ethnic nation with different ethnic groups that include Persians, Kurds, Lurs, Arabs, Baluchs, Turkmen, and Turkic tribes. The majority of the country (61%) is Persians which makes them the dominant ethnic group in Iran that controls the centers of power in Iran. This control is often exercised by marginalizing and discriminating other ethnic groups as documented by many important reports.

The United Nations Report

The United Nations Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran reported that ethnic and religious minorities, particularly Kurds and Baluchis, have faced disproportionate repression during the government's crackdown on protests since 2022. These groups have endured severe human rights violations, including unlawful killings, extrajudicial executions, arbitrary arrests, torture, rape, enforced disappearances, and gender-based persecution—many of which may constitute crimes against humanity. Children from these minority communities have suffered egregious abuses, such as killings, maiming, arrests, and sexual violence, leading to lasting harm. The protests, ignited by the death of Jina Mahsa Amini, an Iranian-Kurdish woman, saw significant participation from minority groups already burdened by poverty and systemic discrimination. The government's militarized response in minority-populated regions resulted in the highest number of deaths and injuries among these communities. The Fact-Finding Mission emphasized the urgent need to address and end the longstanding discrimination against Iran's ethnic and religious minorities.

The FIDH, LDDHI, DHRC report

The 2010 annual report by the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), The Iranian League for the Defense of Human Rights (LDDHI), and Defenders of Human Rights Center (DHRC) presents an extensive examination of Iran's widespread discrimination practices against ethnic and religious minorities. It identifies that the Iranian government’s policies systematically disadvantage several ethnic groups, including Arabs, Azeris, Baluchis, and Kurds, alongside religious minorities such as Baha’is, Sunnis, Sufis, Christians, Jews, and others.

Ethnic Discrimination

The report highlights that Iran’s ethnic minorities face substantial socio-economic challenges, largely due to government policies that restrict their access to education, employment, political participation, and healthcare. Many ethnic minority areas, like those where the Arab, Kurdish, and Baluchi populations reside, suffer from chronic underdevelopment and poverty, exacerbated by a lack of investment in infrastructure. Despite being rich in natural resources, provinces with significant ethnic minority populations, such as Khuzestan (Arab population) and Kurdistan, receive limited returns from local resources, as profits often benefit other parts of the country. Further, the report underscores that the Iranian government suppresses cultural expression among ethnic minorities. Efforts by these communities to promote and preserve their language, culture, and heritage are met with severe restrictions. For instance, authorities frequently deny requests for Kurdish-language schools or cultural gatherings, imposing limitations on non-Persian languages in education and media, which reinforces assimilation into the dominant culture.

Religious Discrimination

In addition to ethnic discrimination, religious minorities in Iran endure substantial repression. The Baha’i community, Iran’s largest non-Muslim religious minority, faces systematic persecution, including restrictions on education, employment, and religious practices. Baha’is are not permitted to pursue higher education or work in many public sector jobs. They are frequently detained or harassed based on their faith, with their leaders often accused of espionage or propaganda, which leads to imprisonment and sometimes violence. Similarly, Sunni Muslims, primarily among ethnic Kurdish and Baluchi groups, experience religious discrimination. Despite constituting a significant portion of Iran’s population, Sunnis are often barred from building mosques in major cities, including Tehran, and face discrimination in government appointments. Sufi communities, particularly the Nematollahi Gonabadi order, also report targeted attacks, with Sufi worship sites being demolished and followers persecuted. Christians, particularly converts from Islam, face imprisonment, torture, and, at times, death sentences for apostasy under Iran's strict interpretation of Islamic law. Even recognized Christian minorities, such as Armenians and Assyrians, report restrictions on religious practices and interference in their community activities.

National Security Pretext

A recurring theme in the report is the Iranian government’s use of "national security" as a pretext for targeting minority groups. Peaceful activism, such as advocating for ethnic or religious rights, is often labeled as separatism or sedition. Activists from minority communities are regularly subjected to arbitrary arrests, detentions without trial, and torture. For example, Baluchi activists and Arab cultural advocates are often accused of working against national security or colluding with foreign powers, leading to harsh sentences, including the death penalty.

Socioeconomic Marginalization and Political Exclusion

The report also highlights the socioeconomic and political exclusion of minorities. Ethnic minority regions are often underrepresented in the national government and local administrations, which limits these communities’ ability to address their own socio-political needs. This lack of representation is compounded by widespread poverty and limited access to economic resources. Moreover, the restricted access to quality education and employment perpetuates a cycle of poverty and social marginalization, disproportionately affecting minorities.

Political Underrepresentation

Iran's political system is highly centralized, with power concentrated in the hands of Persian and Shia elites. This system marginalizes ethnic and religious minorities, who have limited access to high-ranking political positions. Ethnic minority regions, such as Kurdistan, Khuzestan, and Sistan and Baluchestan, often lack proportional representation in the Majlis (Iranian parliament) and other political bodies. This underrepresentation limits minorities’ ability to advocate for their social and economic needs effectively. For example, while Azeris make up a significant portion of Iran's population, they are largely absent from influential political positions, meanwhile Ali Khamenei, the current supreme leader and Masoud Pezeshkian, the current president, are both Ethnic Iranian Azerbaijanis. Sunni Muslims, particularly among the Kurdish and Baluchi populations, are also underrepresented in government roles.

Ethnic Composition of the IRGC

The IRGC, a powerful military and political force in Iran, is predominantly composed of Persian Shia Muslims. The leadership heavily favors Persian Shia backgrounds, aligning with the ideological goals of the Islamic Republic. Ethnic and religious minorities, particularly Sunnis and non-Persians, have limited representation within the IRGC, partly due to concerns about loyalty to the state’s Shia ideology (Alfoneh, 2013).

Water Discrimination and the IRGC

The IRGC and other politically connected entities control water resources, prioritizing projects for political and economic gain rather than public need. They divert supplies to favored regions, causing shortages in vulnerable provinces like Khuzestan and Sistan-Baluchestan. For example, water diversion projects in Isfahan and Yazd provinces received priority despite critical shortages in Khuzestan and Sistan-Baluchestan. Reports also indicate that certain agricultural and industrial enterprises with ties to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) have received significant amounts of water, while small farmers and rural communities struggle with severe shortages.

Iran's central government prioritizes water allocation for industrial and urban centers, often at the expense of rural and minority populations. These groups face severe water shortages, ecological degradation, and a loss of livelihoods. This pattern of unequal development not only exacerbates regional disparities but also fuels social unrest and environmental crises. Iran's water policy is also characterized by an overreliance on dam construction and large-scale diversion projects, primarily benefiting politically connected enterprises and urban elites. This has led to the drying of rivers, wetlands, and other vital ecosystems, intensifying dust storms and land subsidence in regions like Khuzestan and Sistan-Baluchestan. Such environmental degradation, combined with insufficient governmental oversight and transparency, worsens living conditions for marginalized communities, reinforcing cycles of poverty and socio-political marginalization.

References

Iran
Discrimination in Iran
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